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.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Book 161 - Triscuit Box Recycled Cross-Structure Journal

Here's another cross-structure binding, this time using an empty Triscuit box. I love these crackers, especially these parmesan/garlic ones. I end up with a lot of these empty boxes.

The cross structure binding was invented by Carmencho Arregui, a Spanish bookmaker living and working in Italy. I learned it rom Alisa Golden's "Making Handmade Books." But the other day I found Arregui's website and learned that he has come up with several variations on this binding. I want to try them all.

I wanted this to be quick & dirty, so I didn't line the inside of the box. I just cut it to the cross-structure pattern, stitched the signatures over the tabs and glued the tabs down inside. This is not a hard book at all once you get the idea clear in your head.

It's late, so... g'night.




6 comments:

  1. Not exactly sure what cross structure binding is, but this is another winner. ;)

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  2. I'm loving your blog; it is very inspiring. I've been wondering what paper cutter you use. I know how important it is to be accurate when cutting and I have trouble with that sometimes.

    Thanks for sharing your creative journey.

    Patty G

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  3. Hi Patty - T hanks for the nice comments and welcome aboard. I have a humongous paper cutter my sister bought at the Goodwill for 20 bucks and gave me (because SHE has a giganormous hydraulic one that makes me green!) I can't find a brand name, but it's got the number SD-300. It is a very solid guillotine type. You put the paper stack under the blade, turn a wheel to bring a arm down across it to hold it firmly in place then pull down the handle. The blade actually comes down straight, not at an angle. It does need a little adjustment as it tends to create a verrrrry slight single you don't want. But it is a HUGE step up from cutting a stack of paper with an X-acto knife, which is what I was doing before.

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  4. Rita - Here are a couple of links to give you a clearer idea of the cross-stucture binding.

    ttp://handmadebooks.livejournal.com/430037.html
    http://www.pluggedincleveland.com/events/37673/crossed-structure-non-adhesive-book-bi.html
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra408/5480809372/

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  5. Gives me a better idea. Thanks!

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  6. Indeed that is a professional paper cutter. Love the trisket books.

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