Day 102/365
I’m pleased to announce that you can now find a selection of Sprouts Press’ Valentines and Winter-themed items right here in Toronto at Freedom Clothing Collective!
Pictured above are ‘Star Cross’d Lovers’ Starburst Book Ornaments. You can also find a variety of Bookbinding Kits (including the popular Wintertime Kit), and a selection of Quick Notes handpainted journals in lovey-dovey hues.
Day 101/365
I’d like to introduce one of the latest additions to my Etsy shop; the Marsala Journal!
This book is part of my Starburst Journal series, and also happens to be the Pantone colour if the year! Besides being a really lovely two-tone red hue, the beauty of this journal is that it lies completely flat when open. This is perfect for sketching, writing and generally pouring your heart onto the pages of your journal.
Marsala not your colour? See this book in a more neutral colour here. New designs are being added soon!
Day 100/365
In honour of the 100th day of my 365 project, I’ve decided to devote today’s post to all things golden!! Here’s what I’ve made in the shiny, sparkly colour everyone loves:
Quick Notes Notebooks: Handpainted black & gold, handbound with black linen thread.
A medley of golden delights (top left, clockwise): Fancy Coptic Journal in Gold Florentine with matching vintage golden button, handprinted Ex Libris bookplates in gold: Set of 5, handpainted Quick Notes Notebooks in Gold, Small Fancy Coptic Journal with matching gold vintage button.
If you’re hooked on gold, head to my Etsy shop to see what else there is!
Day 99/365
Day 97/365
It’s that time of year when folks who live in places like Ontario dream of warm places with beaches and palm trees. Did you know that Sprouts Press makes custom travel journals?
I hand-stitch the covers to depict a cityscape of your destination, making it a perfect keepsake when you return!
Usually I put watercolour paper inside, to encourage creativity when travelling, but if writing’s your thing you just prefer thinner paper, I’m happy to help.
Day 95/365
This is one of the books from the ‘Journeys in Winter’ series, from a couple years back. When winter in Toronto was more mud and gravel than snow. It was a bit disappointing for me as I do love some winter sports, but I didn’t mind the milder temperatures (mostly it hovered around 0 degrees celsius, give or take).
There were several books in the series, and I have a few left. They are based on the idea of combining printmaking, painting and bookbinding, which I’ve discussed here. But I also really like the structure of the book; a matchbox! 
The binding is a Japanese Hemp Leaf binding, which is great for single sheet pages.
You can see from a side view just little snippets of the page papers: maps, graph, lined, blank and colours! It really is a great little book for a winter journey!
Since I hand paint/print the covers, every book is different. Even the front and back covers are different on the same book.
Day 93/365
It’s a book smorgasbord! A smorgasbook, if you will!
Take a look some of the lovely handbound books that have found new homes over the last few months. Maybe one of them is now yours? I’d love to hear your favourite journalling topics and techniques!
Day 87/365
It’s the last day of Sprouts Press’ boxing week sale!! Now’s the time to scoop that journal you’ve been eyeing and use it to start 2015 right! You have until midnight tonight.
In other news, I would normally share my new year’s resolutions now, being the first *real* day of the new year (the 1st is a holiday, but the 2nd is for real). But I cannot as they are all surprises, so you must wait! I’m done with the boring, mundane and expected resolutions. I figure they should just happen all the time anyways.
Hope everyone’s new year has started off on a stellar note!
Day 84/365
Day 82/365
This is the studio on a sunday back in the fall. A great shot detailing the process of punching holes into leather, to be used as a closure for this journal. See similar journals here.
The pictured journal is a smaller cousin of the Indigo Coptic Journal featured in this post from a couple of weeks ago. It’s the same idea with the closure, just a different cover and sized journal!
Sprouts Press 