Saturday 5 December 2009

Textile Art - suggestions appreciated.




Last week I posted my poetry book. In case you missed that entry, I have written what I consider to be the best of my poetry into a notebook so that when I have departed this life my son can have it as a record. I then decorated the cover of the book.


Now I have made a wallet to keep it in - you will see it in the photograph. I have used the same African fabric and put the same design on to the front. The "gusset" is made of green felt which also lines the wallet. Now all I have to do is to put on a fastener. And it is here that I would appreciate your help if you are into textiles.
I should have put the fastener on before the lining, so I have to be careful what I use. If I use a button fastener then I can anchor it with a flat button to lie on the felt. The farmer suggests some sort of magnetic fastening or velcro (don't really fancy either very much); my friend who is a past master at textile art suggests a toggle fastening with elastic. I wonder whether anybody sells "findings" for such wallets like they do for beaders. I really would like to put something in the centre of the flap which will really set the whole thing off - but at present I am out of ideas.
So this post is asking: Do you like my book and wallet? and How would you consider fastening it?
It is another lovely day here today. The farmer and I have just taken Tess round the fields in the sunshine and now I am settling down to read a few blogs. Whatever you happen to be doing this weekend - enjoy it! (Do hope it is not Christmas shopping).

25 comments:

Unknown said...

I love your fabric choice. It is richly colored with bold designs, kind of like your poetry. I would use a small tassle that matches the outside edging. The tassle can loop around a fixed knot or button that is either glued with fabric glue, sewn on with shallow careful stitching or anchored with a few stitches and a little glue. You have done wonderful work putting this heirloom together for the enjoyment of future generations of your family, Weaver. Just lovely!

Pondside said...

What a beautiful choice of fabric for what is sure to be handed down as a family treasure.
I think the idea of a toggle or tassle is a good one, and would 'go with' the look of the wallet.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love the fabric, i think a toggle or a tassle would be perfect...

CHummelKornell said...

Weaver,

Beautiful! Your son should be very impressed with the work you have gone to, what a wonderful heirloom you are creating! Now, for the closure. I'm not sure I would do a tassle, since I think it might detract from the beauty of your work. How about a frog instead? It should be simple to attach given your limitations. In addition, you should be able to handcraft one yourself by weaving your chosen threads together into your own design. As a final thought, if you have any small charm-type apparatus that is important to you and that lends itself to this project, you might also attach it to the frog to provide one more keepsake for your family. Of course, a note must be placed inside describing the importance of this item to you.

Gigi Ann said...

The note pad and the wallet are both lovely. Since I have no imagination at all, I like both the suggestions given. I like the idea of adding a small charm-like apparatus, that has special meaning to you. Makes it even more personal. I'm sure whatever you decide will complement the wallet.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I think this is a beautiful way to keep your poetry book safe. I would put a beautiful button with a loop to hold it closed.

Anonymous said...

Try 'Duttons for Buttons' in Harrogate, or York. They have a website.

Anonymous said...

What a glorious pairing of artifacts, Pat. First the book, now its container. Lucky descendants!

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

Your fabric choice is wonderful. I have no clue about how you could fasten it -- I am partial ribbon that wraps around and ties, but that might not work for you. At any rate, it is lovely. I hope your son knows what a treasure you are!

Jane Moxey said...

I'm with the idea of a nice flat button with perhaps a soutache braid made into a loop. Gosh, if you could find a square button to echo your square design elements, that might be smashing. Even a bone or nice wooden button would give it a natural and handmade look. I notice you have used a nice yellow thread for the binding of both items and, as someone else suggested, you could create a thread loop for the closure which would be attached to the top part of the flap. If you know how to crochet, you could chain stitch this loop from several thicknesses of the thread you used for the binding. Another little thought, if you could find a square button, perhaps you could cover that button (cobbled together if necessary) with some of the African fabric!

Jeannette StG said...

Beautiful fabric, so I understand you want to be careful with it!! You can do what Linda (1st comment) suggested. Or, use the Chinese cord like toggles they use. I don't know where to look on the internet for it.
I would start to look on Google "search" and type in toggle for sewing.
Good luck -I think you'll make a good choice (because you have up till now!)/

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Lovely book and what a magnificent idea to put your work together in such a beautiful way. I would probably use some sort of large and unusual antique button as a closure, but you are the seamstress!!

Heather said...

I love the book and it's wallet Weaver - what a lovely heirloom. Do you like the idea of a button and buttonholed loop as a closure - perhaps you have a single special button somewhere. An alternative would be to take a length of ribbon doubled, and sew it to the flap and some sort of loop on the front of the wallet to tie it to. Hope this is helpful.

Penny said...

With that lovely fabric I think a button and a matching cord slip stitched on in a fancy way, rather like that you see on Japanese or
Cinese closures.

alison said...

Maybe you could simply wrap a narrow length of ribbon around the bag several times and then tie it. I think undoing the ribbon would become part of the ritual of taking the book out of the bag. It's a wonderful idea to make a book of your poetry to pass down to your son.

Golden West said...

How about two matching buttons and a small piece of string that could wrap around them in a figure eight - sort of like the old yellow mailers from the 1950s and 60s? Whatever you choose, it's a wonderful project beautifully executed and sure to become a family heirloom.

Cloudia said...

Very nicely done!



Aloha, Friend


Comfort Spiral

Twiglet said...

Thats a lovely project - I would look for a gorgeous button in Duttons for Buttons!

Dave King said...

I love the fabric, but, alas, am not competent to advise on technical matters!

ArtPropelled said...

I really love this idea of yours Weaver. Wrapping a piece of ribbon and tying it is a lovely idea and you could even stitch the ribbon right the way around with the two ends tying together at the flap. Curio has tied her pocket with a piece of cord see >>>>
http://ateliercuriostudio.blogspot.com/2009/11/alpha-omega-part-ii.html

Pom Pom said...

I think a button that looks like a coin and a loop/fastener made from tiny, golden beads would be pretty.

PurestGreen said...

It's lovely! I am not a creative person outside of words, but I guess you could attach it with a button? I recently went to a textile art show and was utterly amazed by the beauty of many of the pieces. you would have loved it. I hope to post some photos soon - perhaps it will inspire your future works.

ParisMaddy said...

What a treasure of a gift. Your fabric is beautiful, too. You could try a fancy brass/metal pin inserted into a pretty braided loop.

Delaine said...

I am new to your blog I will be back anyway I love satin ribbons with crystal beads knotted above the ends, a pretty bow always looks special I am new to poetry given my age, I have found it to be so very healing as I said I am new, do you exchange poetry? I found you through Moxeys Musing I am building a blog but being new to this I do not know if I should post it

Unknown said...

you know the art of making fabric special!!
http://specializedtextileservices.blogspot.com/