Free Style Travel Journal

I just had the most fun making this cover for my new travel journal! No pattern, no measuring, just go with the flow. A journal needs a place for pens, so I decided that the cross stitch girl would be decorative and a 'pen pocket'. First, I trimmed the cross stitch design and cut matching sizes of muslin and fusible interfacing. I placed the non-fusible side of the interfacing on the muslin, then stitch a piece of elastic at intervals to the opposite side. Then I put the elastic side and the right side of the girlie together and sewed around all, leaving an opening to turn the pocket. Next, I ironed it flat, thus fusing the interfacing to the back of the cross-stitch. I didn't bother to sew the opening. Then I ran decorative stitch across the top of the pocket. Next, I cut the journal cover from some scrap faux suede and made your basic book cover, purposely using contrasting thread and not worrying about neatness. After that, I centered the girl and stitched her on the front with a decorative stitch that also closed up the opening. Not being such a fan of black, I thought a fun, fiber spine would spice it up nicely. Added a few baubles. This journal will be used when travelling, so I put extra-long straps so that I could place it over one shoulder OR a shoulder and across the body(like a seat belt) so that my hands could be free. Clearly, I would need them for the camera on my trip too! I didn't like the black straps AT ALL. That's when I went crazy with stitches and thread randomly on the machine. I like the effect, in the end. I sewed these in with colorful buttons. Lastly, there will be lots of souvenier-type ephemera in the journal's pockets so it needed to be shut tightly and it needed to be adjustable. This I solved by punching holes and threading some hemp cord at the top of the inside flaps and tied it. Voila! Now I can't wait to use it!But that will have to wait. I have made a GIANT mess doing this!!!!