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.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Book 229-Cased-in Codex Blank Book/Journal in Black Satin Bookcloth

I wanted to make another nice cased-in codex book since I have access to all my sister's presses and other equipment, not to mention her incredible stash of gorgeous papers and bookcloth.

The front and back covers of this blank journal are cut from Davey board (bookbinders board). I used a beautiful black slub satin-finish bookcloth and then an amazing paper for the spine and end papers. The full beauty of the paper doesn't really shine in the photos. The interlocking circle pattern is in metallic gold. The pages are folded from a mottled beige text weight paper, sewn over tapes, then cut into a nice clean block on the hydraulic cutter. I then put it in the gluing press. The spine was coated with glue and a piece of mull was glued over the spine as well. That served as a hinge for gluing the book block in place. The headbands are very dark blue--almost black--with gold threads.

After it was completely together, it was wrapped in waxed paper and put into the book press for several hours to ensure it would close nice and flat.

I could have cut the book block just a bit bigger but it doesn't bother me too much. What looks like extra glue on the black bookcloth in the photos is not. It's just in the photo--probably from the flash.

All in all, this is a very clean, well-made book. I really like it. It would make a lovely journal, sketchbook or travel diary.





2 comments:

  1. This is a book that could be for either male or female, too. Very smart and sleek. Hydraulic cutter, glue press...must be seventh heaven! :):)

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  2. Wow, and you did not have to die first for this heaven!...sigh...

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