Day 43/365
Wordless Wednesday 11.19.14
Reply
Day 43/365
Tag Archives: book arts
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.
Bookbinding + Painting + Printmaking = Happy Me
Day 41/365
Sometimes I indulge myself and combine mediums. Such is the case with this series of blue painted and relief-printed Longstitch journals. I’ve done this before with other painted journals, but recently came across these photos and felt the urge to share. 
Details are everything, matching beaded closures is a thing of beauty (to me anyways).
As many bookbinders and other makers of handmade items know, creating in multiples is key. These books are no exception. But make no mistake; each is unique in placement of the cover patterns and images. Designing these books, the covers and crafting these pieces is the sort of project that keeps me happy!
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.
Ornament Making
Day 39/365
If you’ve started thinking about the holidays and where to start, I may have the answer for you. In one week I’ll be teaching an Ornament Making Workshop over at the Arts Market on College. It’s the perfect way to start off the season!
This is a hands-on workshop where you’ll create a personalized, unique book ornament. We will touch on the basics first, and then dive into the main project – you will leave with your very own handcrafted ornament!
No previous art or bookmaking experience is necessary.
For more information or to register, go here.
Wordless Wednesday 12.11.14
Day 36/365
An Old Favourite
Day 35/365
A close up of some leather book spines from my earlier days of bookbinding. These were experiments with stitches along the spines of soft, leather journals. They started my love for trying new binding techniques and combining the best parts of bindings together, like my more recent Starburst books.
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!)
Book Ornaments!
Day 31/365
Who doesn’t love a good book ornament? I started making these for myself, then friends and family, and then I finally realized I should be selling them. They’re now in my online shop.
Bonus: I’m teaching a book ornament making workshop later in the month! We won’t be making this style of ornament, but it will still be a lovely little book you can hang for the holidays or anytime of the year.
Sprouts Press 