Altered Book Cover & Sunday Bits

At least 3 years ago I took a one night workshop to learn about altering books. I was able to get an old discarded book covered with black velvet and some images I made or found. The instructor showed us how to glue clumps of pages together to form one "page". I carved out a little niche in one of those clumps inside..love a niche! I just dug this up and reminds me that I have been interested in mixed media/altering books for a while. Must be the reason I am so enjoying the Book RR I am involved in with 4 other talented, creative women.

I have decided on the image I will use for Denise's nature inspired book. It is a thistle flower, at one of its growing stages.  I posted this pic a few posts ago. I printed out multiple images on a great canvas looking fabric sheet. I must check which manufacturer makes this sheet...it looks awesome! Not sure where I am going with this, but it is my start!

Yesterday I  sewed at Melissa's new place. I hemmed and enhanced some curtain panels for the living room/dining room and today made a cute two fabric valance for their kitchen window. I somehow got conned into making her little office/craft room's valance too! I have 2 coordinating pink/gray polka dot fabrics.....will look cool!

I had a guy come look at the upstairs to do what needs doing. Here are a few pics of the space as it is now.

That is the wall that will come down to open up a huge space for all my stuff!It is approximately 15' x 25'. I plan to paint the whole room a creamy white or a warm gray. Halogen lighting on a 12' coil is what I am hoping he can install. Various oriental-ish rugs will cover the floor. I am so anxious to claim this room!

I spent many hours today working on a CQ Purse for a contest on CQI. I signed up for this months ago and worked on it sporadically. It is due on the 15th...in 5 days! I was going to give it up but I hate to not do what I commit to, so I had at it today. I can't tell you what I did however. (I  hate that) and I can't show you where things are going since it is a contest. All I will say is it is undeniably mine!

I meet with my little art quilt group Tuesday. We need to gather & size  what we will be displaying at GoArt! in our show in July. I have almost 20 things so far! Of course most of them need finishing!

Quilt guild next Saturday. Janet Root, a very talented quilter, will be giving us a trunk show and a workshop after meeting for 20 of us lucky enough to have signed up for it. Liberated quilting. I love that!

I have learned:

1. How to use the keypad on my phone while texting.....numbers, some exclamation marks & caps. I never realized I could use, for example, the "2" key for not just ABC but the 2 also! 
2. Jalapeno potato chips are addictive. Like a drug. Really. 
3. I am very intrigued by shibori methods of dying and discharging. I want to learn more. 
4. Fiona (Vixen Banshee) is an escape artist! She  flew out the door yesterday. I remind you I live in a 55 MPH zone, which means cars often reach speeds of 75 MPH, so surviving a sprint across the road is  a gamble. I wish I had a video of me (minus the expletives!) of my chase. At one point I thought I could pounce on her. Literally. Grass stains on knee's and elbows. I ended up opening the door and she darted back in, leaving the cruel world behind! I hope she learned a lesson. I love that dang kitty!