This week’s blog is very special to me. I’m dedicating this to my Nana who is turning 86! I decided it would be nice to make something special for her on her big day, but also do a write-up about the process of my creation.
My Nana is one of my biggest role models, and biggest influences on my life. She holds a ton of loving memories with me and still continues to make them with me. My Nana’s name is Hilda, and she was born in Lowestoft, England. She has a bunch of interesting stories about her childhood growing up there, alongside old photos of family that I love to see and learn about. Due to that, I thought a cute-fitting gift for her birthday would be to make her a handmade binder where she can store any pictures she has, notes, or anything flat and thin enough to fit in the box!
I started the process by thrifting two patterns I thought my Nana would like. I had her pick one pattern, and I am saving the other for a project in the future. The pattern she picked was made from an old pillowcase. I started by measuring and cutting the chipboard to fit the size I needed to create the binder. I then glued and laid the separate pieces of chipboard onto the inside of the pillowcase, and cut the fabric into the shape of the binder leaving about an inch or so around the border.
I then tightly wrapped, folded, and glued the excess fabric onto the inside of the binder. To cover this up, I measured and cut out two different patterns of scrapbook paper, and secured it over the inside of the binder. This floral, and polka dot pattern will be on the inside of the binder when it is folded open, and the original pillowcase pattern will be on the outside of the binder when it is closed!
To finish the gift, I wanted to give her a piece of my art. I chose to put an artist’s proof of two linocut frogs I made to put inside the binder, for when she opens it!
Happy birthday, Nana! I love you.
