Day 28/365
It seems to be the time of year; the garden is pulled out, the air is crisp and we all start thinking about cozy indoor activities. So, without further ado, please won’t you join me next saturday at my next book making workshop!
I will be teaching the Longstitch/Linkstitch binding, which is the same binding as last weekend’s class, but we will be collaging the covers into beautiful art books. It’s so much fun!
For more information and to register, please go here.
Day 27/365
In the spirit of talking about some of my favourite projects, I couldn’t resist a post about these watercolour travel journals. Originally in two colours, only the pink is left. This book was designed to be a tough and rugged workhorse of a journal. I wanted to create a beautiful yet functional sketchbook to take along while travelling or hiking. I put in a pen holder on the spine and a braided linen tie-around closure. It’s sturdy and solid, and beautiful all at the same time.
The hot pink paper is handmade (not by me) with a lovely scattered seedpod-like pattern on the front, and solid, bright, hot pink on the back. I’ve had many discussions with papermakers about how this technique was achieved; maybe the hot pink paper was pulp painted, with rice as a resist? Maybe it was a lamination of sheet forming? I don’t know the answer, but it’s fantastic either way.
The second journal uses hand-decorated paper that I picked up a long time ago. I wish I could remember the artists name, I’d love to get more! It is a textured wallpaper, that has been painted and distressed and then flecks of gold applied. It has the effect of a dark, starry night.
Day 26/365
In the studio today: stacks and stacks of pages to be sewn into many books. Fancy coptic journals, to be exact. This is my sunday, along with the lots of tea and some Vinyl Cafe.
Day 25/365
Today I had the pleasure of teaching a wonderful group of ladies the Longstitch/Linkstitch binding. We were at Graven Feather, a fantastic printmaking studio and gallery, here in Toronto on Queen St. West. 
I love seeing the different styles and colours each person is drawn to and the details put into each book. Everyone was happy with their journal and enjoyed learning a new skill! Welcome to the world of bookbinding!!
To learn more about upcoming workshops and classes, please visit my Workshops page.
Day 24/365
These are some of my new pieces, not quite finished yet. I thought today was an appropriate day to share these two, as they’re inspired by both ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. Happy Halloween!
Day 21/365
It’s workshop time! This saturday I’m excited to be teaching a bookbinding class at the amazing Graven Feather Gallery/Printmaking studio! This is a creative hands-on class geared for all skill levels. I love teaching this workshop, especially when the room goes quiet and everyone is completely and wholeheartedly engrossed in their projects. It’s so wonderful to see people just let go and allow their unique creativity really shine!
The photo above is from a previous class taught there, a similar class will happen this saturday (November 1). But it’s not just bookbinding, we’ll be getting creative designing and decorating covers! Sound like fun? Go here for more information and to register.
When the air gets that autumn crisp and I know winter is not far, I often think of these journals.
They are a warm and cozy light brown leather, with the last bits of summer brightness captured in the beading detail.
I don’t have any in stock right now and I have made a few variations of these books. But I enjoy the spontaneity and uniqueness while designing and crafting each book (no two are alike). I also love the bead work and the pop of colour and sparkle on the spine.
Day 19/365
This is the aftermath of an evening spent hand-dying paper. I’ve started using more colours and overlays with colour washes. I’m pretty excited to see how they turn out as books. These will become lovely covers for some very special journals!
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.
Day 17/365
I draw a lot of inspiration from colour, real time and in photos. This post is dedicated to a small slice of my life where colour was my everything. It couldn’t be helped, I was surrounded by it. I’m talking about my time overseas, in Italy.
I used to be a painter, colour was one of the most important parts of that process for me. Now that I’m a bookbinder I find different ways of using colour: fancy paper, reclaimed materials, cover adornments, etc. And when I use my own journals: pens. Oh how I love a good spectrum of pens. I have multiple sets of rainbow-hued markers, ballpoint pens, prismacolour, copic, sharpies, staedtler fineliners. It’s like Christmas every time I use them, so I use them a lot! (When I had a day job, I was the person who took one of every colour of highlighter and pen from the supply room in an attempt to brighten up an otherwise dreary cubicle). These photos are kind of like my pen sets; inspirational, bright, they put a smile on my face and make my colour-loving self sing.
I don’t remember where all these photos were taken, I think some in Venice and some in Tuscany. You can tell by the colour palettes of the buildings. How amazing is that? To know where you are by the colours of the walls lining the streets. I do remember that green shutters were the common denominator no matter where I went.
The richness of these last two places in Florence are so intense. A different feel from the top two bright and sunny Venice towns. The monochromatic-like palette is a lovely collection of ochre, amber, oranges and browns.
Have you ever thought about the colours you use when journalling? Sometimes I like to put a background wash of a light/pale colour (using the broad-tipped, sheer marker sets) on the page before writing with a matching colour on top (with a fineliner, of course). And yes, I enjoy using more than one kind of pen/marker in a single journal entry, you should try it! I’d love to hear about it if you do. What are your favourite colours to journal with?
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