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.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Book 199-A Green Checked Plastic Back-to-School Journal/Notebook-Long Stitch Binding

Today we've got another long stitch binding, but not leather this time. Here in NW Arizona, the kids went back to school this week, so I was inspired to make a neat little back-to-school journal/notebook. I used a plastic page-sized envelope I bought in Mexico in May. I just cut it to size for the cover, then bound the edges and lined the outer spine with lime green duct tape. (My regulars here know about me and duct tape!)

For the pages, I used school notebook paper that is gridded on one side and lined on the other, but for added interest (if not quite utility) I let the lines run vertically. there are four signatures of ten sheets each for a total of 80 pages (160 both sides).

I bound the book using a longstitch binding with white Waxed linen thread. For a closure, I used more of the lime green tape, folded it over to make a narrow strip and threaded it through the book at the spine and the two fore edges, then tied it in a bow.

The bright color makes this a pretty little thing, nice for a young girl heading back to class.






1 comment:

  1. I really like this book. I always look forward to see what materials you end up using. By any chance do you have any tutorials on making books?

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