A Book a Day? What's Up With That?


Hi, and welcome to this year-long project. So what's this all about and how did it happen, you might ask. In mid 2007, artist Noah Scalin decided to make a skull out of anything he could find, every day for a year. It stretched him in ways he never imagined, as an artist, a writer and a person. His experience turned into a blog that went viral, and then a book.

Others have picked up on the idea: 365 Hearts, 365 Masks, 365 Bears drawn on a cellphone, 365 paper napkin mustaches.
I wanted to play, too, and I chose books. I love books, I know a bit about making books (thanks to my talented book-maker sister, Marilyn Worrix), and they're broad enough in definition to give me a lot of creative leeway.

The whole point is not really the books. The idea is to stretch myself in many ways as an artist and a person, to set up a discipline, stick with it and see what that teaches me.

I hope you'll join with me and follow along on the journey chronicled here, and let me know what you think.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Day 79 - Another Classic Leather Journal

Falling back on my classics today. I try not to make these leather journals so often as to become boring or to not challenge myself. But the bottom line is that these things sell. I need to make a few of them now and then.

The other bottom line? I get tired. Some days I just don't feel all that magical and creative. But I'm committed to sticking to my book a day. And so you're getting a very nice, classic leather journal with a leather thong wrap today. The leather is luscious, a creamy soft camel-colored split that feels wonderful in the hand. The longstitch binding is done with a lighter creamy waxed linen thread and embellished with a couple of dark brown bamboo beads. The liner is a deep brown patterned paper that makes a nice compliment to the leather and the pages are a velvety cream lightweight paper with a wonderful tooth.

I think anyone would be delighted to write in this journal.




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5 comments:

  1. RachelApril 17, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Oh, no, that journal is way too lovely to write in. I would end up buying it and saving it for *something special* and it would get lost in the stuff and never get used. I think I need a brain adjustment.

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  2. UnknownApril 27, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    What a beautiful journal. I love how you incorporated beads into the exposed binding. I do have one question, do you have a supplier that you like for your leather? I am looking for leather (or imitation) for a project and am having a really difficult time finding it. Any help would be much appreciated. Lovely work!

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  3. DonnaApril 27, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Caitlin - I'm not sure I'm going to be much help. When I lived in central Mexico, one of my favorite things to do was go to the leather market in Leon )a shoe-making center). That market is like any other big, noisy indoor Mexico market except instead of piles of tomatoes and avocados and fresh fish, all the booths are stacked with piles of leather and tools. Heaven!

    Now I buy most of my leather from Oregon Leather Co in Portland, OR, when I go up to visit family a couple times a year. They are online at http://www.oregonleatherco.com and you can download their catalog. But I have difficulty buying leather unless I can feel it. When I go into their store, I paw through the scrap bins for hours looking for the best pieces. My sister buys exquisite goatskin from them for her finest books.

    For hair-on cowhide, you can buy whole hides from El Paso Saddle Blanket Co. I trust t heir quality.

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  4. UnknownMay 1, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    Thanks, Donna! That actually helps a lot! I actually decided to get upholstery vinyl and glue material to the mesh side so that it doesn't look so man-made. It turned out pretty well, if I do say so :)

    Thanks again! Keep up the lovely work!

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  5. UnknownNovember 30, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    hey do you have instruction on how to make that beautiful leather book. I want to make one for my boyfriend but have no idea where to start. Thanks!

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