Monday 25 May 2009

A Birthday Book for my Daughter

A few weeks ago my friend Janet showed me how to make silk rovings into sheets of silk by layering, soaking with washingup liquid then glueing the silk together using a watered down gel medium. I have made this little book for my Daughter's 50th Birthday, at the end of this month. She loves her garden so I have used a 'wild flower' theme, with the occasional vintage lady. The dried honesty was embedded in the silk when I made it, but the beech leaves have been added since. I started by pressing all the wild flowers I could find, and finished up with a lot more than I had pages for!!


First spread - primrose, inchie and some lace around the lady... (I've just realised, perhaps I should write something on that blank sheet opposite!) I used silk cocoon strippings to adhere the pressed flower, then covered the area with chiffon and stitched around.


Next spread - forget-me-not, dyed old lace and a vintage lady ......

Honesty in flower, another inchie and another lovely lady ....


Pretty lady, feathers and a fuchsia - this one grows wild in Devon .....


Lacey edge, columbine and a piece of fabric paper with painted lace....


Rosebay willow herb with some fabric paper....



and finally some real butterfly wings I found in the garden last year.
I really had fun making this little book, even though it did take me about three weeks - including thinking time of course!


11 comments:

Maggi said...

What a beautiful present Val. You are a very special mum.

Ruth said...

That's a lovely gift. I'm sure she'll love it.

Carol Q said...

what a lovely thoughtful birthday present - I would have been very happy to receive that for my 50th! LOL

Heather said...

What a wonderful present - your daughter is a lucky woman - your book is beautiful. I haven't done anything with my silk papers yet as we have been busy working in the garden nearly every day. It'll be days before my hands recover and I dare touch silk again!!

Mandi said...

Oh Val, what a beautiful gift to give to your daughter. A real treasure.

Jackie said...

Your daughter will love it. Lucky lady.

Doreen G said...

Absolutely beautiful Val-what a special gift for a special daughter from a special Mum

Sandy said...

What a beautiful book and a lovely gift. Lucky daughter.

Digitalgran said...

Your daughter is going to love that book! You have some of my favourite flowers in it. Fuschia and Forget-me-nots and my GM had Honesty in her garden when I was young and I loved them too.

Helen said...

love your beautiful soft pages

~*~Patty S said...

I am still enjoying all of your amazing creativity Val = WOWEE!

This book for your daughter is gorgeous. Pressed flowers under silk roving AND a rescued butterfly too ... oh my absolutely brilliant. What a treasure of a gift. You have me thinking where I can get silk roving and how can I try and do this technique. I recently tried making a wax paper base, pressed flowers and a single layer of tissue (the achoo kind) with a glue and water wash, then after it's dry you iron it (about 12 hours later) makes a pretty flower paper ... silk roving looks wonderful!
sorry I'm rambling on, you've just inspired me in so many directions here this morning ... many thanks once again for sharing your creativity!
oxo Patty in Virginia, USA