Finally, a map of the future!

If you have been patiently waiting to see the finished Map of the Future visual journal cover, please accept my apologies. I've been unable to sit at my computer for several weeks now due to a compressed disc in my spine – ouch! The project is now finished, and I've been scribbling away in the journal with more ideas for designs and patterns while I've been ill, so please come back to this blog soon to see what's next. 

After completing the embroidery of the map I had fun finding and adding the brass embellishments shown here, including the compass of cogs and watch parts, the ornate brass hinges and the hasp-and-staple lock to keep it safe.

The pattern and full step-by-step instructions are available from my etsy store, if you would like to make your own visual journal cover. And please add your email address to my mailing list using the form in the sidebar if you'd like to know when new patterns and designs are available.

Map of the Future embroidery

With the embroidery for the Map of the Future visual journal cover complete, today I have rinsed the whole piece of fabric in lukewarm water to remove the water-soluble fabric marker, and spread it out to dry. Because it's linen, I won't let it dry completely before I iron it, pressing from the back on a soft towel so as not to flatten the stitches. There's just a little more preparation (which I'll discuss in detail in the pattern that will soon be available from my etsy store*), and then it will be time to assemble the cover and put it on the visual journal.

* If you'd like to be informed when the pattern is available, simply sign up for the newsletter in the sidebar. I'll email you when a new pattern is available, and I promise I won't contact you for any other sales or marketing.

Decorating the landscape

The embroidery for the Map of the Future visual journal cover is almost done. I've used fairly simple embroidery stitches, and kept details to a minimum: waterways, major roads, parks and bushland. I'm tempted to add signposts to my favourite cafés, bookshops and cinemas, but I might find that the map is complicated enough by the time I've finished all the little French knot trees.

There will be instructions in the pattern detailing which colours and stitches I used, including photographs showing how to do the embroidery stitches. Keep an eye out here on my blog, or sign up in the sidebar to receive an email when the pattern is available in my etsy store.

Map of the future

I'm making a cover for my visual journal that will feature an embroidered map of my local area. The first step is to cut the fabric slightly larger than the finished size of the cover (so that it can be held in an embroidery hoop), then mark the outlines of the map design using a water-soluble fabric marker. Here's a tip: if you make a mistake with the marker, simply redraw the line then use a cotton bud (Q-tip) dipped in a drop of water to remove the unwanted line.
The water-soluble marker will fade with time, because of the moisture in the air and on your skin as you handle the fabric. So begin by stitching the major outlines and shapes on the fabric and leave the other details for later.
Please keep coming back to this blog to see more progress on my Map of the Future and, eventually, to find out when the pattern will be available from my etsy store. Or sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar to get a free pattern and an email whenever a new design is available.

Visual journal cover

I've decided that the next project I want to make is a cover for my visual journal, which is an A5-size, spiral-bound visual art diary. I looked for some inspiring examples and stuck the images in the very visual journal, as you can see at left.

Inspired by the book of historic maps I read this week, I decided to make a linen cover with an embroidered map design. I like the idea of an inset compass or clock, as in the third image. I also really, really want to keep my ideas and thoughts private with a solid lock (which was what triggered yesterday's image search).

Please keep coming back to this blog over the next week or two to see the progress I'm making on my journal cover and, of course, I'll write a pattern and instructions so that you can make one for yourself. If you sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar, I'll make sure you don't miss out on a copy of the pattern when it's ready.

Urban explorer's kit bag

 

The Urban Explorer's Kit Bag is complete. Made of faux suede fabric with a cotton ticking lining, the bag is approximately 40 cm (16 in) tall with a base diameter of 21 cm (8¼ in). There is one internal pocket that's just the right size for a smartphone, while a draw-cord closure and a cotton shoulder strap to make it easy to carry. 

You can make this bag for yourself: the pattern and instructions are available from my Etsy store for $5.00 (no shipping costs: online delivery). For readers of this blog only, you can get a free copy of the pattern by signing up to the Steampunk Style newsletter in the panel at right. The newsletter will let you know when other steampunk-style patterns are available, and will not be used for any other marketing.

If you like the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag, please visit again soon to see what interesting steampunk style projects I'll be making next.

Urban explorer's kit bag, again

 This picture shows the placement of the embroidered patches on the outer fabric for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag. Instructions for making the patches and the bag will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the project, so please keep coming back to this blog to find out where you can download it.

The next feature of the kit bag is a small pocket in the lining of the bag. The boy in The Lost Thing keeps his notebook and pen in the internal pocket, and you can too, unless you prefer to keep your smartphone or music player in it instead. This pocket is simply stitched into position on the lining fabric while it is still flat, with a hand-stitched hem along the top edge.

Urban explorer's patches II

Scrabbled through my fabric stash and picked out a few fabrics for the patches of the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag. There's some beige linen, spotted red cotton, a piece of faded chambray and a scrap of yellow cotton print.

 First step is to use fusible interfacing as a stabiliser and iron it onto the back of the fabrics, then cut out the shapes roughly.

 I'm using a water-soluble fabric marker to trace design features onto the fabric before embroidering the details.

It's important to remove the marker using a damp cloth before you press the patches. Apart from that, these are ready to be stitched onto the bag. Templates and full instructions for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag will be available as a PDF download when the project is finished, so please keep reading the blog to find out where you can get it.

Urban explorer's patches

The first step in creating the kit bag is to make up some of the cool patches that adorn the outside of the bag. Templates and instructions for the ones I'm making will be included in the downloadable instruction sheets at the end of the project.

If you're not keen on making your own patches and doing your own embroidery, you could collect vintage patches from charity shops; or you might already have a collection of souvenir patches from a recent holiday that you could use.

The patch at left, for example, is one I bought at the Buffalo Naval Park in western New York state. I chose it as my souvenir because the open book, pen and keys mean it's the insignia for a media officer on a ship (the closest I could get to a writer and editor—my day job).

The patches I'm designing for the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag are more cartoonish than this one. There's a groovy "peace" symbol; a rectangle that has a date on it (Shaun uses 1974 in the illustrations—maybe because that's the year he was born—I've picked 2012); a label with a short message or name and address; and a wiggly arrow like the ones in The Lost Thing.

Urban explorer's kit bag

This week's project is partly based on a sailor's kit bag, and will be similar to the one the boy is carrying in the film trailer for The Lost Thing in my previous post. I'll show you pictures of it as I make it, and at the end of the project I'll give you a link to download a free PDF of the full pattern and instructions.

Today I'm starting to gather some of the bits and pieces I think I'll need for the project, and drawing up some sketches and plans in my visual journal. I've started a fresh journal just for this Steampunk Style blog, and I'll be sharing some of the pages from it in these posts.

A visual journal is a great tool for a crafty person: you can paste in pictures, draw sketches of your ideas and even tape swatches of fabric and other materials in it. As well as helping you work out what you want to do next, it makes a great record of the project when you're finished, or an aide memoire if you ever want to make it again.

If you'd like to learn more about using a visual journal, check out my friend Sharon's online class.