Bank Holiday - Part 2
~ Can you use tree bark as fabric? ~

Yes , you read that right tree bark ?? Its one of the strange things that had been going through my mind yesterday afternoon while I was cleaning out and replanting the pots on our patio. DH was on the roof of his shed putting the new roofing felt on so wanted me to be around should he need help !!

So dug out DH's drill and made a start. I mean I figured that some how I would need to make the holes first. An electric drill just made it quicker. So below you can see my first two pieces with holes all ready ...

So first tried using normal embroidery thread. It worked !
Next tried garden twine.... Colour a bit too in your faceFinally to the old favourite - raffia =) Then I tried joining the pieces in a different way, by placing the hole over each other so the bark over lapped. Here I used raffia and tied each join off. Made a few beads to see how small a piece of bark I could drill and it would NOT fall to pieces. Here is the back of the hanging above before the beads were added.
Next I wondered if the bark could be a true piece of embroidery rather than just joining pieces together, could I stitch over it. Thus here is my bark cross stitch in thread and raffia...AND a spider created in a varigated thread =)
The problem is how do I add these to the sketch book. I can not really glue them down. I guess I could use the holes and tie them on.... !?!? Errmmm May just look to put into plastic bags and staple those to the pages !!! Any ideas welcome !

Now the sketch book needs a cover - so created a few buttons ...

and stitched a cover. I'll be adding eye lets along the top so I can tie this to the front.