I’ve enjoyed trying new tools and techniques this month during my “Every Day in May” challenge. It’s been fun dreaming up new projects each day, but for May 14th, instead of experimenting with different materials, I tried a new approach to a page border.
The border design is based on the feathered quilting patterns I used back in the days when sewing was both my passion and my profession. I had drawn feathered designs for my quilts, so why not create a feathered design with watercolors?
To start, I marked off a wide border on the 9″ x 9″ sketchbook page, then I laid a piece of tracing paper over top and taped it in place. I then placed registration marks (little +’s) at each corner, so I could tell how to align the pattern later on.
I drew the outside corner curves first and then one additional curve in the center of each side. Then I drew the corresponding inside curves and a center line.
Next I drew the feather shapes for one of the corners. Once I had that corner looking good, I did a tracing of it and then copied it onto the other corner. Finally, I filled in the feathers in the area between the two corners.
I now had a complete pattern for one side of the page. I retraced the pattern on the reverse side of the tracing paper using a HB pencil lead. This gave me a transferable design which I could use on all four sides of the sketchbook page.
Using the registration marks to position the pattern properly, I rubbed over the pattern to transfer the design to the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the page, giving me a complete border.
I then set to work painting the individual feathers. I used just three colors: Cobalt Blue, Permanent Rose, and Aureolin Yellow and allowed the colors to blend on the paper.
A favorite quote was added to the open area in the center of the page, along with some decorative paper and washi tape.
(Truth be told, I had written the quote by hand in the center of the page using a felt-tip pen but ended up not liking how it looked, so I just collaged over it with the scrapbooking paper.)
This page took some time to paint, but I found it to be a meditative process. Once the border design was planned and drawn, I really enjoyed playing with the three colors of paint and watching how they combined in different ways to make each little feather unique.
My schedule is really busy this month, with all the spring gardening to do plus end-of-the-year school activities for the grandkids and preparing for a three-week trip to England in early June. But this quote was a good reminder that it’s okay for me to take time to settle in with my paints and do something that calls to me, feeds my soul, and makes me happy. When I fill the well, I can draw from it for all those other things that need to be done.
11 Comments
This is so lovely! Thank you for sharing so clearly how you created it!!
I am wanting to purchase the monogram cards tutorial. It says contact the creator. Is it still available?
Blessings to you and all your adventures!
Lyn
Love this Leslie! It’s so fun getting e mails from you everyday! Starts my morning off right!!
Have a great day.
Love,
Beverlee
Good to hear. I was hoping it wasn’t too much, sending out so many this month.
This is such a happy border! Loved it, see you soon.
Pat
Have fun in Scotland!
I always learn something from you and this lesson is another example!! Your finished work looks like perfection! It’s fun and lively.
The quote is perfect for this day. Thank you and see you soon!
Thanks, Julene. Can’t wait to be together in less than two weeks!
I appreciate all that you share with us, I feel you are a special friend that I sit down with and share a cup of tea. Enjoy the holiday. Patricia
That’s so nice of you to say, Patricia. I hope we’ll have a chance to meet in person some day. And, for now, I’m glad we have a chance to connect online. Thanks for taking a moment to write.
Love this idea! What did you “rub” the design with to transfer it to your journal? Great idea!
It works best to rub firmly on the back of the tracing paper with my fingernail.