It seems that even when I'm exhausted and just want to make somkething quick and simple, I end up spending two hours and learning something new. Actually, it amazes me that I learn something new on every book I do. Of course, sometimes it's more a case of "relearning" than of initial learning. Seems like not only do I always learn something new; I remember it until JUST before I need to use it again.
Anyway, this started out to be a simple, pretty, quick pamphlet book. I had this pretty hand-made paper that I found in, of all places, Office Depot. It's made in Monterrey, Mex. and was cheaper than any hand-made paper I'd find in the States. I may have to go back for more.
I was just going to use it as a cover, fold up some recycled paper into a couple of signatures and stitch it with a pamphlet stitch. But then I thought it would be cool to interleave the recycled green paper with pages of medium-weight tracing vellum I found. And then I had these bamboo beads that would look so nice on the spine. And then the few thin signatures looked puny.
So here we are a couple of hours later with this pretty journal. It has 3 signatures and a total of 60 pages (120 both sides) of alternating papers. Each stitch goes through the beads and back into the same hole so the threads run along the gutter of the signatures. Well, I got the pretty part right, I think, just not the simple and definitely not the quick.
Anyway, this started out to be a simple, pretty, quick pamphlet book. I had this pretty hand-made paper that I found in, of all places, Office Depot. It's made in Monterrey, Mex. and was cheaper than any hand-made paper I'd find in the States. I may have to go back for more.
I was just going to use it as a cover, fold up some recycled paper into a couple of signatures and stitch it with a pamphlet stitch. But then I thought it would be cool to interleave the recycled green paper with pages of medium-weight tracing vellum I found. And then I had these bamboo beads that would look so nice on the spine. And then the few thin signatures looked puny.
So here we are a couple of hours later with this pretty journal. It has 3 signatures and a total of 60 pages (120 both sides) of alternating papers. Each stitch goes through the beads and back into the same hole so the threads run along the gutter of the signatures. Well, I got the pretty part right, I think, just not the simple and definitely not the quick.
Oh, you have been wonderfully busy while I was at Yosemite (it snowed tuesday night) and two days of fun business since I got back including an all day art and meditation retreat today.
ReplyDeleteI love what you are doing, finding the interesting local materials, improvising, hanging in there with the computer problems. Yes, sometimes we know exactly what something should be like before we start,, but oh the wonders we create when we let the materials and ingenuity play around together.
Glad to know you're back, Rachel. And glad you had a nice trip. Yosemite is gorgeous in the snow.
ReplyDeleteI've decided the computer problem is a growing experience. Since I have to stop what I'm doing every 5 minutes or so to disconnect and reconnect, I'm seeing it as a Zen practice, a chance to slow down and catch my breath. It's either that or throw the damn thing out the second story window!