i recently spent a morning in the dye house organizing all of my recently dyed wool felt.
this is such an enjoyable process– appreciating the subtle variation, discerning the color relationship to each other which dictates the next color in the stack. i take such pleasure in seeing the shelves stocked. it also has me dreaming about all the flowers and the growing season that is so near. to celebrate this bounty of color, i made a small collection of chubby little plant-dyed felt journals with botanical stitching. 

curious about the art of bookbinding? i am teaching a 2-day virtual bookbinding workshop with tatter blue library on march 13 & 20 (scroll down for more info).




these little chubby journals are perfect for writing, drawing, and list making.
the plant-dyed wool felt cover is hand embroidered with a botanical design, the pops of color are stitched with mohair/silk yarn. the book is hand-bound and contains 116 pages of soft white unlined acid-free paper. the small size makes it perfect for tucking into your pocket, pouch, or bag. a place to record little inspirations. measures 3.5 x 3.5”.

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a pocket purse is the perfect place to keep a chubby felt journal for sketching on the go.
i often wear my purse when my outfit has no pockets. i wear it around the studio, on walks in the woods, and when i’m out running errands. it can be worn cross-body, over your shoulder, or around your waist. each purse is machine-stitched out of plant-dyed organic cotton/hemp fabric and has an adjustable cotton strap. purses measure 7” tall and 5.5” at the bottom, with a slight taper to the top to a 4.5” opening; two cotton twill straps measure 27” each. a pocket purse DIY kit is also available if you’d like to stitch your own.

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In this intimate class, students will learn the art of coptic bookbinding with Alison Kaplan of Kata Golda Handmade. The coptic bookbinding technique creates a flexible book with an exposed spine, the pages open flat making it the perfect journal for writing and sketching. Building on decades of bookbinding experience, Alison makes this craft feel approachable and adaptable. She will showcase an assortment of finished handbound journals in many sizes so everyone can see the endless possibilities. Participants will make a book covered in plant-dyed organic cotton/hemp fabric that is 3.25” wide and 4.75” tall and is about .5” thick. The class days are one week apart so participants can work on embellishing their covers and practice stitching additional sections. Each participant will receive a DIY Bookbinding Kit and will need to collect a few items from home.

REGISTER HERE!



Session 1:  We will begin with an overview of coptic bookbinding and learn about the tools in the bookbinding kit. We will practice ripping paper and sewing/connecting pamphlets. We will also touch on embellishing covers.

Session 2:  After a week of sewing practice, Alison will answer any questions that came up during the week. We will then glue the cover and back and finish our books. We will discuss adaptations to make books of different sizes and shapes – Alison has many options to share. If time allows, participants will be introduced to two other simple techniques: a pamphlet-style notebook, an accordion book that is perfect for displaying photos or using for watercolor painting.


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i have two bookmaking DIY kits available in my shop.
once you learn the skill, it is endlessly adaptable. the DIY bookbinding kit (refills available) offers step-by-step instructions for the coptic bookbinding technique. the DIY accordion fold book kit makes a book that is perfect for photos, sketches, and watercolors.


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i have flowers on my mind this week! find projects to bring the hope of spring into your stitching in my collection of over 50 free sewing tutorials. happy stitching!



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PS: myra found a sunny spot and a perfect fit.