It began with a walk on the beach at Beer, and a photo
or two.
Followed by an edit using Pixlr Express, to make a collage.
Which appeared on my blog and then sat in a dusty computer folder for months.
Then I felt a need and found some paper
I cropped and printed the collage and stuck it to some card, the size of a shorthand notebook
I ironed on some plastic coating. It would have been easier if I’d done that before, but hey, sometimes you have to learn the hard way!
With a little help from a friend with way more skill and experience than I have, thank you Lindy, I stitched it all together with Coptic stitch.
So now I have a new notebook that’s very light, created to my own specifications, that no one else has.
Tah-dah!
Lucid Gypsy 
When I saw your title “A crafty day” I was eager to see what you’d been up to. Wonderful. I’m being haunted by handmade books – 2015 is the first time in at least ten years that I haven’t made an annual diary for myself, although mine is much more prescriptive. What’s going into this splendid book? It was great seeing your hands too – at least I presume they were yours. And then of course there were those superb photos.
Oh yes they’re mine – crinkly old things!Have you seen my beach post from yesterday?
I’ve seen and relished your beach post. What a lovely spanning of the hemispheres. My life has been on a hold a bit post-return, so I’ve been late commenting.
Brilliant! Crafty indeed 🙂
Thank you Sue!
Love this!
Ahh thanks Toni!
Very clever Gilly and I love the idea of originality…
Thanks Gerry, yes I like unique items!
What a brilliant way to extend the life of a great trip!! Do you download pics from the camera to a PC or tablet when you use apps? Thinking I do need to get a camera as my phone is old now & not giving me the quality it once did but it is the convenience of using apps.
If I use apps I email them to myself or on the pc I use photoshop. Sounds like you need a new phone and a camera 🙂
Yay! Excellent! Coptic stitch looks good.
Your photos are so good – you should make more…… 🙂
Time is always my problem but I help my craft friend to use my images. The coptic stitch itself is easy I just get in a muddle starting and finishing!
You probably just need more time to do some more. …… time is always the problem, isn’t it.
Ah, Gilly, you’ve created a wonderful notebook!!!! 🙂
Happy Monday and new week! 🙂
Thanks Marina and you too!
I love notebooks, especially handmade. I used to make them years and years ago when I was still working. Yours is attractive and I bet each time you see it or pick it up, the memories of the day you took the actual pictures will flood back. Nice way to spend a day. ❤
Thanks Tess, I love to create things and using my own images is even better!
It’s wonderful to hold something you’ve made yourself. ❤ ❤ ❤ Lots to be proud about.
Nice, Gilly! That is a perfect gift to yourself. You’re so talented. 🙂
Thanks from the Gilly of all trades, mistress of none 🙂
Super crafty creation … I like it very much. The idea of making a little journal for personal use that is lightweight is genius. One day, when I have nothing to do … hahaha – that’s a tongue-in-cheek humor … I will attempt you’re lovely crafty book. Well done, Gilly. 😊
Give it a go Issy I’m sure you would do a better job than I did!
Awww … I don’t think that will happen soon but thanks for the push. Too many projects on my desk for the business. It looks like all of those photos of the artwork that we had a photographer doing will now be my duty. I’m having FUN though !!! 😄
Beautiful! Great photos.
Thanks Francine 🙂
This is brilliant, Gilly. Well done! Love that Coptic stitch. It looks difficult to do. I wonder what you will record in your note book. 😕
It’s only staring and finishing that’s a bit tricky, you could do it easily. It’s going to Barcelona with me on a trip where I’m only taking hand luggage (your worst nightmare :-)! ). that’s why I wanted something very light
Oh yes, that makes sense. Only hand luggage! Eeek!! 😯
What a treasure! You have the beach with you at all times. I have been meaning to tell you that I am enamored of your blog photo of the pony and pool that makes me feel serene and secure.
Thanks Patricia, here’s a little more about Bellever. http://www.visitdartmoor.co.uk/things-to-do/bellever-forest-forestry-commission-p1681953
Thank you. Love those Dartmoor ponies.
Love the collage – I was thinking how great that would look printed out and framed and hung on a wall, and then I read what you actually did with it – very clever. Like others I am curious to know what you will write about in your new note-book.
Jude xx
I wanted a very light one to take to Barcelona and it ticks the boxes, just travel notes and scrawlings that pop into my head x:-)x
oh, how brilliant is this! love it!!
Ahh thanks Kris 🙂
Its beautiful!!! Very impressed Gilly 🙂
Thanks Madhu, because it’s the exact size and shape I need its already earning it’s keep!
Wow! Absolutely stunning Gilly and I love the images you chose. They are totally amazing! What a great crafty idea hon. I love it. 😀 ♥
Thanks honey, it’s proving useful!
Brilliant Gilly – must give great satisfaction to make something so lovely and handy to boot.
Me – now I’m lazy and like going in stationery shops – no hope! 🙂
Thanks Margi, I love stationery shops and have a few journals as you can imagine but while they are beautiful to look at they usually disappoint when I actually write in them. A hand made one opens flat if it’s made properly and it looks and feels exactly as I want it too Gx 🙂
Yep, brilliant. 🙂
Thanks Celestine!
Ta-dah, indeed! 🙂 I thought it was going on the wall too, but far more useful like that. And you’ll admire it every time you pick it up 🙂
I always plan to get some photos on the wall but don’t get round to it – the old ‘not good enough’ saboteur probably ! This is an alternative that’s being used already 🙂
BRAVA! BRAVA! BRAVA! Standing ovation from me, Gilly.
Ow, where’s mine? 😀 I kid, I kid.