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, October 15, 2011

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.






2 comments:

  1. Hi Donna, sorry I have been away so long, almost a month, with some computer challenges. What fun to come back and have a positive tsunami of new books to see. I love what you are doing with the wallpaper, with the new leather, with the classic traditional books, and whoopee for inventing the nifty sunburst longstitch. You have certainly taken good advantage of that studio. And what a blessing that you were able to spend time with your mother. I have finished my 75 Sketches in 75 days and received my Artist License. Feeling totally creative now. And I will come by regularly to see what is happening here. When do you go home? Or are you there yet?

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  2. Rachel - Welcome back! We've missed you 'round here (tho' I have been following you on FB. CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your 75 sketches in 75 days! That's a great accomplishment. And I do understand how creative this sort of discipline can make you feel.

    I am just back from Oregon (had to ship home several boxes of "stuff.") I did finally take some pix of the studio my last day/night there and will sort them out and post some very soon.

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