Day 43/365
Wordless Wednesday 11.19.14
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Day 43/365
Category Archives: One of a Kind Show
Books, Photos and Paper
Day 42/365
This is a project that started a long time ago. It’s had a few reinventions, these are some of my favourites. There is a deeper meaning to these pieces and as a result they have morphed into other objects, but for now I’ll just touch on them briefly. Perhaps I’ll revisit the longer write up in a later post.
They are books sculpted into dioramas featuring digitalized photos from special moments in my life, moments that I feel many people can relate to. I’m talking about things like nostalgia, yearning and sometimes regret. 
Consider the crowds in an Italian Piazza, the grand archway in the distance and the top of a carousel tucked in a corner.
One last close up that shows the paper cutting that went into these pieces. They are detailed and intricate.
There is a small selection available at the Arts Market, and I will have a select few at the One of a Kind Show at the end of the month.
The Studio on a Sunday
Day 40/365
A journal mid-production; this is the coptic binding variation I tend to be using more and more.
Loving the brown linen thread on the navy cover and spine, a lovely natural journal.
Contest Time!
Day 37/365
It’s contest time! Who doesn’t love to win free tickets and a handbound notebook?
This contest is a draw, to enter simply ‘follow’ Sprouts Press on Instagram and leave a comment on which notebook is your favourite (pink & gold, indigo & silver, red & burgundy or black & gold).
The winner will get a pair of tickets to the One of a Kind Show here in Toronto, and the notebook they commented as their favourite! Woo hoo!
Bonus Entries: If you follow Sprouts Press on facebook share this photo for another entry! If you follow Sprouts Press on twitter retweet this photo for yet another entry!
The contest starts today and ends on sunday evening. A winner will be drawn at random and announced on monday.
Production
Day 34/365
I’m in the thick of production for the One of a Kind Show, which is just around the corner. So I thought it appropriate to share a bit about my process, about what it means to create a book by hand, from scratch. So here’s a mini step by step photo series to explain.
Once the pages are cut and folded by hand, they are collated and stacked in nice, neat, tidy piles, called signatures. (If you look closely at almost any book you have handy, you’ll see at the top of the spine the pages are divided into groups like this. The exception are ‘perfect’ bound books, which aren’t perfect at all but rather simply glued on the ends, so no signatures).
After marking where to sew each signature, I use this as a template to punch holes, making it easier to sew the book.
You can see the holes in each signature line up nicely with each other, creating a lovely and symmetrical pattern in the sewing along the spine.
This is just the first part of handcrafting a book; sewing the text block (group of signatures) into a case binding. After this I would attach the text block to the case, and voila – the book is done!
The Studio on a Sunday
Day 33/365
Today I’m working on the largest books I’ll be making all season. Not quite the largest books I’ve ever made, but for a long time at least. I am reminded that I prefer making smaller books.
Measuring 8″ x 10″, the ample page space is great for sketching or writing in long paragraphs. I’ll be featuring these books at the One of a Kind Show at the end of the month. (I’m at booth D49, stop by and say Hi!)
Coming Soon!
Day 30/365
The last couple of days have been a flurry of activity in the studio. Bookbinding kits galore!!
This year I’ve decided to make a variation of my usual kit and will be officially announcing them shortly. They are a limited edition, incredibly cute and fun!
Covers
Day 18/365
In preparation for the One of a Kind Christmas show here in Toronto, I’ve been testing different techniques for cover decoration. One of my first experiments was a series of painted covers.
It’s a pared-down, simplified and more minimal variation of my painted and printed matchbook style journals. 
I really enjoy the process of hand decorating a large sheet and then cutting it into covers. Each book ends up being unique and one of a kind.
The Studio on a Sunday
Day 12/365
A glimpse of the tidiest corner of the studio mid-prep for the busy holiday season that is, gasp, just around the corner!!
I’ve already sewn these text blocks, next I’ll make the covers and then case them in. There’s a nice surprise of page materials and the covers are full bookcloth (made by me!), I’m pretty excited for these journals!
Next!
It’s been two weeks since the One of a Kind show started, and I feel I’m as rested as I’m going to be. So much awaits that I cannot sit still for long. I’m talking about things like new projects, re-vamped designs and SPRING!! (I will admit, I’ve got both my winter and spring jackets out. I’m just not quite convinced I won’t need the winter one at least once more). 
I’ve got some re-vamped goodies in the works, just in time for spring: new Hayfever Hankies! Yup, they’re back and just in time, too! This batch will be available in white, pistachio, grass green and mocha. It comes in three lino cut designs, the usual suspects of hayfever; ragweed, timothy/hay and crowsfoot. Look in the ‘Handprinted Fabric Items’ section of my online Etsy shop in the next few days.
I’m also slowly but surely getting some of the brand new designs you may have seen at the One of a Kind show up in my Etsy shop. To keep up to date on this, follow my facebook or other social media feeds here.
Meanwhile, if you’re in Toronto I’ve got two shows this weekend, check out the Upcoming Shows section of my site for details!
Sprouts Press 