Inserting a page in my Book

I wanted to include some eco-dyeing in my non-journal/non-sketchbook and had several lovely sheets of eco-dyed paper waiting in the wings. But I don't want to add much thickness to the book. Some of the eco-dyed papers are lovely on both sides so I decided to cut a window in a page of the book and insert a piece of eco-dyed paper. But how to attach it? I happened upon some fine twine I'd saved and decided to sew it in.

The center cut out of the page, a gold border, the fine twine, and a pin for poking holes.

Holes poked, clips holding the art page in place, and part of the sewing done.

The twine was a good length and I wasn't concerned about having enough to go around... until I started going around. :s
I changed my mind often during the process, at the same time thinking about how I would finish if I did run out of twine. In the end, I had enough, just enough, and tied the two ends in a reef knot with the aid of tweezers. Hurray!

I drew on both sides first. Here is the page, sewn in:

I'm not certain the second side is done. I wanted to leave a lot of the eco-dye showing without embellishment, but it just seems a bit unfinished. Maybe it's my "when in doubt, add more" kicking in!

String and nails portraits

Remember that string and nail art you did as a child? Artist Kumi Yamashita has taken that a whole lot further. Amazing work! To see more, see here.

PARCH tangle instructions

Earlier I posted instructions for DIAMOND PANES, a tangle pattern based on a design I found in a Bargello pattern book I got from the library. This is another pattern from the same book. It's a series of two points and one arch. The Bargello name for this one is "Points and Arches' which is how I arrived at PARCH for a name.

I found it helpful to imagine a line across the paper as I was drawing. That helped ensure that the tops or bottoms of the points and arches line up (more or less) and don't get too out of whack as the pattern develops. The stripes can be filled in different ways for variations. Here are two tiles with Parch.

Tangles: Dust Bunny, Finery, Paradox, Parch, Prestwood

Tangles: Florz, Gewgle, Hibred, Parch (x2), Spinners...
and something Jane Monk does that I really like!

DIAMOND PANES tangle instructions

I bought a book of bargello needlework patterns for cheap from the library's clear-out bin. Bargello seems to be a bit like needlepoint except the stitches are longer and go up and down on the canvas instead of diagonally. There were some good ideas in there. One, called Diamond Panes, was easily adaptable to drawing although step two is a little tricky. Here's how it goes:

 

Here are a couple of tiles using Diamond Panes. 

In the first one the tangle ends up on its side.

Diamond Panes, Betweed, Florz, Flux, Umble

Diamond Panes, Cubine, Flux, Tipple, Xyp