First Fabric Book Attempt

Emphasis on "attempt".  I loved thinking about it, planning it and making it. Sadly though, it didn't meet my expectations. This first draft fabric book will become a tiny family heirloom and serves as practical experience for me, the crafter who has to dabble.  

My long term goal was to create a vehicle for telling my stories, that could also be tactile . . . textile.  I learned all about treating fabric for printing directly onto it, complete with freezer paper backing to carry it through.  I had written "The Dream of the Narwhal" and found images to go with my words.  Added some lace, ribbon and appliqued self-printed backgrounds displaying my story, I came up with this:  (The actual book's words are not fuzzy, it's the camera)

Dream of the Narwhal

by Dora Haymond

Copy of a painting by Sir William Jardine from the mid 1800's

"Dream of the Narwhal"

Inside cover, two pockets, ship image, applique self printed shell, background and words, lace trim.

"Diving deep below the ice . . . floating near the ocean floor . . . a narwhal dreams."

 Narwhal image (finally ran down the artist, Vintage by the Shore so I'll have to use another picture if I sell future versions) background, words appliqued, ribboned lace trim.

"His powerful horn cuts through the darkness leaving trails of light."

Image Greenlander Spearing a Narwhal

"A swish to the left and the hunters withdraw their harpoons."

No idea on this beautiful graphic, appliqued background,words and small fish

"To the right, orca and polar bear become the Artic's lion and lamb."

Inuit family, appliqued background, words, lacy print.

"In deepest dreams his soul is honored, an Inuit sacrifice . . .nothing is wasted."

Old print Inuit village, appliqued background, words, lace trim.

"As his body strengthens new life, his bones shaped into tools . . ."

Appliqued pictures, ribbon, lace, see through curtain piece

"the narwhal spirit rises . . ."

". . . he sings and the deep echoes its reply."

Back cover appliqued background, words, jute ribbon trim

"Lavender Dreams by Dora Haymond"

Background images by Carena's Designs

Spine of beige and white calico print

Of course its not all together a loss, I'm just not pleased with how the pages extend past the covers, my hand sewing is less than stellar, plus it was quite labor intensive for an idea I hope to duplicate.  So . . . back to the drawing board.

Thank you for your interest in my work,

Dora