Day 59 - Stick Binding Journal/Album

Because the stick binding on this journal/album features a real stick--a small tree branch I found in the yard--this one is for nature lovers. It also has covers made of heavy hand-made paper (which I bought; I'm not a papermaker... yet). The paper has a lovely texture and small confetti-like flecks of pastel colors.

The stick binding is similar to the Japanese stab binding, since both are end bindings with simple stacked pages rather than sewn signatures. With a stick binding, you simply bring your thread (or in this case raffia) up through the holes, wrap it around the twig and then sew back down through the same hole, snugging it tight around the stick or twig. When I finished stitching this, I tied a few more strands of the raffia around the top knot and shredded it for embellishment.

This kind of book makes a nice photo album or guest book. Measures 6 1/2" x 8 1/2".