Details, details

Posted on January 27, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 112/365

In case you didn’t know, I’m currently having a blog giveaway! So I thought it would be kind of fun to do a little feature on the goodies that will go to the lucky winner.

Postcard Pad, a set of 7 original, hand decorated postcards to tear out and mail, pictured above. Each postcard in this set is different, so don’t be afraid to send them all to the same person/your Valentine! They make a great companion when travelling or on trips to your local cafe.

Hand printed Ex Libris Bookplates, a set of 4 in Coral, pictured above. These are linocuts, my own design, which I cut and hand printed on self-adhesive paper. Simply write your name on the lines provided, and maybe put in a date or who gave you the book if it was a gift. Then peel off the backing and put the label on the inside cover of your book. Never lose a book again!

Mini Faux Leather Button Book in deep burgundy, pictured above. This is a cute, chunky little book with a button closure. There are 122 pages (244, front and back) and it measures 3″ x 4 1/2″ x 3/4″. Inside, find a mix of pages; blank, lined, and colours, with a surprise map thrown in for fun!

And of course, all these goodies come in a cute book bag hand sewn by yours truly.

To enter the contest just go here for instructions and details. Contest runs until January 31, 2015.

Good Luck!

Valentines Day Blog Giveaway!

Posted on January 24, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 109/365

As a Thank You for all the love you’ve shown me over the last several months, I’ve decided to give back and return the favour! I’m holding my first ever Sprouts Press blog giveaway!!

To participate all you have to do is:

1. Follow Sprouts Press blog here on WordPress.
2. Leave a comment below about why you love to journal/sketch/doodle/brainstorm; what is it that draws you to pen and paper?

Contest runs January 24 – 31, 2015. One winner will be drawn randomly from comments below (you must also follow Sprouts Press blog here on wordpress) and announced on February 1, 2015!

The Loot:
-Postcard Pad, a set of 7 original, hand decorated postcards to tear out and mail.
-Hand printed Ex Libris Bookplates, a set of 4 in Coral. Label your books!
-Mini Faux Leather Button Book in deep burgundy.
-Hand sewn floral and corduroy book bag, to carry all your loot!

Good luck!

Long Distance Valentine

Posted on January 20, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 105/365

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love writing letters, sending letters and receiving letters, the snail mail kind. Valentines day around the corner and since I know several people in long distance relationships, I figured that now is a good time to showcase some of the items I make that are designed to be letter-mail friendly. These are items that are perfect to pop in a cute lovey-dovey card, maybe with a fancy bag of tea tucked in too!

From the top left going clockwise:
–Ex Libris bookplates, handprinted in gold.
–Quick Notes notebook, with handpainted two-tone red covers.
–Ex Libris bookplates, handprinted in coral.
–Quick Notes notebook, with handpainted covers in pink and gold.

Of course there are a few larger options; Bookbinding Kit in red & grey, red & cream, perfect for the crafty valentine.

Lastly, this is my last Starburst Journal in red Florentine. This was the first design I bound using my starburst stitching along the spine. It’s a special book that makes a very special gift either as a journal, sketchbook or a fancy album, for a special someone.

Golden

Posted on January 15, 2015 by sproutspress

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!

Wordless Wednesday 24.12.14

Posted on December 24, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 78/365

Wordless Wednesday 3.12.14

Posted on December 3, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 57/365

In the Works

Posted on May 26, 2014 by sproutspress

Hello everyone, just wanted to post a quick note to say Hello and let you know that I’m still around! My apologies for the radio silence lately, but there are a lot of exciting things in the works! I cannot spill the beans just yet, but soon!

In the meantime, a big Thank You is in order for everyone who has come out to support me at the various shows, workshops and fairs that I’ve been participating in lately. This weekend I was at the Small Press & Literary Festival by Toronto Indie Arts Market and the Annual Printmaking Fair at the Cambridge Galleries, where there were so many talented printmakers. When at shows, it’s always so nice to see a familiar face and meet someone in real life that I’ve been chatting with online! If you haven’t had a chance to check out one of the many artisan/maker/book arts fairs/craft shows I participate in, check out the Upcoming Shows section on my site. And keep your eyes peeled on the Workshops section for upcoming bookbinding classes that I will be teaching.

In the online world, I was a featured artisan earlier this month over at Small Batch Magazine! It’s a wonderful and eloquently written piece that really captures the drive and satisfaction of being a maker in the modern world. I’m proud to be featured on this all-Canadian website that profiles makers and artisans, something I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I encourage you to take a read and check out their website (it’ll be worth your time, I promise). Otherwise, if you’re interested in what I’m making in the studio, new items are being posted to my Etsy shop on a fairly regular basis these days.

Around the Corner

Posted on March 24, 2014 by sproutspress

If you’ve been following my (rather sparse) posts lately, you already know that I’m an exhibitor in this year’s One of a Kind Show and Sale. I’m pretty excited about this, it’s the largest craft & artisan show I’ve ever participated in, and it’s right here in Toronto! As well as my enthusiasm I’m also a bit nervous, especially in the last minute tasks leading up to the official opening. In reality though, I’m pretty well on schedule and organized.

This is pretty good for me.

No last-minute rushing around frantically. No middle-of-the-night realizations that I forgot to, gasp, order business cards or bring a chair or something like that. Nope, I’m organized and on schedule. That is, until I got my eureka idea for the perfect series of books to bind, last minute of course!

My creative side took charge and the schedule changed! I was no longer on schedule. But now as I finish up these new additions, I have a new plan, and I’ll leave you with some photos of what you can expect to see at my booth (K20G in the Etsy section).

Lots of new designs and variations on some classic bindings.

I’m pleased with how everything has turned out and how the collection as a whole feels connected through materials, colour and transition.

I drew on the changing of seasons for inspiration; winter to spring, bleak to bright, cozy to light, old to new.

I think the growth of this transition is visible across the table, and I couldn’t be more delighted!

If you plan to attend the show and don’t have tickets, click here to get a discounted ticket! I’ll be in the Etsy section at booth K20G. The show runs from March 26 – 30 and if you have any further questions, please visit the show website here.

Hope to see you there!

One of a Kind

Posted on March 8, 2014 by sproutspress

If you follow my blog, you may remember that I mentioned being a participant in this year’s One of a Kind Spring Show & Sale. Well, the show is just around the corner so I figured it would be fun to host a contest. One lucky person will win a pair of free tickets!! That sounds like fun, right?

How to enter:

On facebook ‘like’ Sprouts Press and share this photo (found in my feed) for one entry.
On twitter, ‘follow’ Sprouts Press and retweet this photo (also in my feed) for another entry.
Contest ends March 11 and the winner will be announced March 12!

And if you don’t win the contest, don’t worry I’ve still got you covered. Just click here for a discount on eTickets you can purchase online for $11 (as opposed to $14 at the door).

The show runs from March 26 – 30th at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. For more info visit the One of a Kind Show website.

I’ll be at the show with my hand bound books, in the Etsy section at booth K20G.
Hope to see you there!

Ex•Libris

Posted on November 28, 2013 by sproutspress

Ex Libris, what’s that? If this thought just went through your mind, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. As a book binder an owner of *a few* books, I started using Ex Libris book plates a long time ago. Actually, my mother used them in the books my brother and I grew up with. They had scarecrows on them and I used to think they were pretty neat. But not everyone knows about the joys of using Ex Libris book plates.

To clarify, ‘Ex Libris’ and ‘book plates’ are the same thing.

A simple online search shows that Ex Libris (latin) literally means: from the books (of). Traditionally it would have the owner’s name and/or a coat of arms printed right on it and is pasted into the front of the book.

The book plates would all be the same, as would the bindings of the entire library. (I suppose they never considered organizing their bookshelves by colour!)

I used to purchase book plates and one day wondered why I didn’t try my hand at making my own. I am, after all, an art college graduate. How hard could it be?

Not too difficult, after minimal trial and error. My first attempts were printed on simple washi paper, which would be pasted in using rice paste. I printed them in chocolate brown. Since then I’ve switched to printing on self-adhesive paper for convenience and ease of use. And I print in fun colours!

I’ve had Ex Libris book plates in my Etsy shop for a while now, but recently printed 2 more editions. One is an older lino cut, and another I created just for the end of 2013!

These are the new ones! I love the simplicity and bold lines. The line work represents rays of sunshine and the dawning of a new day, or in this case the new year. Sometimes, it might also represent staying up all night, till dawn’s first light, because you were reading a really good book. It happens.

Using Ex Libris book plates keeps your books organized, in check and it might even impress your friends. If you’re liking the sounds of this you should check out my Etsy shop and keep your eyes peeled this weekend for a fun Cyber Monday sale with free gifts, which just might be packs of Ex Libris book plates!!