Fabric Travelers Journal

Toni, one of my online Craftsy students, came to Denver to take my Mixed Media Adventures workshop this September and she gave me a very special gift:  A tin box celebrating the anniversary of the invention of TravelersJournals.

I opened the box and made a tiny reproduction of a Travelers Journal and I started researching this  company and its products.  I loved the idea of having a permanent cover where a person could switch out various journals because they were bound by an elastic band rather than sewn.

Most of the Travelers Journal covers are made of leather, but I wanted to make mine from fabric.  I have been collecting lots of lace for my Junk Journals so I decided to use this to add some interest to my cover.  Several years ago, another student sent me some buttons that she crocheted and I have been saving them for just the right project.  And, I picked up some hand-dyed silk ribbon at the Quilt exhibit in Houston.  The fabric I used came from an old Sari I bought online and some silk scraps I had in my stash.

I guess my message for this cover is never throw anything away, treasure the gifts given to you from students, and find  way to combine it all into something gorgeous!

​Thanks to all my students who continually inspire me!  And yes, I will be offering a free pattern for this cover soon.  I will offer it in my monthly newsletter when it's ready.