Book 195 - Recycled Scrabble Journal/Notebook - Double-Needle Coptic Stitch Binding

Today we have another recycled journal made from a Scrabble board. Yesterday's was a stab bind; today is a coptic binding. I really made this blank book/journal to learn more about the double-needle coptic stitch. Unlike the only other one I've done, which had only two holes or sewing stations, this one has four. That actually meant four needles and two threads, one set for each pair of holes.

This stitch is actually quite easy once you get the rhythm of it. The hardest part, I think, is keeping all those dangling threads straight without tangling or sewing the wrong thread into the right hole. I had less of a problem with the tension on this than on my single-needle coptic bindings and the cover stays closed pretty well. Maybe I'm actually learning something here.

The cover is cut from a Scrabble board with the two raw edges bound with Japanese decorative masking tape in deep burgundy. The back is a piece of book board covered and lined with a pretty green paper. There are eight signatures of six sheets each of peach-colored text paper and the coptic stitch is done with deep maroon waxed linen thread.

There are a couple of  small bungles in the stitching that I don't think you can see in the pix, but I understand now what I did wrong there so they won't happen again.

A good lesson, this one.

Book 194 - Scrabble Board Double-Faced Journal/Sketchbook - Japanese Stab Binding

Here's another game board book--the ever popular Scrabble. It's a double-faced Japanese stab bound blank journal/sketchbook with nice thick pages that will take pencil, charcoal, markers and other mostly dry media. (I've been playing Scrabble online lately with my friend Irene, who roundly trounces me 3 games out of 4--at lest--so it's been on my mind).

I cut the game board so that the fold in the middle would serve as the hinge for the Japanese stab binding, but then I realized that the board on the back of the book would be upside down. So I decided to put a third piece of book board in the center. That center board divides the book into two connected books and whichever side of the book is facing up is the "cover" of its own half of the book. It's sort of like a stab-bound version of a dos-a-dos book. It's easier to get the idea from the photos, especially #3, than from words.

The binding is done with very dark navy blue satin ribbon in a tortoise-shell stitch pattern. I like this stitch because it looks fairly sophisticated but is really easy to do. The hardest part is getting the holes lined up exactly right. I used vintage Scrabble tiles to spell out the words "good ideas" on one side and "true dreams" on the other. They're glued on with E6000 and they're definitely not going anywhere.

Even though the Scrabble tile thing has really been overdone the last few years, I still think it's a pretty nifty little book. I'm working on a couple of other Scrabble board books too that I'll likely post in the next couple of days.

Book 193 - A Nifty Little Leather Journal with Brand... and a Coyote!

This whole leather mini-journal came into my mind when I saw the carved bone howling coyote in a bead store. Well, hey, I live in Arizona. Coyotes "R" Us. I saw a pair of them just a couple days ago as I was tootling down the Chloride Road. So naturally, this one called to me.

I knew he was going onto a leather journal. But the brand (or scar) in a circle that just happens to look like the moon rising huge behind him was just a happy accident. Really!

Whenever I am pawing through leather scrap bins, I always keep an eye cocked for scraps with ranch brands or scars. I think they give the leather so much more character. I'm not sure what the rough circle scar on this piece was, but I like it.

This little mini-journal has ten signatures of 7 sheets each for a total of 140 pages (280 both sides). It is sewn with a longstitch binding with natural hemp cord. I find I am drawn to these "fat" journals much more than the skinnier ones. (Probably because I always have too much to say... as you might have noticed).

OK, I'm done. Enjoy this book!

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.

Book 191-Lion King-Recycled Children's Book Journal-coptic Stitch Binding

Here's another recycled children's book made into a blank book/journal with a single-needle coptic stitch binding. What makes this one interesting is that the cover is padded and covered with a kind of vinyl.

I cut the book down the center of the spin and removed the board in the spine. I folded the cut edges over onto the covers and glued them down. I used a pair of pages from the book as end papers, choosing images from the very beginning of the book and one from the very end, both of lion parents offering up their cub over Pride Rock. I also put an illustration from the book on the first page of each signature. I taped these illustrations in with a decorative red and white masking tape, which shows at the spine and provides extra decoration.

This little journal has four signatures of six folded sheets each for a total of 48 pages (96 both sides). It's one of the few coptic sitch books I've done that really looks good and neat. I don't need to be ashamed to show this one.

Book 190-Japanese Stab Bound Album/Sketchbook

Here's another Asian themed Japanese Stab Binding similar to the one from a few days ago. The pages are full-sized 8 1/2"x11" cardstocl so that this could work as a photo album, a sketchbook or a journal.

The covers are davey bookbinders board covered with a really pretty decorative paper in a raspberry color embossed with gold butterflies. The spine is covered with black bookcloth. The binding is done with variegated ribbon. It seemed just a tad plain so I added three Chinese coins as an accent.

I could make these books all day long. Simple, elegant and pretty.

Book 189-Slim Jim Recycled Packaging Notebook-Cross Structure Binding

More recycling! I used a crossed-structure binding for this little notebook/pocket journal. I definitely need more practice on this structure. T his one taught me that I have to be more careful when gluing the straps to the inside. The way I have glued this, it really does not want to lie closed flat. Keeps popping open. Oh well, better next time.

Six signatures, stitched with yellow waxed linen thread.  It's a good purse size.

Book 188 - Hair-On Hide Leather Journal - Longstitch Binding

Here's another of my standard longstitch binding journals made from hair-on hide. This part of the hide is mostly off-white but with a sprinkle of brown in the upper right corner. I put that on the front.

The stitching is done with dark purple/brown waxed Irish linen thread. The pages are a pretty mottled beige/cream paper, hand-torn at the fore edge. Ten signatures of six sheets each for a total of 120 pages (240 both sides). The end papers are heavy paper in a textured cream print.

A nice utilitarian journal that feels good.

Book 187 - A Pretty Asian Album/Sketchbook/Scrapbook-Japanese Stab Binding

With this pretty Japanese stab-bound album, finally, I'm back to posting! And how good it feels. It sucks when you have to take a medication to counteract the side-effects of another medication. I'm about to start weaning myself off both of them. But I do feel better, thank goodness. And thanks for all your kindnesses while I was recuperating.

I'll be posting several books today, some of the ones I've been making since my last post. I will post more of them tomorrow. That should catch me up.

This is a really pretty, large sketchbook/album with a Japanese stab binding. The covers are made of davey board covered with decorative bamboo-pattern paper on the front and green mulberry paper on the back. The spine is covered in a beautiful green/gold chambray bookcloth. There is a thin strip of bamboo under the tortoise-shell stitch binding, which is done with olive green ribbon. The front is embellished with a piece of Japanese text (poetry, I think) on a torn piece of dark green unryu paper. The pages are 8 1/2"x11" peach colored text paper with a velvet finish.

Really a lovely book, if I say it who shouldn't.