Arrow Stitch Bookbinding

Posted on June 18, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 254/365Join me for a morning of paper fun! I’ll be teaching the beautiful Arrow Stitch binding at Graven Feather on June 27. We’ll go over how to hand-craft a hard cover and then how to bind it together using the arrow stitch. It’s a fairly easy yet pleasing binding, resulting in a really lovely hardcover book that makes a great journal or album!

What: Hard Cover Arrow-Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Saturday, June 27, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
Cost: $75, materials included

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.

Newsletter Time!

Posted on June 15, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 251/365

It’s that time again, when I send out the Sprouts Press Newsletter. If you’re already a subscriber, great! If you’re not, but you like reading about my little company, take a minute and sign up! This month there will be a special treat, just for newsletter subscribers!

You have until Tuesday evening to sign up, and can expect the newsletter to arrive (via email) on wednesday morning. Yippee!

To sign up for Sprouts Press eNewsletters, go here.

Studio on a Sunday

Posted on June 14, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 250/365

Today I had the pleasure of teaching a bookbinding workshop at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga.

It was a great group with lots of creativity and talent! Everyone left with beautiful books and smiles.

If you want to join in the fun, click the Workshops tab on the top menu bar for a list of upcoming classes.

Arrow Stitch

Posted on June 12, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 248/365

Learn to make your own hardcover, arrow stitched journal! This is a new workshop, exclusively at Graven Feather here in Toronto, scheduled for June 27th.It’ll be a fun morning, I’ll teach the process to make the hard cover and then how to stitch it all together using the arrow stitch. If you’ve been waiting to learn how to make your own hardcover journal, this is it!

What: Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Saturday June 27, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
Cost: $75, materials included

For more information and to register, go here.

In the Works!

Posted on June 11, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 247/365

I’ve been working on some new designs over the last couple of weeks. Some pieces are completed, and some still need a bit of work and finishing. And they all need packaging still. So, in the meantime I’ve got some ‘in progress’ shots to share, a glimpse of what I like best about the designs so far.

Mostly it’s the colours, of each book individually, and the palette of each series. Like the bold colours of the covers and trims above. To me, this screams summer (you know; I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!! or maybe gelato or sorbet in this case).

I simply love the pairing of the floral fabric trim with the gold detailing on the labels of these sweet notebooks. When set on the neutral brown (called ‘husk’) cover paper, they are perfection! At least I think so, ha!

You may have noticed that these product lines feature smaller, soft cover notebooks rather than the usual large, hard cover books I make. I’m trying my best to fill a gap and create pieces that are more affordable while still showcasing the handbound stitching that goes into each book. It’s a balance that I’ve struggled with for a while now, hopefully this is the direction to fulfill this goal!

These books will be in my Etsy shop soon, and at my upcoming Events and Shows.

Brand New Workshop: Hard Cover Journals!!

Posted on June 5, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 241/365

Many of you have been asking when there would be a bookbinding workshop for a hardcover journal. Well, the wait is over! June 27 will be the first hardcover journal making workshop!! I’ll be teaching the Arrow Stitch in hardcover book format (the green journal, pictured above). Besides learning a new stitch I’ll also be teaching how to hand-craft the hardcovers, a handy skill. And, as always, everyone leaves with a finished project!

What: Hardcover Arrow Stitch Journal
When: June 27, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
Cost: $75, materials included

For more information and to register, 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.

Bookbinding in Guelph

Posted on June 2, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 238/365

This weekend is my first bookbinding class at the Guelph School of Art! It’ll be a great day filled with paper fun and book crafting, hope to see some of you (this is a full day workshop and I’ll be teaching TWO different bindings!!). There are still a few spots so sign up soon!

About the class:
In this creative class, students will first learn basic expressive techniques to decorate paper and then how to transform this into soft cover hand bound books. We will use easy binding techniques that showcase stitching patterns along the spine. This is a hands-on class, everyone will leave with two finished projects.

When: Sunday June 7, 10am – 4pm
Where: Guelph School of Art (above Wyndham Art Supplies) 125 Wyndham St. N. Guelph

For more information and to register, go here.

New in the Shop

Posted on May 30, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 235/365

New to the shop is a journal inspired by tree trunks and a green canopy. It’s part of the hand-dyed journal series and is stitched using the Coptic technique.

To see more photos and learn more, go here.