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.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Book 192-Big Texas-Recycled Packaging Mini-Book/Journal-Coptic Stitch

Surprise! More packaging! Today's book comes from a cardboard box that held a dozen "Big Texas Cinnamon Rolls." I cut the logo off of two sides of the box and I had my covers. I did nothing else to them--they're not lined, stiffened, strengthened, nothing. Just cardboard.

For the pages, I folded white heavy-weight 110 lb stock into four signatures of six folded sheets each - 48 pages, 96 counting both sides. This was the first time I used a double needle coptic stitch, done with a dark purple/brown waxed linen thread. I also made a closure by wrapping some of the linen thread around the book.

I mainly made this as a way to learn the double-needle coptic stitch. It's actually pretty easy, especially in a book like this, which has only two sewing stations (holes). I'll be doing more of these and learning to use this stitch with  more sewing stations.






4 comments:

  1. Donna, did you know that your blog was mentioned in a Dutch magazine called "flow"?
    best, Annie - the Netherlands

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  2. I've never tried anything put the plain coptic stitch. More than one needle...hummm? Looks good! Can hardly wait to see more. :)

    That is so exciting about being mentioned in the Dutch magazine!! Wow!

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  3. Annie, thanks so much for telling me that. How cool! I love knowing people actually read what I write and look at my books. and I love being international.
    Dank U wel & tot ziens!

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  4. Wow, maybe they will invite you to come and give a class??

    It is a delight to see what you have posted since you have returned. Due to Blogger's unfriendliness to comments, I will comment here for all, they are grand. More of everything. The snack books, some great stab bindings, and even another hairy journal.

    I so wish you were nearby. I am going through books, weeding ruthlessly. Although trying to sell what I can and find good homes for othere. I am sure you would find some to use for your bookcover journals. But then, we all have plenty of stuff.

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