Bookbinding

I am really enjoying the bookbinding workshop I registered for.

I am use to working with needles and thread.

I am learning with ease all the different types of construction, some ancient.

I did notice I am not a very good folder!

Learning Something New

Today, I learned to make two kinds of books. Both are manuscript books- the kind you make and then  add things to, like text and images.

photo diary, September 22
Concertina book

It felt odd sewing paper instead of fabric. Did you know paper, like fabric, has a grain?

Rose Newlove teaches for CBBAG, the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild. She was patient and full of great information.

I learned book terminology and 2 ways of binding a book. I learned about paper and tools.

My teacher explains the tools for bookbinding.

This class was a make-up class because I was away when the classes started. (thanks Rose!!) Tomorrow, I jump in with the rest of the students and make another type of manuscript book. I am really looking forward to it!

Photographs

I am still working on my photo diary.

Here are a few pictures from the first two weeks of September.

Newly hatched turtle, September 9

Castel Vecchio in the morning light, September 8

Palazzo in Piazza Bra, September 13
I love the colours.

Arena arches, September 15

Shattered, September 4

Quilting Day

I spent Sunday in a fabulous Italian villa in Zelarino, near Venice...

... chatting with friends and sewing together,

... celebrating quilting in this province of Veneto.

I made this in the free workshop I took.

Teacher's example. The measuring tape
is in cm and inches. Bonus!

Lunch was great. The weather was warm and sunny. I even did some fabric shopping. I bought three raffle tickets (money going to charity) and I won three times!!

The Quiltitalia representative (centre) for the region of Veneto
with her husband,
one of many husbands who attended the day's event.
Her hexagon quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted.
Her husband entitled it Nightmare
because every evening for months she sewed with the light on
while he wanted to watch TV in the dark!

It was worth getting up at 6 AM for!

Better Together

During this busy week of activities, I found time to sew.

I sewed 16-patch blocks for a quilting event I am going to on Sunday.

Normally, you'd sew your own block and a friend would sew hers and so on and then all those blocks would be put together to make a quilt.

But we did something different.

A few of us cut fabric squares.

Someone looked around the studio for fabric scraps.

A few beginners sewed two squares together.

Quilters with more experience attached two strips made up of four squares.

By the end of our visit together we had made 12 16-patch blocks, all very special, all made willy nilly I'd say, but lovely.

It was a new way of working, a little freer, less planning and loads of fun!!

Back in Verona

Today's views.

Today's activities.

Ad Maiora studio

Too beautiful for words!

A block made by my friend Emanuela for her friend's birthday quilt.

Club Quilt

New this Fall: The CQ

You've heard of the magazine GQ? Well this is CQ, Club Quilt.

Come sew any project you want in a large clean room filled with natural light that isn't in the basement!!! Bonus: you'll be sewing beside other quilters! A great way to be inspired and to inspire others.

Hope you can join me on Thursday mornings from 10 to 1....I may be able to open the doors even earlier for the same price! I will be there to help with anything- an idea, a technique, a reminder.

Click here for location and exact dates. Register by email. Register with a friend.

Hope you can come and sew with me.