The Colour Purple is a handmade mixed media art book.
The size of the book is 18″ wide by 5″ high [45cm x 12cm].
I stitched one page to another i.e. wrong sides together after adding all the bits and bobs [which was a challenge as some of the bits are not flat]. When stitched I used a zutter binder to punch the pages and attach the metal binding wires. There is a little hand charm on the front which says ‘hand made’.
The cover, vintage fabrics with the words ‘the colour purple’ in applique. The background fabric is the oldest fabric.
The inside front cover – various fabrics – mono-print, painted, stamped and vintage [floral] in a patchwork effect with decorative machine embroidery. 
Page 1- paper collage, all hand painted and decorated, some inkjet prints also painted, playing card house, postage stamp, punched numbers, paper flower with beads and sequins in the centre.
Page 2 – painted, stamped, stitched papers. Punched tags and stamps, dyed lace, embroidery, beads, sequins, altered button. 
Page 3 – painted, stamped, stitched papers. The centre piece with the bird is a t-shirt transfer print [quite plastic-like]. The house – purchased paper, envelope [roof]. The apple recycled painted papers, purchased paper [floral bit] 
Page 4 – layered painted, stamped paper [recycled]. Stitched edges. Collage – jug [painted book pages]. Dyed lace and trim, beads, card circles [hand crafted, painted]. Embroidery on hand painted/stamped recycled wipe. [Sailor stitch edging and French knots]
Page 5 – layered painted, stamped paper [recycled and book pages]. Stitched edges.Mini hand made book with metallic thread machine embroidery decoration. Mono printed card with flower, stitched. Art button.Heart tag [decorated purchased tag], section of recycled greetings card, paper napkin [tree], sequins, handmade card button, embroidery. 
Page 6 – Layered painted papers, some recycled [book, calendar], stitched edges. Gel print fabric with hand embroidery, gems.Printed ATC, tag with found image, recycled painted wipe with embroidery. 
Page 7 – Layered painted papers, some recycled [book, envelope], decorative machine stitching and stitched edges. Velvet with embroidery [spiders wheel] and beads.Hand crafted art buttons. 
Page 8 – Layered painted/stamped papers, stitching, stitched edges. Hand embroidery, bird collage. Hand made card button. 
Page 9 – Layered painted/stamped papers, stitched edges.Altered playing card, hand crafted art buttons, punched stamp shapes, postage stamp.Hand made card button, beads, stars on string. 
Page 10 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, strip of vintage fabric, decorative machine stitching, stitched edges. Vintage fabric cup, stitched, artificial lavender flower. Three hand crafted art buttons [I used papers from a book and diary], tag decorated with found images on both sides and artificial flowers on one side. 
Page 11 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Appliqued flowers [vintage fabrics] 
Page 12 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Tag decorated with painted wooden flower, gem and bead. The African scene was a purchased card. Two transfer printed buttons, one art button, three card circles decorated with magazine paper, stitched. 
Page 13 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. The butterfly was recycled from a greetings card.Painted doily, hand stitched, fish charms. 
Page 14 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges.Velvet fabric with embroidery and flower beads on top of fabric. Dyed lace, embroidery, fabric under lace. Snippet of art work. 
Page 15 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Fabric ATC, patchwork, embroidery and beads. Hand crafted square art buttons, embroidery. 
Page 16 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Fabric inside of a dyed lace frame, hand embroidery, beads, handmade washi tape. Mini art – painted card, metal mesh with feathers threaded thru. Postage stamp, artificial paper flowers. 
Page 17 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, decorative machine stitching,stitched edges. Painted, stamped recycled wipe with hand embroidery, dyed lace with decorative machine stitching. Punched stamps, wooden ring with bead. Folded card tag opens to show paint effect book page, 2 art buttons [Russian dolls], recycled card circle attached with embroidery. 
Page 18 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Row of beads, earring part, printed ATC [my design], 2 art buttons, row of sequins on fabric. Handmade button [shrink plastic], ribbon, beads, card discs decorated with purchased papers, gems. 
Page 19 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, decorative machine embroidery, stitched edges.Ribbon, running stitches, dyed laces, recycled jewellery. Square of textured art mounted on velvet fabric with embroidery, lace flower, paper flower [purchased], recycled butterfly from greetings card. 
Page 20 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Card discs, mini buttons. Reindeer are from a paper napkin. Tag, one side butterfly stickers, the side musical note stickers. Purchased handmade paper with metallic gold decoration, beads on each side, paper flower. Rows of hearts and flower are from a napkin. Gems. Small sample of digitally printed fabric, my design. Decorative machine stitching. 
Page 21 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Painted wooden butterflies. Recycled postcard [layer of] text added. Postage stamp. Wooden painted flower and bead. 
Page 22 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Beaded trim, dyed lace, handmade washi tape. Three handmade buttons [shrink plastic]. Ribbon, dyed lace, beads, paper flower. 
Page 23 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, stitched edges. Painted doilies, art button, large handmade covered card button with embroidered fastening. Hand embroidery [girl], beads, recycled bird from card, text. 
Page 24 – Background – painted, stamped, decorated layered papers, decorative machine embroidery, stitched edges.Postage stamp, dyed lace and machine embroidery, arrow covered in sand, two altered tags – dyed lace and brads.Dyed lace and machine embroidery, two art buttons, pleated ‘quilt’, paper rabbit, dyed lace, brads. 
Inside back cover – a patchwork of vintage fabrics and recycled painted/stamped wipes, decorative machine embroidery, stitching.
Click here for a tutorial on Art Buttons
Follow me on Pinterest
Lins Doodles 
Pingback: Swim | Illustration Friday
Pingback: One Word Challenge – Purple | Lins Doodles
wow! What a piece of work!
Thank you.
and art!
Pingback: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – The Color Purple | Lins Doodles
Fantastic work, such a creative design and exquisite handmade book! Impressive and delightful!
Thank you.
I especially love the bunny poking out of the hat.
Thanks. I had to remind myself what it looked like, nice to revisit.
Wow! Love it! Not just because i like purple but because it’s really nice. Amazed at the time and effort you spent to do it. How long did you take to finish all that?
Thank you. I can’t remember how long it took to finish, maybe I should time myself if I make another book?