Friday 27 November 2009

Finished!




Well, for better or worse, I have finished my Poetry Book Cover. In case you missed my earlier blog, I have hand-written some of my poems into a book, really so that when I "pop my clogs" my poetry can be kept by my family, if they wish to do so. I really enjoyed writing it out so I decided it would be good to make a decoration for the front and back covers.


Making a complete book cover is quite easy, but this book had a spiral back which meant I had to design a front cover and a back cover and stick them on.


Because it is a long time since I did any serious textile work, I have found getting back into it very hard. My sewing machine was like a foreigh, unvisited country. Even the simplest thing caused me to get into melt-down. I kept getting the tension wrong, I couldn't thread the needle, the thread kept breaking. I began to despair, and several days ago posted a blog to say that I could not find my "voice" again with textile art. Fantastic bloggy friends that you are, you sent me a series of very encouraging messages - keep trying, don't despair, your voice will come back.


So yesterday morning - with nothing planned for the whole day - I shut myself in my study, took it gently and began to sew . And, hey presto, I have managed it.


Yes, I know (and you will know too if you enlarge the pictures) I have made mistakes, it is not perfect by any means. But I have managed to complete something and I like it (with reservations about some of the stitching). If posterity reads it and gives the verdict "well. she is a better poet than she is a needlewoman" then I shall be happy.




On a different note: my daughter-in-law has a new camera and she brought it round for me to look at. I turned it towards Tess and clicked the shutter. Since I had Tess I have spent hours trying to get a decent photograph and they always turn out badly. But as you can see on my side bar - this one was very successful.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely!...Tess and Cover.. and, let's hope you don't "Pop your dogs" any time soon...funny expression, never heard it before.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Bravo - front and back covers are beautiful. Imagine what you will produce when it no longer feels like a foreign country!!

Read your previous post and am so sorry about that ordeal and the losses you suffered.

Elizabeth said...

So sorry I have been a little out of touch and only now have time to catch up.
First, so very sad to hear about your poor cow and calves. We know that this happens from time time to time, of course, but so distressing and miserable making.
Do hope the farmer is taking it in stride.

On a different note, I was amused by your fights with your sewing machine, but the result seems worth the struggle.

And Tess's new portrait is very fetching.
Obviously an excellent camera.
All best wishes.

Golden West said...

Well done! I know what you mean about time away from the sewing machine - it takes a while to get it "humming" again.

Your photo of Tess is adorable - she looks very angelic. One would never know this is the little dog who tears off into the overgrowth after rabbits and such!

steven said...

weaver those are gorgeous. i wonder if you'd post about how you did what you did to help them look that way? have a peaceful day in the dale. steven

Heather said...

We all have fights with our sewing machines Weaver, but the great thing is not to let it get the upper hand - easier said than done sometimes. I love your book cover, front and back, and the stitching looks fine to me. Tess has such a dear little face - that's a super photo. Keep up the good work.

Titus said...

Congratulations Weaver. As a non-sewer I can only marvel in awe, and say I love the colours - like a spectacular Autumn with amber and garnet.

Great photo of Tess, she looks a real Border now!

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

No messing around here, is there? Given your troubles with the sewing machine I thought it would be ages before we saw your book cover; the rich, warm autumn colours are lovely. A fitting decoration for the contents. And Tess looks good too!

Jenn Jilks said...

You've had a tough week. Good to see the fruits of your labour. Well done! If it was perfect it wouldn't be you! Great posts, I love your poetry. You inspire me.

Maggi said...

The book cover is beautiful. Nothing wrong with the stitching from here. The colours and patterns are very earthy.

Tess looks so cute, obviously a good camera.

DJ said...

I return to your blog after many months to find luscious eye candy in your book covers. And Tess' furry face posing sweetly for the camera! Your every blog post is poetry as far as I'm concerned.
I hesitate to read it daily in the busy-ness of my life, so I wait for still, pleasant moments to enjoy your thoughts here. I'm off for a cup of tea to accompany me as I explore more formerly missed posts of your beautiful life descriptions...

Jinksy said...

That was a very productive day you had there, Weaver, and the photo is a smasher as well as the pretty cover.

Bovey Belle said...

Oh well done - beautiful cover (such warm colours) and great photo of little Tess. What a poppet she is.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Lovely book, can't make out the material,is it satin/ great colours, almost tie-died psychedelic on one side.Great pic of the lovely Tess,should she have a blog of her own?

Ps Dominic never owned a motorbike.I just thought you should know ;)

Jane Moxey said...

Well done Weaver. Smashing cover artwork. Were you working with metallic threads I wonder -- if so, those are really trying to work with. Never let your sewing machine get the better of you, though I know the feeling of frustration and am glad I found a good spot for the manual for mine! One tip I will share is that you need to change the sewing machine needle more often than you'd think. They say 8 hours of sewing is enough and then it's time to change the thing! Blunt needles can wreak havoc with tension! I love the new photograph of Tess -- what a character!

Hildred said...

Your cover is lovely, - you inspire me to spend a day making those Christmas aprons that have been hanging around for half a dozen years!

Tess is so handsome, - looking very wise and contemplative.

Congratulations on seizing the day and accomplishing what you wanted to do so beautifully.

Arija said...

Lovely work my dear, only Allah is perfect, often ihe imperfections are what make a piece anyway.

I have been hand writing my poems into a book as well...thereis a certain sense of satisfaction in that.

ArtPropelled said...

Imperfections in art or craftwork give a piece character, Weaver. This is such a lovely idea and I'm sure your book of poetry will be treasured.

Penny said...

Sewing is rather like riding a bike, you never really forget, although reading the manual is often useful!
Love both the book cover and the photo of Tess

Crafty Green Poet said...

beautiful book cover - the colours and design are wonderful. i also really like the new portrait of Tess, she looks very wise...

Anonymous said...

It's a relief to hear of others struggles with sewing machines. In my minds eye, I see those with talent sewing with ease, perfectly with outstanding results.I battle with my machine, and as a texile artist,choose to handstitch everything to give myself less grief.Your front and back covers are beautiful,the stitching looks great,and I'm sure what's inside the covers is just as beautiful and fascinating as what's on the outside.Reading your previous post, I am sorry about your ordeal. You must be glad it's over.

Robin Mac said...

Lovely book cover - didn't you know, there are no mistakes with textile art - only a change of direction in the design!!Love the photo of Tess and sympathised over the story of the sheep and the cow and calves. Cheers, Robin

Dinesh chandra said...

Hi good to watch the textile art ,I also want such a front and back cover page for my poetry book already published by chandigarh sahitya acedemy the book name is Kavayanjali. It is in hindi.

I love to watch the cover .

But you are so good to writing in between the line, litrealy such a writer. Your the great .

Regards

Dinesh Chandra


Regards

Anonymous said...

Your covers are lovely, Weaver, and as for such mistakes in the stitching, they tell your journey. 'Tis a grand photo of Tess. I too have only just caught up on reading some of your older posts. So sorry that you had such an awful experience.

Jeannette StG said...

Very artsy cover! Bravo, you did it!

Pom Pom said...

I know exactly what you mean about the sewing machine. We become strangers, my sewing machine and I. I need to get over my discomfort TODAY! I have curtains to make and mending to do! I love the hoar frost photo!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the encouragement! Seems many of you have a battle with sewing machines and it seems also that you have to let them know who is the boss. I must say my Bernina is a jewel amongst machines. Yes - I was using metallic thread - and yes it is difficult - but the result looks so good doesn't it.

The material is a piece of fabric from Africa - both back and front are cut from the same piece - it is red at one end and fades to ochre at the other end, thus making it easy to chose a different colour for each side. They are not colours I would necessarily put together, but as they come from the same piece of fabric I knew they would live together quite happily.
Have a good weekend.

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

This is a lovely idea Weaver! I am sure it will be well cherished by your family and the generations to come.