Book 245 - A Classic Journal in Pebbly Caramel Leather w/ Long Stitch Binding

Yet another classic leather journal today. Since I went to my favorite leather store in Portland, OR last week, you're all likely to be seeing quite a few more adventures in leather in the next few weeks.

This one is cut from a yummy piece of caramel-colored pebbly cowhide. Again, the wrap-around seemed so clean and nice that I didn't want to ruin it with a visible closure so I used a Velcro patch glued on the inside to keep the book closed.

The blank journal has eight signatures of six pages each, total 96 pages (192 both sides). The paper is hand-torn 70 lb ivory felt finish paper. The end papers are a dark brown patterned paper with a subtle lacy print. The long stitch binding is done with dark brown waxed linen thread using a variegated stitch length for design reasons.

Yep, a nice journal.

 

Book 244-A Group of Little Blank Booklets - Ribbon Bound w/ Pamphlet Stitch

Today's "book"  is actually seven (count 'em-7!) books. I did a group of seven pamphlet stitch booklets, but they were so quick and easy, I just felt too guilty counting them as seven days so here they are, Day 244.

I was in Jo-Ann's craft store the other day, rooting around in the piles of scrapbooking papers, looking for likely papers for books. I found a few pads of 5x7" paper in pretty patterns. I also found one pad of cardstock with peel-off adhesive backing. That just screams "quick and easy" so it was too hard to pass up.

For each little booklet, I took a sheet of the pretty paper, found a coordinating color cardstock, peeled off the backing paper, and stuck 'er down. A few needed a tad bit of trimming. This became the cover. Then I scored a line in the center where the spine would be and folded the cover in half and boned it down. I cut some ivory text paper to size, folded 12 sheets in half, nested them into a single signature. I poked a pair of holes in the spine and a matching pair of holes in the cover and bound the whole thing with a piece of very narrow satin ribbon in a coordinating color.

After tying a knot to keep the binding from coming loose, I tied a pretty bow, knotted that, then wrapped the remaining ribbon around  the book and tied a second bow to keep the booklet closed.

These little booklets are pocket sized, so handy for odd notes, phone numbers, jotting down quick ideas. I also think they would make very nice bridesmaid gifts or wedding favors.

Book 243 - Another Hard Cover Journal w/ Hidden Long Stitch Binding

This pretty little hard cover journal uses the same kind of hidden long stitch binding as yesterday's book. This is a structure I can see myself doing a lot of when I'm in a "production-for-selling" mode. It looks neat and professional while still having the "hand-crafted" mojo to it. It's not terribly difficult to make. The key is in having lovely papers and paying attention to the neatness of the finishing.

For this one, I used a gorgeous piece of black-and-white Chinese character paper and a piece of acid green bookcloth for the spine. The three signatures are stitched to a separate piece of the green bookcloth which becomes a hinge to glue the book block onto the prepared cover. Then the end papers are glued down over the hinge. For the end papers here I used a card stock weight paper with a nice pearlized and textured finish.

I'm pretty sure this general structure will become a staple in my books-for-sale inventory.

Book 242 - A Hard-Cover Journal w/ Hidden Long Stitch Binding-Red Fish

I wanted to try this hidden long stitch book structure as soon as I saw it for several reasons.

1) It's fairly easy to make--easy structurally.
2) Since the front and back boards are covered separately, you can use up smaller scraps of decorative paper.
3) The long stitch binding is hidden by the bookcloth covering the spine. That makes for a very neat, clean package.
4) It's sturdy, neat, and looks really good.

Basically, you just cover your front and back boards with the cover paper and paste the leather/bookcloth spine piece in place between the covers. In this case, I chose an Asian-feel paper of black and metallic gold fish on bright red paper. I used a piece of black silk bookcloth with both a sheen to it and a slight slub.

Cut a second strip of the bookcloth and sew the signatures of the book to it. I used a simple butterfly stitch. Then lay the book block in place inside the cover, glue down the "hinge" made by the inside bookcloth, then paste the end papers in place, covering over the "hinge"

Put it under weight for a while and you have a very nice, sturdy little pocket or purse book.

Book 241 - Cased-in Codex Journal/Blank Book w/ Leather Spine

Here's another cased-in codex book, what most people think of when they imagine a proper "book." The fun with these codex journals is in choosing the paper(s) and paying really close attention to the technical details. Not that I get every one of those details right  yet, mind you. In fact, just the other day, I said to my sister, "Just once I'd like to make a book that has absolutely nothing wrong with it." Some day way off in the future, perhaps.

But this is a pretty blank book. The main paper is absolutely gorgeous, a dark green  paper embossed with metallic gold skeleton leaves. The spine is a piece of very soft, supple calfskin leather in a buttery beige color. The pages are 70 lb. felt finish off-white paper. Ten signatures with 120 pages were stitched over linen tapes, glued in the gluing press with mull attached, then trimmed cleanly on the power guillotine. The headbands are dark teal and metallic gold. The end papers don't show well in the photos--they are metallic gold paper.

Really a very pretty, very neat book.

Book 240-Smooth Green Leather Journal w/ Buckle Closure - Long Stitch Binding

Well, you see what happens when I get to go to the leather store? Oregon Leather, in Portland--one of my favorite spots on earth. And you get to see another classic leather journal--this time a beautiful smooth, almost polished dark green.

I've made this as a wrap-around with the back flap coming over the front and closing with a strap and a brass buckle. Since I wanted to maintain the clean look of this, I didn't want to stitch the straps to the book with visible stitches. So I used some silver colored rivets to attach the two straps, one at the spine and the other at the fore edge. In addition to the rivets, I added a drop of epoxy to make sure they are very firm.

This is really a sumptuous journal with thick creamy pages and end papers of pale green with the slightest bit of glimmer in it. It is sewn with a long stitch binding with black waxed linen thread.

And yes, I have a bag full of leather pieces I now have to pack in a suitcase to get home. So you'll be seeing even more leather books in the near future.

Book 239 - Lighthouse Journal w/ Double-needle Coptic Binding - recycled Wallpaper

Using up more wallpaper samples... here is a pretty blank journal with a lighthouse motif.

Once again, I used a wallpaper border, this one with a series of lighthouses. For the back, I used another piece of wallpaper with a nautical chart of the Caribbean on it. I hand tore the wallpaper to size for the front and back covers and the end papers.

The covers are Davey board covered with blue mulberry paper. The torn images were then carefully glued into place. To add interest to the exposed spine, I wrapped the signatures in strips of blue and beige nautical  chart paper. The book was then bound with a double-needle coptic stitch binding with blue waxed linen thread,

Thanks to the Davey board covers, this book feels very substantial. It measures 5" x 7". There are 9 signatures of 6 folded pages each for a total of 108 pages (216 both sides). The pages are my new favorite affordable paper, Neenah Sundance 70 lb felt finish paper in Natural Cream. The fore edge of the pages os hand-torn for a deckle edge.

Man, this particular wallpaper sample book find has turned out to be a bonanza!

Book 238 - A Classic Black Leather Journal w/ Long Stitch Binding - Elegant

Today I've gone for classic simplicity and elegance. This blank book/journal is made of beautiful, smooth black leather with a nice weight to it. When I was deciding where to cut the leather, I saw that the natural edge was just off straight with a very gentle curve and when wrapped around the book made for a very nice front flap closure. I decided I didn't want to do anything to ruin the clean line and simplicity.

The book block is made up of six signatures of five folded sheets each for a total 60 pages (120 both sides). The paper is Arches Text Wove, a simply wonderful art paper that is both thick and soft. It has a wonderful tooth that makes it a joy to touch as well as write or draw on.

I bound the book with black waxed linen thread in a simple but elegant design. The black on black gives it a finished look. To keep the book closed, I put a 1" square of Velcro on the flap. I used the self-adhesive kind, and the bond seemed quite strong, but just to be sure, I added a bit of epoxy adhesive at the edges. These are not coming off any time soon.

I just love the cleanness of this book. It's a great journal size, or would also make a great diary or travel journal. This book has class!

Book 237 - Palm Tree Journal - Double Needle Coptic Binding

This palm tree blank journal features more of the recycled wallpaper samples I turned up recently. But I don't think it looks like it. For the cover image, I tore a palm tree design from a wallpaper border. For the back, I used another piece of wallpaper with a nautical chart design.

I wanted a book with board covers but the wallpaper itself is not suitable for wrapping boards. It tears too easily when you try to make neat corners. So I covered the boards with some soft pale green paper I had then glued the hand-torn wallpaper pieces to the front and pieces of goldish paper to the inside for end papers.

I wanted a substantial journal, so I folded 9 signatures with 6 sheets each for a total of 108 pages (216 both sides). I used Neenah Sundance 70 lb felt finish paper in natural cream. It's a beautiful paper with a soft tooth. For each signature, I wrapped a narrow piece of moss green lokta paper over the spine and also created a flyleaf front and back of the same paper.

Finally, I drilled holes in the cover and bound the book with natural-color linen thread in a double-needle coptic binding. I think I'm finally getting this stitch down. This one is pretty neat, with equal tension and no major bobbles.

I'm glad I "discovered" this idea of gluing the decorative paper over the already-covered board rather than trying to use bad paper to wrap the boards and screwing it up. I can use this technique with all sorts of paper that would not be suitable for wrapping a board, and I think it looks nice.

This is a solid substantial book with a hard cover. It opens flat and will make someone a nice journal.