Bookmaking Workshop: Mississauga

Posted on March 27, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 171/365

I’m proud to announce that this sunday I’ll be teaching my first workshop at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga!

It’s a bookmaking workshop, using the Longstitch technique, as pictured above. I really enjoy teaching bookbinding and am so happy to be branching out and offering my workshops around southern Ontario. (Yes, there are more in the works!! Watch the Workshops section of my site to find out!)

While this sunday’s workshop is sold out, there is a second date in June that still has some spots left. Go here for details and to register.

Creative Bookbinding

Posted on March 17, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 161/365

Learn the craft of bookbinding this thursday! Details below.

This thursday I’ll be teaching a bookbinding workshop at Little House in the City. Spend the evening learning the art of bookbinding using the Longstitch technique to make a hand bound journal!

Where: Little House in the City, 555 Parliament St., Toronto
When: Thursday March 19, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

For details and to register, go here.

Creative Bookbinding

Posted on March 12, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 156/365

I’m teaching another Creative Bookbinding workshop in one week at Little House in the City. That’s right, we listened to your requests and are offering a weeknight workshop in response!

Where: Little House in the City 555 Parliament Street, Toronto
When: Thursday March 19, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

To learn more and register, please go here.

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on March 8, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 152/365

I’ve always loved to learn, I think it’s important to keep my creativity honest and fresh. Today’s post is about learning a new binding; the Greek Binding. For anyone who has experience with hand binding books, and has perhaps tried this binding, you know this is a fun one!

Some quick facts about the Greek Binding:
-There must be a minimum of 20 signatures (that’s right, a whopping 20!!)
-It is a 2 needle sewing (as opposed to the usual 1 needle sewings like Longstitch and Pamphlet.)
-It is not sewn from cover to cover but rather both sides are started from the outside and worked towards the middle, where they meet in a beautiful figure 8-like stitch.

I don’t have a photo of the finished project, but I can say that it was a good challenge. It was also a nice break from the bindings I usually choose. Sometimes it’s just so refreshing to build skills and knowledge to learn a new way of doing something you do everyday. Have you learned a new bookbinding technique lately? I’d love to hear about it!

See you at Graven Feather!

Posted on March 5, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 149/365

This is the last call, the final reminder, the almost last chance to join me this saturday at Graven Feather for a bookbinding workshop! There are only one or two spots left so act quickly!

However, if you miss out this time around, there is another workshop scheduled for Saturday April 11, same time and same place.

To find out more about both workshops and to register, go here.

The Studio On a Sunday

Posted on March 1, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 145/365

Today’s post is all about some screenprinting I did a couple of days ago! I did 115 prints for the Wayzgoose Anthology. If you’re in southern Ontario and into printmaking, book arts, and the like, then you should check out the Wayzgoose Book Arts Fair in Grimsby at the end of April!

I always mix my own colours because I enjoy it, and it gets me the exact colour I want.

Just a sneak peek at a corner of my print. And also the wonderful zebra print duct tape I usually use. (It gets the job done and puts a smile on my face!)

I’ve been practicing calligraphy on a fairly regular basis. So when it came time to come up with a design for my print, I naturally turned to ink, but this time to brush and ink rather than my calligraphy pen. I decided to draw my design right on my screen rather than use photo-based techniques.

This is my small, portable setup to screenprint. It works really well and stores away neatly in a minimal space.

If you’ve ever wanted to try screenprinting you should! It’s fun and not too invasive, take a workshop or a class if you really want guidance on how to get started.

I don’t usually pick favourites, but this one is my favourite!

Posted on February 28, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 144/365

This journal is #3 in a series of the hand dyed washi cover journals. I posted about the other two journals in this series a little while ago but felt this one deserved it’s own post. It’s my favourite in the series. I think it’s purely aesthetics, but I love the way the covers turned out. They are simple yet beautiful.

To read more about the process of hand dying washi paper, read about it here and here. Each paper comes out a bit differently than the other, making each book one of a kind and truly unique!

Workshop Time!

Posted on February 26, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 142/365

In less than 2 weeks I’m instructing another bookbinding workshop at the awesome letterpress studio and gallery Graven Feather!

It’ll be a fun morning of creativity and journal making. Everyone will leave with a finished project and the skills to make more books!

If you’re interested in joining me, act fast as there are only a couple of spaces left!

For more information and to register, go here.

Use Your Journal No.3

Posted on February 24, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 140/365

Today I’m going to tell you about a fun way to use your journal/sketchbook. It involves paring down your implements (pencil only) and taking your journal with you. You may have already guessed; today it’s all about sketching at the art gallery! Woot!! Here in Toronto there’s the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario). I’ll be talking mostly about this gallery because it’s such a large place and there seems to be something for everyone. But there are so, so many other galleries both large and small to explore and discover.

When I was in art college, we were told to go to the AGO and practice our sketching skills. There are so many things there to sketch: sculptures, ceramics, paintings, patterns, portraits, and the list goes on. Here are 7 tips for basic art gallery sketching etiquette:

1. When sketching at a gallery, it’s always best to get in touch with them ahead of time to confirm that sketching is allowed. (At the AGO they have specific guidelines stating what is and isn’t allowed. Here it is: “Sketching is permitted in the Gallery except where indicated. Sketchpads must be 35 x 25 cm (14 x 10 in.) or smaller. Please use pencil only (no pens or charcoal)”. If you’re nervous about a pencil sharpener falling open and sharpenings going everywhere, just take a mechanical pencil instead. Much easier! (Especially if it’s the kind with the little eraser on the end).

2. Don’t sketch other people without their permission. (Obvious, but still needs to be said).

3. If you’re a bit nervous sketching in public, find a less busy wing of the gallery or a quiet nook. You could also just do quick sketches or gestures, rather than longer more developed drawings so that you only have to stop for a couple of minutes.

4. If you’re working on a specific project, check out the gallery website to see what’s showing so you can plan what section to go to. Or, just wander until you find something that catches your eye.

5. Always write down what the work is that you’re sketching. Record as much information as you can; artist, year, medium, influences, etc. If a piece really sticks in your mind maybe you’ll want to do further research or discover what else that artist has created. You can also write down which gallery you sketched at, even what section – especially handy if it’s in the permanent collection.

6. As you can see by my sketches, I tend to write a lot. Sometimes its just impressions of the art and sometimes it’s more practical. Often my trips to go sketching at a gallery are either to research for a project (practical notes) or they are unplanned frenzies of inspiration (impression notes). Either way, writing and drawing go hand in hand.

7. After your gallery sketching trip, treat yourself to a cup of tea or coffee at a nearby cafe and admire your work. I cannot explain just how satisfying it is to spend even an hour or two sketching at a gallery and immersing yourself in art. Taking some time afterwards allows you to develop any lingering ideas and make notes for your next visit.

As an added bonus the AGO has a section on their website stating how to get in for free! The most widely applicable way is to go on wednesday evenings. The gallery offers free admission to the collection galleries on wednesdays from 6 till 8:30pm.

If this has you planning your wednesday evening (that’s tomorrow!!) and packing your journal and pencils, then my work here is done! Feel free to share your favourite galleries for sketching below in the comments.

Happy Sketching!

February Blues

Posted on February 23, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 139/365

A collection of items rounded up for their wintery and icy blue tones! I love winter and the beauty of fresh snow on evergreen trees, or a cross country ski day, or even just a walk in the calm of a snowfall. And of course a cold winter day is the best kind of day to stay inside with your journal and a cup of tea! Here are my most wintery items I’d like to share with you.

Starting clockwise from the top left: Indigo and Silver Quick Notes notebooks, Blue and White Starburst Journal, Thistles Pouch Screenprinted on Linen, Pocket Notes Mini Book in Florentine Blue, Wintertime Bookbinding Kit, Indigo Starburst Journal with hand dyed paper, DIY Bookbinding Kit in Aqua and Grey, Watercolour Sketchbook in Navy Bookcloth.

While the intention of this post is to share some of my blue and winter-themed items, I do realize that the Winter Blues are a real thing that affect many people. To learn more about Winter Blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression, click here for a video put together by CAMH.