FRANCES PICKERING CLASS

I took Frances Pickering's "Hard But Easy" bookbinding class - great fun, and what a change from teaching all the time. She has some wonderful sketchbooks which she allowed the class to look at, and also brought many sample books.

I will post page by page pix of my own journal/book later, as I am still working on it, but for now here are pix of me (standing & holding my book) with Frances (sitting) and some of her own work.


Her individual style is a combination of hand drawn & painted images, coupled with embroidery and bead work - something new for me, as I tend to keep away from sewing. However, I am very pleased to report I can now do French Knots! These little blighters always used to undo themselves whenever I tried them before, but I have now done a whole page with them.

Here is Frances and her husband, who very kindly helped everyone to make cords to tie their books closed. Another thing I didn't know! They really do make a difference and are so much nicer (and less predictable) than always using ribbon.

I am very happy I took the class, as the stitchery really does add another dimension to the pages, and this is something I probably wouldn't have tried on my own - although, having said that, I do have some stitching in some of my books - but nothing like the amount in hers, where so many images are embellished, fringed, beaded, buttoned.... Note to self: will do MORE.