Favourite Words: Tips for Using Your Journal

Today I’ve decided to share one of my favourite posts about using your journal.  It’s a link way back to the beginning of my Use Your Journal series, but it’s timeless.

This post explains a simple use for your journal, but it’s proven to be a favourite of mine as I have more than one book dedicated to this use.  Read on to see what it’s all about!  

***Note: If you prefer to read the original post, no prob! Just go here to see it.

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As you may have noticed from my previous post, I’m on a bit of a hand-lettering and calligraphy kick these days.  I’m also enjoying the idea of a few posts that promote journalling, sketching and using journals in general.

When I first had this idea I immediately pulled my quotes journal from the bookshelf, and decided to share a few of my favourite pages. photo 1I will admit that this is a big step for me, I don’t usually share the contents of my journals and sketchbooks.  But these are just quick, pretty little notes that I jotted down in less than 10 minutes.  And that’s the idea, you can do it too!photo 4You can find quotes all over the place: online, via a ‘quotes’ app (there are many!), at the library, etc.  Sometimes the best are snippets of conversations overheard in passing, or by looking at groupings of book titles on shelves to see if they form a sentence.  It’s also fun to pick up a book and open it to a random page and see what you get, like a box of chocolates!  (Well, maybe not quite like chocolates, but you get the idea)  photo 2Fun pens and markers are also a welcome addition.  A bit of colour or shading can give your page just the right tone.
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If you want to try this yourself here are a couple of tips:

-Choose a quote that isn’t too long, make sure it fits on the page and that there’s room for a border to be drawn around it.

-Make sure to jot down the author of the quote so you can give credit and search for more inspiring words by that person.

-You can put a ground of colour down first with markers (as in the last photo above), and then write your quote on top.

-Feel free to use a simple, minimalist border or to get more creative and swirly.  Really whatever you feel like is what goes!

-Don’t try to make it too perfect, this is meant to be a quick exercise that is fun and enjoyable!

Do you have any other tips for quick quote-taking?  Have fun!

Flexagons: the BEST kind of hexagons!

collageitFlexagons: the blending of a flex and a hexagon into an intriguing and creative piece of paper art.

Join me for an evening of exploration and creativity in a hands on workshop where you’ll not only learn the secrets of a flexagon, but create your very own!!  We’ll be making a variation of a flexagon with 6 faces that are hidden within, and revealed when the piece is ‘flexed’.

What: Flexagons: Inside & Out, a flexagon designing and making workshop!
When: Thursday February 16, 6pm – 8:30pm
Where: CBBAG Bindery (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), 80 Ward St, Toronto, Ontario

For more information & to register, please go here.

Studio Sunday

dsc_0707While I’m taking a day off today, yesterday I was at CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild).  I was teaching folks the joys of deconstructing old books and making them into new ones using the coptic stitch.

If you’ve missed the first couple of workshops for 2017, don’t worry, there are more coming up!  Just visit the workshops section of my website to see a full list.  If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer your questions via email (sproutspress@yahoo.ca).  See you in the bindery!

Studio Sunday

photo-5-5Today I’m over at the Guelph School of Art teaching folks the ins and outs of coptic bookbinding.  Look at those gorgeous windows and all that natural light!!

If you missed out this time around, don’t worry, I’ve got more bookbinding workshops planned to keep you busy during these cold winter months!  Take a look at my workshop schedule to see if there’s one near you!

Deconstructed & Reclaimed: A Coptic Bookbinding Workshop

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I’ll be teaching the Coptic stitch in this workshop, I’d love if you joined me!  This is the perfect class for those wanting to learn how to make a hardcover book, without the need for a book press.

Learn how to craft your own hand-bound hardcover journal using discarded books. This workshop will introduce you to the tools of the trade, materials, and techniques to deconstruct a book and repurpose it into a new journal, using the Coptic stitch to bind the book.

When: Saturday January 21, 2017  10am – 5pm
Where:  CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), 80 Ward St. Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Coptic Bookbinding Workshop!

Join me this sunday for a coptic bookbinding workshop in Guelph!  (details below photo)
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What: Coptic Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday January 15, 2017  10am – 4pm
Where: Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham Street North, Guelph

For more information and to register, go here.

Boxing Week Sale!

Hope you’ve all had a chance to take some time for yourself and reflect on 2016, while thinking ahead to the new year just around the corner.  To make things a bit lighter and a bit brighter, I’ve decided to hold a sale!  collageit**BOXING WEEK SALE!** 20% off everything with code NEWYEARNEWJOURNAL at checkout!  Start 2017 with a brand-new, hand-crafted, unique journal!  Nothing like a clean slate to start the year!!

Sale ends January 1, 2017.  Applicable to Sprouts Press’ etsy shop only, discount applied before shipping and taxes.

 

Toronto Etsy Street Team presents: The 3rd Annual Christmas Marketplace!

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Join us this Saturday, December 17, for the Toronto Etsy Street Team’s 3rd annual Christmas Marketplace!  This will be my last show for 2016, so stop by if you want to make a purchase before the holidays!

To get an idea of what to expect, browse the show lookbook to see examples of what each vendor makes.

Pro Tip: Get there early, the first 50 visitors get a free swag bag filled with handmade goodies!!

Registration is now open!

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A big thank you to everyone who came out and supported all us makers at this year’s One of a Kind Show!  Your appreciation for handmade is amazing!!

It’s been a few days since the show ended, and I’ve been busy as ever catching up on orders and getting the winter 2017 workshop schedule in order.

I’m happy to announce that REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!

All you bookbinding enthusiasts, now’s your chance to make a wish list, or make someone else’s paper-loving, book-maker dreams come true!  Head over to the Workshops section of my site to see what’s available!

The Longstitch/Linkstitch Technique

Spend a sunday afternoon learning this gorgeous bookbinding stitch and make your own journal!  IMG_0637_fotor_fotor
I’ll be at Graven Feather this sunday teaching a bookbinding workshop; everyone will learn the tools of the trade, make their own cover and bind it all into a journal to take home.  If this sounds like fun to you, click the link below for details and to register.

What: Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop (see picture for examples)
When: Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
*Appropriate for beginners and those wanting to brush up on their bookbinding skills.

To learn more about this workshop and to register, please go here.

Can’t make it on Sunday?  No prob, I’ve got more workshops coming up!  Go to the Workshops section of my site for details.