hemp leaf stab binding

New project to show you today! I really wanted to try the Japanese stab-stitch style of bookbinding, but I wanted to find a pattern that was more fancy than the plain stitch. I came across a great tutorial that taught me how to do the hemp leaf stab stitch pattern.

I used a nice green fabric, which the camera on my phone fails to show the glory of.

Here it is!

Well, that's about it tonight. What ever will I do with all of these journals/sketchbooks?

more coptic?

Yea.. I made another coptic stitch journal/sketchbook this evening. I used ANOTHER paisley fabric from a box in the garage. I guess I'm on a paisley kick or something. 

I went to Michaels today and got some curved needles, and wow, they make a HUGE difference. It is so much easier using a curved needle for the coptic stitch...

Without further ado, pictures!

I used a gold colored thread for this one.

I stopped by the library today, and got a few books on bookmaking, and paper making. I want to try and make some handmade paper for a book. We will see if I ever get around to that!

Anywho, adios for now!

crazy paisley

My mom used to be an avid crafter. She would make fun things and sell them at the craft show. I was rummaging through her old supplies, which havent been touched in years, and found some great fabric! One of the patterns I found was a great colorful-crazy-paisley. I love paisley. So I had to make a journal with it!

This was my first time covering the covers of a book with fabric, and it was relatively easy. I had issues cutting straight lines on the fabric. If anyone has any tips, I'd love to hear them!

On to the pictures!

Here's the completed journal:

I had a lot of fun doing this project. I can't wait to make more, and try other methods. 

I used the coptic stitch in this one, just like my last project. 

Any questions or suggestions? Leave a comment! I'm definitely curious to see if anyone is actually reading this blog...

coptic stitch bookbinding

Okay, as I said last night, tonight I was going to try a new bookbinding project. 

I followed this video, by one of my new favorite youtubers. This is a coptic stitch binding.

I used a variety of all different colors of paper I had lying around. I covered two pieces of thin cardboard with paper as well, for the covers. 

Picture time!

Cover:

Stitching/spine

Each page is a different color!

I had lots of fun making this! 

More stuff coming soon. If you are interested in making a book like this, go to the video I mentioned above. She is a great teacher!

bookbinding

My creative energy has been crazy lately... I have just been wanting to MAKE stuff. You saw my pottery attempts, and I still have lots of interest in ceramics, but I gave it a rest. I think I went too full force into it. Needless to say, I found a new outlet for my need to make things. This new activity is also cheaper, less messy, and takes less time to complete a project. 

What is this activity?

Bookbinding! 

I have always been interested in it, but never really tried any projects until tonight. I used a tutorial in this video. It's pretty basic, and I had lots of fun!

Mine are a little rough, but it was my first time, and I am quite happy with the outcome!

I already have some other projects by that same Youtube user in mind. I have watched every one of her videos, and she is great!

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A year or so ago, I was given a succulent type plant from someone at my work (I work at a garden center), and today I walked out to my backyard and was surprised to see it was in bud! 

It's huge! Obviously I haven't checked on it in a while, since I'm just now noticing it. The bud is actually airtight, and full of air like a balloon.

I did some research, and it turns out this flower will smell very bad, almost like rotting flesh. This attracts flies and other insects to help pollinate the plant. 

I probably wont be smelling this one, like I do my roses.

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And I leave you with a picture of the sunset on my way home from work this evening!

dido & aeneas

Greetings! Today I wanted to share with you all a new musical doodle. This one is probably my new favorite. I've been really obsessed with the story of Dido & Aeneas lately, and this piece was somewhat inspired with it. All the paintings in the slide show are depictions of the tragic love story, the last one being Dido's death.

This could be performed on a number of instruments, both solo or duet. I have it voiced on classical guitar for this clip, as that is the best electronic voice I could find!

If anyone would like sheet music for this, feel free to comment requesting it!

slab box

After experimenting with slab-work yesterday, I decided to design a lidded box. Tonight I finished most of it. All that is left is smoothing edges, cleaning up slip etc. 

Here is a picture of my workspace and part of the box completed.

And here is what it looks like right now.

Detail on the handle.

Like I said, it has a lot of cleaning up to be done on it, but for my second piece, I am proud of it!

slab

So.. This week I took an interest in ceramics! We have a kiln two kilns, but never used them! A few months ago we bought some clay to do some handbuilding. Yesterday we just started working with it. 

On the first day, I tried pinching. My pinch pot turned out decent, but the bottom was too thin, so it broke out.

Today I tried slabbing! It went MUCH better. I had such a good time working with slabs. Here's what I made:

I let it dry for a couple of hours (it was already almost leather-hard), then I took the scraper to it to smooth out the edges and corners. Doing that, I broke one of the corners on the rim. I decided to cut all of the corners... I think it still looks decent. I can't wait to glaze it and see what it looks like!

I also finally got a new set of strings for my viola. I am trying Evah Pirazzi strings. So far so good!

Anyway, that's it for now!

postcards

These two great postcards were in my mailbox today!

This first one comes from Hersey, PA. It shows the Hershey Chocolate Factory! I can't stop thinking "Willy Wonka!"

This next one comes from Russia, showing a lazy cat and a tea setup!

I'll keep posting postcards as the come in!