The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on February 1, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 117/365 Today I’ve been working on an upgraded version of the Mini Book Necklace. The books themselves will remain the same, just the rest of it will be a bit more fancy. There will be beads, longer chain, some charms and tassels! (yes, tassels!!) I really like the idea of the mini book as a pendant, as an object and a functional book. I also really like the idea of the longer chain as it means writing in it while wearing it!

A couple of prototypes, in the right direction, but not sure they’re quite there yet, what do you think?

The Studio On a Sunday

Posted on January 25, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 110/365

Today is all about finishing details on some new coptic journals – with lined pages! These are fairly new for me and something that I’ve been working on for a while. I couldn’t be more pleased to share them!The first batch went quickly, so I’ve produced more and am just finishing them up with sewn-in bookmarks. They will have coins and beads on the ends, to keep your place and look stylish too.

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on January 18, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 103/365

It’s technically wintertime here in Toronto, though you might not be able to tell today since it’s raining. So it seems appropriate that I’m drinking many cups of tea (milk oolong today) and putting together more Wintertime Bookbinding Kits.

Look at the selection of fancy papers – the deep indigo floral chiyogami makes me swoon!

This winter-themed bookbinding kit is packed to the gills with goodies. A selection of fancy papers, heavy-weight cover papers, page papers, linen thread, simple tools and embellishments (not pictured)! Once you’ve completed the two books in the kit (and the super cute mini book!) you can start adding your own materials and keep going!

Pictured above I’ve added in a few things from my own collection to inspire you: two spools of linen thread (you could use cotton thread, but linen thread is stronger and more durable), tiny scissors, beeswax and my trusty wooden awl! What other crafty supplies would you use?

Wintertime Bookbinding Kits are available in my Etsy shop, at Freedom Clothing Collective and now also at the Arts Market on College.

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on January 11, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 96/365

Today in the studio it’s all about Valentines Day! Many shades of pink, red and white are floating around here, all in the name of books of course.

A sneak peek at some new designs for a series of Star Cross’d Lovers Book Ornaments.

With inside pages from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, of course.

Keep your eyes peeled for these to be released in my Etsy shop next week!

Old-New

Posted on January 5, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 90/365

Today has been all about dusting off my old calligraphy stuff. It’s old in age, but new again to me! I’m starting pretty much from scratch, with some great titles from the library to inspire and guide me. I will admit that I actually dusted this stuff off during my OOAK prep as a way to find peace and calm amidst the chaos and stress. But it was short-lived and pretty much just the act of putting paper to pen. Now I’m focusing on my skills and the creative possibilities of hand lettering.

I’m hoping to use this as a springboard to more posts about growing skills to use your journals and sketchbooks. So, follow along and learn with me, I promise it’ll be fun!

The studio on a Sunday

Posted on December 21, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 75/365

In the studio today. It’s a day for getting everything organized and in order.

I’m hoping to change some studio things around in the new year. So tidying and getting my ducks in a row now is prudent (and kind of fun!).

The Studio on a Sunday 30.11.14

Posted on November 30, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 54/365

I’m not actually in the studio today. Instead, here’s a picture from not that long ago of the studio in full swing. Maybe it’s because of the state of messiness in here right now, but I’m reminded of a saying I once saw on a co-workers desk.

It read: ‘If a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, what does an emtpy desk mean?’

I have no idea who wrote or said this, (if you know, please share below!) but it makes me smile whenever I remember it. Yay for messy desks!!

Production

Posted on November 10, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 34/365

I’m in the thick of production for the One of a Kind Show, which is just around the corner. So I thought it appropriate to share a bit about my process, about what it means to create a book by hand, from scratch. So here’s a mini step by step photo series to explain.

Once the pages are cut and folded by hand, they are collated and stacked in nice, neat, tidy piles, called signatures. (If you look closely at almost any book you have handy, you’ll see at the top of the spine the pages are divided into groups like this. The exception are ‘perfect’ bound books, which aren’t perfect at all but rather simply glued on the ends, so no signatures).

After marking where to sew each signature, I use this as a template to punch holes, making it easier to sew the book.

You can see the holes in each signature line up nicely with each other, creating a lovely and symmetrical pattern in the sewing along the spine.

This is just the first part of handcrafting a book; sewing the text block (group of signatures) into a case binding. After this I would attach the text block to the case, and voila – the book is done!

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 Sunday

Posted on November 2, 2014 by sproutspress

Day 26/365

In the studio today: stacks and stacks of pages to be sewn into many books. Fancy coptic journals, to be exact. This is my sunday, along with the lots of tea and some Vinyl Cafe.