Sharing some bookbinding class photos

Just wanted to share some photos from some of the bookbinding classes I've been holding at Sarbe Invitations and Paper. These are some of the student pamphlets and ledgers. :) (posted with permission)

It's so much fun teaching these and even more fun watching the students bond over creative activities. <3

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Mamita's Birthday Present

I think I'm pretty safe posting this now, it's too late at night (or early in the morning) for mother to read this now and I'll be heading down to my parents house first thing in the morning so should be giving her her present then. Yay!

I made her a little pocket sized book bound on tape with a mould-made polymer clay decoration.
The ribbon wraps right around to tie the book closed.

And with the extra time I had, I made her a pair of earrings in a similar colour scheme. :D

Happy Birthday, Mum! <3 <3 <3

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A Long September

September hasn't been a very good month for me, it's thrown all sorts of nasties my way; family leaving, work problems, money problems, creativity problems.
Actually, this year has been more trouble than it's worth and though there have been some bright spots, they're very hard to focus on over the rest of the shit.
But September is finally over and one can only hope for the best from here.
I'll begin October with a few things I've been working on (or trying to!).

Arts.
I've actually got quite a few things to show since my last update, unfortunately, I'm currently at my parents house and the only images I have to show are some digital sketches and scans from the Art House Co-ops sketchbook project, which just happened to be the only things on my laptop XD

This is Zien. Heheh, haven't drawn one of my characters in a while...

Bookbinding.

These are the most recent bindings I've managed. It's been a little slower than i'd like but I like to hope I've improved, at least. 

(sorry about the photos for these, they were taken with my phone camera at my parents house -__-)

Case Bindings:

Exposed Spine Binding:
Binding with exposed spine on kimono fabric tapes, waxed linen thread, Japanese papers and bead embellishment.
I rarely make exposed spine books any more, I find the construction, though pretty and flat-opening, a little less resilient, flimsier, if you will, than casebound. It's probably not as bad as I make it sound, but I like the sturdy feel and structure of a completely cased in book. Still, these kinds of bindings have their place, and though it takes me a lot longer to make than a casebound, it's still a satisfactory feeling when it's done and always a striking result.

The paper I used for the bookblock for this particular book is called Como; a gorgeous, creamy, heavyweight, wet-media paper. It takes watercolour washes, inks, markers and all sorts of dry media. It has a light grain and is thick enough that each signature is a single leaf. Love.

Ledger Binding:

I'm going to be teaching a bookbinding class tomorrow starting with simple pamphlet bindings and ledger bindings like the one below. Hopefully, if there's enough interest, the classes will grow and I'll start teaching a few of the more advanced bindings that I know.

I'm actually pretty nervous, I've never taught adult classes before and being a self taught binder, I just hope people don't blast me for my methods which may not all be 'official'! XD

I'll really try to keep this updated more often, I've been doing a fair bit of experimentation with natural media lately; printmaking in particular, which I'm eager to show.
Thanks for sticking with me!

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Chunky Book

Finally finished a little chunky book that's been waiting to be finished for some time now.

Here is the pre-finished-chunky stage:

And the finished book! Yay!

Happy chunky book in my happy chunky hand! :D

Materials used:

110gsm cartridge paper book block

red waxed linen thread

gold paper end sheets

maroon silk paper spine

pearlescent paper with an asian inspired print

rice paste, bookbinding glue, cheese cloth, bond paper and pre-made end bands.

Dimensions (width x height x depth): 8.5cm x 11.4cm x 3.2cm

^_^

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Bunch o Books

Just to show that I haven't been completely idle on the bookbinding side of things...

I've recently started a new job and its been a bit hectic on the adjustment side of things.

So far, I'm loving it, but I'm keeping my hopes on the down low until after my 3months probationary period... I hope they keep me! XD

I'll post some photos of my workplace later :3

Thanks for sticking around!

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Some Books In The Shop

I recently put these little books up for purchase at the place I work on weekends.

It's a lovely little chocolate shop (Mayfield Chocolates, Tamborine) so they make nice gifts for the gifts display section and my boss is nice enough to let me put them there :D

Case bound book with purple washi spine and purple mulberry paper covers. The signatures are varying colours (greens and pinks and purples). My fav of the three. :3

Pamphlet bound book with hot pink and yellow paisley style covers. The paper is a gorgeous metallic, smooth stock. Unfortunately, the colour doesn't show up as nicely in the photos. Signatures are blank white.

This one sold recently :3

Soft cover blank book with cream indian handmade paper, screened in gold for the covers. Purple stitching and a little gold bead decoration. Pages are shades of yellow.

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Some July Works-In-Progress

We're currently in the middle of a major renovation of our current home while looking for a new place to live. My life is currently a mess of rather large proportions with packing, painting, house hunting and constant CONSTANT driving which is, frankly, driving me a little nuts!

I thought, with the untimely demise of my day job, I'd have more time to pursue my creative passions... this is infuriatingly not so :(

Ah well, I'm still managing to chip away at a few current art and binding projects, here's a peek.

Book binding:

Arts:

(vector work for now, as I only had photoshop open and it doesn't open painter files :/ )

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Free People 2009 Holiday Craft Swap

I'm putting this up now as i'm pretty sure it's been long enough and my parcel has probably reached it's destination by now.
I sent this out on the 8th of December as I finished it pretty quick.
A little pamphlet book in pretty butterfly paper.
I had it all wrapped up and ready to go when I suddenly realised I hadn't taken any photos! XD
So this is what I managed to grab.
Hope my recipient liked it.

Crafting on the Job

These days, I don't take my laptop to work with me very much anymore, not so much due to lack of time to use it, but more so because I've become a little obsessed with making cards and soft cover books. I rarely get much time after work to make any so in quiet times at work, I unpack the crafting goodies and set to work.




One thing working in this fashion has taught me is how to work faster; I get more binding and crafting and drawing done for the 8 hours I'm 'on the clock' than I do any other time of the day/week. :)
It's a good thing I'm part owner of the business I work at lol.

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Happy 60th Birthday, Mum!

Today is my mother's 60th birthday, a milestone in my eyes. I certainly hope I'm as lively and youthful as she is now when I turn 60!
I bought her a lovely herbal foot spa with river stones (she'll be indulging in that tonight) and I also made her this book with materials I knew she'd love (turquoise silk for the spine, which I paper backed, and a lovely metallic patterned paper she went gaga over when I first bought it ^^).
The pages are a lovely, cream coloured cotton paper with a delicate texture, really nice to write/doodle in.
She was very very impressed with it, she initially thought I'd bought it somewhere! When I told her I'd made it she started tearing up, it was so sweet :) I'm just very happy she liked it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMITA QUERIDA!!! I LOVE YOU!!

Gift wrapped with love and ready to go!

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Navy and Pink

Latest little book I worked on, just a prototype at the moment though, I accidently missed a signature for some reason lol, must have been too eager to finish! XD
This one was made with thick navy blue silk card, floral patterned pink card for the end papers and off-white parchment paper. The binding is in waxed cotton in a similar pink to the floral papers. Little pink crystal bead for decoration.
Yes. I like pink ^_^.

Oops, bad colour adjustments in this shot ^ ... Bad Vee, BAD!!

My favourite thing about this book is that the end papers sit just a little past the covers when the book is closed, it gives a peek of that lovely, contrasting pink and balances the pink bindings. :)
That's all for now.

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