Sprouts Press goes to the Junction!

Day 179/365

You can now find Sprouts Press products in the Junction!  Introducing our newest retailer: Urban Gardener on Dupont!DSC_0824 - Version 20_fotor

If you haven’t checked out this shop you definitely should!  They have a great selection of gardening products, and a curated selection of handmade items from local makers!

There are a few Sprouts Press items there, like the Starburst journals, Indigo Fancy Coptic journals and Bookbinding kits.
DSC_0666_fotor

I have only good things to say about this shop; it’s beautiful, welcoming and run by incredibly sincere and lovely people.  Go and check it out!!

Details:
Urban Gardener
1640 Dupont St, Toronto

Spring Time Collaboration

Day 178/365

Introducing the Spring Gift Pack from Graven Feather:
il_570xN.750167387_o8shI am so proud to announce that my Quick Notes notebooks in gold are a part of these gorgeous sets!  They are curated by Graven Feather and showcase the work of a few local artisans and shops.  (and did I mention how beautiful they are??)il_570xN.750038598_7kxb

Housed in handmade paper from Paperhouse Studio here in Toronto, Graven Feather printed on the reverse and hand crafted each folder.  Inside you’ll find all sorts of goodies including one of my handbound gold notebooks, as pictured above.
il_570xN.750041456_5koz Inside you’ll also find a pen from Articulations and several other printed goodies!  (I’m not spilling the beans on the rest of the contents – you’ll just have to get your own to find out!)il_570xN.750165361_pg84 When secured shut (gorgeous!!) it’s the perfect place to keep your cherished ephemera and paper treasures.  The Spring Gift Pack also makes the perfect gift for Mothers day or a special birthday or anyday!

The Grey Beaded Journal

Day 172/365OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cleaning and organizing always leads to reminiscing for me.  Like this beaded coptic journal, for instance.  It’s the last one of a series, all featuring my own handmade paper on the covers and matching beading details.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA The covers showcase my own handmade papers, each is different.
From left to right:
Coral: pigmented cotton.
Green: pigmented abaca with multicoloured gampi inclusions.
Blue: pigmented abaca with multicoloured gampi inclusions.
Grey-Black: pigmented cotton with supersparkle!! *This is the last one!
White: cotton.
Tan: my own pine needle fibres mixed with abaca for strength.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

And this is the last one left!  The grey-black sparkly journal with royal blue beading detail on the cover, check it out here.

Indigo, Florentine and Fabric!

Day 135/365DSC_0763After 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.
DSC_0731 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!
DSC_0775This 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.

Wordless Wednesday 18.02.15

Day 134/365

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Wordless Wednesday 28.1.15

Day 113/365

DSC_0675

Around the Corner

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).DSC_0686

Lots of new designs and variations on some classic bindings.DSC_0686 - Version 2

I’m pleased with how everything has turned out and how the collection as a whole feels connected through materials, colour and transition.DSC_0653

I drew on the changing of seasons for inspiration; winter to spring, bleak to bright, cozy to light, old to new.DSC_0664

I think the growth of this transition is visible across the table, and I couldn’t be more delighted!DSC_0691

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!

About being creative

In my last post I talked about how wintertime pulls me outside for a bit, and then pushes me back inside once I’ve had enough.  While a nice cup of tea is always something I look forward to after a day spent outside, it’s not all.  For me, being outdoors helps to clarify my ideas, of which I have too many.  Sometimes I cannot focus on one long enough to achieve it before being overrun with the next idea or three.  So when it’s time to go back in, I look forward to writing down my more-polished ideas, (I say more-polished because, of course, they will change several times more).

And then the real fun begins: pulling out the possible materials and seeing what fits the bill, what is the right colour, texture, pattern and thickness for my ideas.  Of course, I’m talking about paper!  So, please, bear with me while I share some of my favourite photos of my stacks of handmade paper.  OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This is a mix of the lot; mumble-jumble, mish-mash, all mixed up.  While I don’t make paper too much anymore, I always used to use pigments rather than dyes, for more vibrant colours.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

These papers were an experiment: hosta paper (yes, I hacked off and chopped up my parent’s hosta garden to make them into paper.  Thanks Mom and Dad!)  There’s some pine needle paper and then on top my lovely cotton & abaca black-blue super sparkle paper.  I’m almost out of all three, so I choose my projects carefully these days.

I have many now because I’m in full production mode as I’m participating in the One of a Kind Spring Show & Sale in March of this year.  This is my first year for this show and I’m pretty excited to be in the Etsy Section!  I’ll be posting more on this adventure leading up to it, I’m sure there’ll be a few interesting things to talk about!    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

For now, I’ll leave you with this one last paper photo.  Enjoy the deckle edges and fibers!