Binding book 手作小本子

Lavender is one of my fav flowers.  Not to paint in detail but made an impressive picture of a wool felt journal cover. 

薰依草向來是我的最愛, 何不做一本植物印染本子? 書皮就用羊毛以薰依草做為主題吧.

This is Gorde, France, one of my fav spots.  The little journal cover was made with the memory of the days.

A cover of wool felt, embellished with some glass stones....

Closed with a wool felt knot....

Some pages are of eco printed leaves

Some blank pages for jotting....

Jot the trivial things of my cat....

Stick the pictures of dear fluffy things 

A nice handmade little journal for my fluffy boy

Whose little feet behind it? 

Ahhhh, my Mogi has contribution in making it. 

(Mind that if you don't love cats you may find disgust and stop reading.)

Indeed,  I comb my cat daily and keep his hair. This cover I made with layers of wool in between with the cat's hair.  Wet felt it then embellished with some glass beads. 

Papers are steamed with leaves then binded it a journal. 

This fluffy doesn't like combing.  See how pissed off he was ! 

Well, this may be a journal to jot the footmarks of my cat or myself !

Make something with a cat's hair is a good keepsake.

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Purple love - wool felt lavender box 羊毛薰衣草寶盒

I have a passion of France. The romantic purple and fragance of lavender I adore most and always reminds me of Provence.  The lavender fields in Provence and the stone houses are just the beauty of the country.

 

 This wool felt box holds the treasures and good memories of the country.

I used to make ceramics. This tray was made years ago with painting of a village and paddies.  Just came to my mind why not making some small houses cross over my wool felt ?  

For a trial,  I made a few houses with paper clay to go with my wool felt box.  Next time I must do ceramic houses which are more adorable.  I don't want to give up ceramics. 

Steps of making :

1. After almost felted the round shape, cut the lid with 3cm left;

2. Put on some wool on the lid as lavender field, continue rolling and make it to a box shape;

3. Embellished with some glass beads;

4. & 5. Crochetted and needle sewed around the rim. 

Embellished with some glass beads and stitched on the little house.

Inside the box bottom I intended to make the "inner hole".

This box can be a little treasure box to hold little goodies.

  Added  beads and  some amethyst around the box.   Isn't it pretty?

Lavender fields and the ancient stone house in Gorde, Provence.    

Love France, love lavender.......

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Dream house in Provence 戀戀山城普羅旺斯

Since visited Provence some 16 years ago, the good memories are still hovered. The cottages in the mountain are so typical and cozy.
What a surprise package I just received. It's a New Year gift - a little book of houses in Provence, from my French friend Brigitte. She's so nice to send me this book which reminds my holidays there. Of my three visits in 16 years, we've been to a few villages, the houses/cottages are impressive. The little book illustrated drawings of houses and culture.
16年來三次普羅旺斯之旅, 對這山城風光與人物印象縈迴, 我的法國朋友給我寄來新年特別禮物 - 一本小書以畫工描繪普羅旺斯的房子與生活文化, 這小畫冊帶給我很多美麗難忘的回憶, 以下抽出幾頁分享 I've extracted some pages and photos of my last visits.



The houses are mostly built of stones in the mountain.

Some were built hundred years ago but are well maintained.

The village sits still in the mountain.

The entrance - steps of rocks leading to the houses

A walking passage underneath is an alley leading to other houses.

Terrace with vines

Grapes just in arm's reach outside the terrace.

Doors

Some doors are framed with vines.

Roofs

Roofs are mostly of tiles.

Tiles drawings are pretty decorations.

Fragrance of lavender in summer.

Ancient little stone house amid the lavender field.

Bought a bundle of lavender.

Weekly farm market selling Provencal procelains.

Figurines of Provence.

On our day in Arles, the girl was in traditional costume for the equestrian.

Everywhere is theme for painting. In the opening of a painting exhibition, among were J.Eymard, Dragic....

We're honoured to be invited.

The stunning Provence nurtured many artists. Brigitte's grandma Noemie was a painter as well.

This little boy playing water in the fountain is another painter's son. We'd some good times in this cottage.

"If I had a mas in Provence...."
If I had a house in Provence, Brigitte, your house is our dream house.

Thank you so much Brigitte and Jean.

Aileen, Heidi and I always reminisce our good old days with you. Your little book certainly brings us lots of memories of our holidays.

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