Trying Out a New Vendor

I've decided to close my Artfire shop and move it to Handmade Artists:

http://handmadeartists.com/shop/MVSilva

As much as I loved the Artfire community, it just wasn't working out for me, perhaps it was my fault, perhaps not, either way, my time with them has come to an end.
The new site has the same books in it that the old site did and I should have some new, as yet unseen, ones up there soon. Wish me luck!

My jewellery shop is still at the same place, by the way XD (shameless plug is shameless)


http://www.etsy.com/shop/Selvaen

:D

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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Preparing Materials

Just some photos of some material preparation.

First photo is of silver plated jump rings I'm preping for earring making purposes, been hand cut rings, some of them had a few bits of overhang that had to be flush-cut... painstaking stuff o_o
Second photo is of some freshly dyed linen thread - though I'm now doing a fair bit of chainmailling and jewellery making, I haven't forgotten about my bookbinding love. <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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Obi Book

I made this for a friend's birthday recently.
The cover is a vintage silk obi, the signatures sewn into the fabric with waxed thread. Red silk ribbon around it and two types of paper for the signatures; a delicate, mottled parchment paper and a lovely smooth, cream, 160gsm, archival paper.
She loved it :)




I've got a few of these made in various sizes and fabrics and am still making more, the problem is, sewing the signatures into the silk is a time consuming process as I don't want to leave any marks on the silk (so no pen/pencil marks), just the pages and the thick, sturdy silk obi. I use a small template for each one, but it still becomes a somewhat trial and error to get the needle through in the right spot, sort of thing.
Maybe one day, i'll come up with an easier, faster way. ^_^
I'm planning on selling these on either Etsy or Artfire in the near future (or when I have more stock).


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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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