I don’t usually pick favourites, but this one is my favourite!

Posted on February 28, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 144/365

This journal is #3 in a series of the hand dyed washi cover journals. I posted about the other two journals in this series a little while ago but felt this one deserved it’s own post. It’s my favourite in the series. I think it’s purely aesthetics, but I love the way the covers turned out. They are simple yet beautiful.

To read more about the process of hand dying washi paper, read about it here and here. Each paper comes out a bit differently than the other, making each book one of a kind and truly unique!

February Blues

Posted on February 23, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 139/365

A collection of items rounded up for their wintery and icy blue tones! I love winter and the beauty of fresh snow on evergreen trees, or a cross country ski day, or even just a walk in the calm of a snowfall. And of course a cold winter day is the best kind of day to stay inside with your journal and a cup of tea! Here are my most wintery items I’d like to share with you.

Starting clockwise from the top left: Indigo and Silver Quick Notes notebooks, Blue and White Starburst Journal, Thistles Pouch Screenprinted on Linen, Pocket Notes Mini Book in Florentine Blue, Wintertime Bookbinding Kit, Indigo Starburst Journal with hand dyed paper, DIY Bookbinding Kit in Aqua and Grey, Watercolour Sketchbook in Navy Bookcloth.

While the intention of this post is to share some of my blue and winter-themed items, I do realize that the Winter Blues are a real thing that affect many people. To learn more about Winter Blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression, click here for a video put together by CAMH.

Indigo, Florentine and Fabric!

Posted on February 19, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 135/365After posting my latest instalment of Use Your Journal, I realized that there were only two Starburst Journals in my Etsy shop. I’m happy to say that I’ve taken some time to put these ones together and list them online.
These are quite possibly my favourite books to bind. I love the possibilities for covers and the stitching patterns created on the spine. Even better? It lays flat when open!
This book is the first of two that are full fabric covers. And it’s my own handmade bookcloth! I’m proud of these journals, the full fabric makes them very tactile. Perfect for a cozy afternoon of sketching/journalling/album making with a cup of tea by a toasty fire.

Hand-Dyed Washi Journals

Posted on February 12, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 128/365 There are some new journals in my Etsy shop. I’m pretty proud of these journals, they are beautiful and functional. I love how they feel in hand; substantial and serious. Housing 220 pages (front and back) these are working journals, meant for your thoughts and ideas!A close up shows attention to details; like the pop of colour on the spine covering. Who doesn’t love a bit of blue!? Each book is unique, a natural result of hand-dying the washi paper covers. No two are the same!

Interested in learning about the process to hand-dye paper? Check out this post and this post I wrote about my experience.

More of these gems are being added over the next couple of days. To see them all, click here.

The Coptic Indigo Journal

Posted on December 20, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 73/365

You may remember when I posted about the Indigo Journal back in October. I had shown a small journal created with my fancy-pants hand dyed indigo paper. Well, now I’d like to share this larger, one of a kind, really pretty variation: The Large Coptic Indigo Journal!

Measuring 8″ x 10″, with reclaimed leather and brass button closure, this is a pretty nice journal for sketching or writing full-out.

I managed to dig up some photos showing the hand-dying process, and I’m pretty sure I found the exact hand-dying of this sheet of paper!

And of course the hand dying was all done here in Toronto at Paperhouse Studios. While it is difficult to cut up these papers, especially after the work that goes into making them, it’s pretty fantastic seeing how the book cover acts as a frame, capturing a portion of the paper.

Fancy Pants Books

Posted on December 2, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 55/365

My latest design of Coptic Journal. It’s also a new, larger size.

I’m really leased with how the paper for the covers turned out in these ones. They were part of my hand dyed paper project.

There are only a few books from this series, and they’re available for the next few days at the One of a Kind Show.

Projects!

Posted on November 21, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 45/365

As I’m sure you know by now, I’ve got a rather large arts and crafts show coming up, the One of a Kind Show. I figure this is a good time to showcase the processes I go through in making some of my products.

Today’s featured project: hand dying paper!

Testing colours, making sure to get just the right hues. I use a mix of inks and watercolour paints.

Mid-dying – yes, this is a messy process! And I love it!

A side view of boards covered with my hand dyed paper, drying in the press, makes a great texture shot.

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on November 9, 2014 by sproutspress

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!)

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on October 26, 2014 by sproutspress

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!

The Indigo Journal

Posted on October 16, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 9/365

I’ve been working on hand dying papers with indigo over the last few weeks, both in my own studio and at Paperhouse Studio here in Toronto.

After a bit of trial and error I’ve been able to turn the papers into things like this lovely journal aptly titled: ‘Indigo Journal No.1’. I think it’s my favourite book in my shop right now. It’s a handy sized journal, it’s thick with pages so I won’t use it up that quickly and I love the white-indigo blue-brown colour scheme. Also, the texture of the washi paper covers is delightful!

There are more projects in the works for these papers, so keep your eyes peeled!