Blossom and Bloom

Posted on June 27, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 263/365I’m pleased to say that I’ll be participating in the next Blossom and Bloom show in less than 3 weeks! Located in picturesque Unionville, in the courtyard of the Varley Art Gallery, this is going to be a show worth checking out! I’ll be there with my handbound books, alongside a curated selection of talented makers, live music, and floral designers.

I’ll be there for just one day, on Sunday July 12 from 11am – 4pm.

The gallery is located at 216 Main Street, Unionville.

Bonus: Admission & parking are free!

Sprouts Press goes to Welland!

Posted on June 20, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 256/365

It’s a great day for a road trip to the Niagara region! Stop by Vermeers Garden Centre in Welland and say Hi to yours truly and many other talented makers!

What: Heirlooms Artisan Market
When: Saturday June 20, 10am – 6pm
Where: Vermeers Garden Centre, 684 South Pelham St, Welland, Ontario

Pro tip: This is an Etsy sponsored event, you know what that means – swag bags!! If you’re one of the first 100 people you’ll get a swag bag with some pretty awesome goodies inside!

For more details and vendor profiles, go here.

Peonies & Roses

Posted on June 19, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 255/365Once again, I’ve been inspired by the state of the garden: peonies and roses!! I suppose this happens because I try really hard to balance my work life (indoors) with some much needed time in the garden (outdoors). I find a real connection between being a maker of tactile objects and working in the garden; multiple senses are needed to really enjoy both of these things.

If you’re interested in knowing where to find these things, read on.

Ex Libris Bookplates (2 designs pictured in red, 1 in salmon)

Quick Notes Notebooks (pictured in two-tone red and pink & gold)

Watercolour Sketchbook in red (pictured top left corner)

Starburst Journal (pictured in marsala, just below the Watercolour Sketchbook)

Hot Pink Watercolour Sketcher (pictured right in the middle)

Large Fancy Coptic Journal in Marsala (pictured bottom right corner)

Paper Fair!

Posted on June 16, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 252/365Attention all Torontonian paper addicts: This thursday is the Paper Fair at Toronto’s First Post Office! Stop by to meet local paper artists and crafters, and talented stationery designers. It’s going to be a great selection of fun, beautiful, handmade paper goods!

For details and vendor spotlights, go here.

Gifts for Dad, Collection No. 2

Posted on June 4, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 240/365

Still looking for a Father’s Day gift? I’ve pulled together another great collection of items for dads that are cigar lovers, book collectors, allergy sufferers, poets and artists. This list is tied together with a palette of greens and browns, inspired by springtime and days spent outside.

Starting from top left, going clockwise:

Tall Handbound Journal*: Part of a series of ‘one of a kind’ journals. Since the covers are hand-dyed washi paper, no two books are identical. Features a classy-yet-rugged reclaimed leather and brass button stud closure.

Ex Libris Bookplates, Set of 4*: For the book collector and/or serious reader, label your library with elegance! Hand carved and printed, this set of 4 Ex Libris Bookplates comes in leaf green and has ample space to write your name and even a date, if desired. Printed on self-adhesive paper.

Brown and White Organic Stripes Journal*: This book is part of the same series as the first in this collection. It is a tall book with a substantial number of pages, 110 pages (220, front and back) to be exact, making it perfect for the daily entries of keen journallers.

Hay Fever Hankies*: Hand printed and hand sewn, these cute hankies depict some of the plants that cause hay fever. Cheeky, I know. A wonderful addition to your pockets or handbag, forget tissues and use a soft, 100% cotton, hand printed & sewn hanky instead!

Cigar Box Journal*: This series of handsome hardcover journals gives new life to old cigar boxes! Various brands available, check the online shop to see if the perfect one is in stock.

Florentine Hardcover Journal: The beauty of this book lies in the details. A small wrap around closure, from reclaimed leather, fastens shut with an understated and simple yet classy antiqued brass button stud. The covers depict a brown and green foliage motif, perfect for gardeners!

Grass Green Watercolour Sketchbook*: This is a lovely, hardcover landscape-oriented watercolour sketchbook, housing only 140lb watercolour paper. Handmade bookcloth adorns the covers in grass green and a classy ribbon bookmark, in pale green, keeps your place.

*Can also be found in real life at brick and mortar shops around Ontario! Go here to find a retailer near you. I recommend calling ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Lilacs

Posted on May 16, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 221/365Lilacs are in bloom! So here’s a collection of books in similar hues to one of my favourite fragrant flowers.

Starting at the top left going clockwise:

Floral Fancy Coptic Journal, Ex Libris Bookplates in a set of 5, Coral Mini Journal, Quick Notes in Gold and Pink, Canadiana Journal.

Enjoy the weekend!

Mothers Day Gift Collection No.2

Posted on April 28, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 203/365

A couple of weeks ago I put together a collection of items for Moms who love to draw and sketch. With Mother’s day just around the corner, I’ve got another group of items perfect for the mom who loves to read books, collect books, make books and everything in between!I’ve tailored this collection to inspire people who love books, but might not necessarily write or draw in them. This is a group of items for the book lover, the collector and the art appreciator.

From the top left, clockwise:
Starburst Journal in Garden Sage: Sage colored bookcloth adorns the spine and showcases the spine stitching, with green and brown floral covers. Makes a perfect garden journal or outdoor adventure album. More details.

Mini Book Necklace: A cute little handbound journal made from reclaimed leather! Opens and you can write in it, keeping your ideas and dreams close to your heart. More details.

DIY Bookbinding Kit: For the person who already has everything; give them a new skill! Beginner kit teaches the basics of bookbinding and comes with everything you need: materials, tools and step-by-step instructions. Various colours available. More details.

Red Florentine Starburst Journal: A lively and bold journal perfect for recipes, special memories or someone who loves the colour red! (any fellow leos out there?) Because the spine is wide, there’s enough room to adhere papers to the pages, like some photos or recipe cards in your grandmother’s handwriting. More details.

Queen Anne’s Lace on Linen: A perfect catch-all, coin purse or beach pouch. Hand drawn images of thistles are screenprinted onto brown linen. More details.

Ex Libris Bookplates in Green: For the book collector! A stylish way to label your books and build your library. Hand printed in various colours and self-adhesive, comes in a set of 4. More details.

The Wayzgoose Annual Book Arts Fair

Posted on April 20, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 195/365

It’s the best time of the year; time for the Wayzgoose!! I’m not even going to try and hide the fact that this is my most favourite show of the year, anyone who’s attended will understand.

This is an annual gathering of bookbinders, book artists, papermakers, printmakers, paper marblers, and anyone who makes things to do with these things. We all get together for the day to show our work, engage in shop talk and be inspired! It’s the best.

Traditionally a Wayzgoose is a feast held by a printing house for it’s employees. Today the Wayzgoose is a day-long fair, plus a gorgeous letterpress printed poster (like the one above by Graven Feather, of course!). And it’s also when the Wayzgoose anthology comes out, which is bound in a limited edition of 115 copies each year, with signatures from the vendors of the fair and local printmakers. Like I said, it’s pretty incredible! Check it out if you can, details below.

When: Saturday April 25, 9am – 5pm
Where: Grimsby Public Art Gallery, 18 Carnegie Lane, Grimsby, Ontario.

For more information, please visit the gallery’s site here.

Use Your Journal No.5

Posted on March 26, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 170/365

Spring is in the air, the snow is melting/melted and many of us are eager to help welcome the new season.Usually, springtime means spring cleaning. Oh joy.

Today’s post is a mix of ‘Use Your Journal’ and spring cleaning, specifically; getting your books, journals and sketchbooks organized and accounted for! In a fun way, I promise!
My secret weapon to accomplish this, if you haven’t already guessed, is with Ex Libris bookplates.

Ex Libris bookplates are labels that go in the front cover of your books (journals, sketchbooks, novels, biographies, etc). Ex Libris is latin and roughly translates to ‘from the library of’. Therefore, when you write your name in the space provided on each bookplate, you are creating your own library! What’s more organized than a library!?

My Ex Libris bookplates are my own designs that I carve into lino blocks. Then I hand print each one onto self-adhesive paper, making it easy and convenient for you to label your beloved books. I’ve printed two different designs, each in a few different colours, you can read about my process here.

I’ve even got gold bookplates! They’re actually quite beautiful and classy, and make a great gift when tucked in the front of a special book for a friend. To recap, here are 3 steps to incorporate Ex Libris bookplates into your journalling, sketching and book-collecting lives, making it even more fun to use your journal!

1. Choose a selection of journals/sketchbooks/books to be labelled.

2. Write your name in the space provided on the bookplate. Some people also like to write the date they start the book.

2a. If you’re giving a special journal/book as a gift and want to put an ex libris bookplate in the front cover, you can write the recipient’s name and the date. You can also write the occasion for the gift, as a memento for life milestones or achievements.

3. Once you’ve written the info in the space provided on the bookplate, peel off the backing and adhere to the inside front cover of the book/journal/sketchbook. Repeat for all your most fancy and special books!

Have fun!

Cabin Fever February: Only 2 Days Left!!

Posted on February 27, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 143/365

Just a friendly reminder that there are only 2 days left of my shop-wide sale at Arts Market on college!

Everything in the Sprouts Press space is marked down by 30%, so make sure to scoop that journal you’ve been eyeing for a while – when it’s gone, it’s gone!