I have managed to do a few more prints at home. It is the usual - not enough time.
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In my last post I showed an example of Keith Smith's decorative spine stitching. This made me very interested in what else I could do with this type of bookbinding. From there I bought several of Keith's books from his website. Keith replied to me very quickly and sent the books the very next day. What a lovely experience. From one of the books I attempted the caterpillar stitch (not really a caterpillar - too many legs) but you get the idea. I love it. The directions were very clear and easy to follow. I will experiment with a caterpillar that is a bit more lively next time.     This is my version of a Christmas/New Year card this year for my lovely friend Ann who sent me an amazing hand made card. It is the only card I have made for this Christmas. The time has just flown by. I know that Christmas always comes at the same time each year but it is still manages to creep up on me without me noticing. This card is a beautiful eco print both back and front and inside. The green circles were from onion rings. It is amazing the different colours that can be achieved.   This eco print has turned out to be a very delicate print. So pretty. It is a reminder that I need to do another batch soon!  This book by Erin Zamrzla has 28 projects that can be made from ordinary and re purposed materials. The book I choose to make is a simple accordion book which doubles as a bookmark and a place to jot notes as you read. It is absolutely perfect for books with numerous characters like Tolstoy's War and Peace. It is also very handy if you belong to a book club making reporting to the group very easy. I have used eco-prints as a decorative feature.       The author is Mari Ono, the subtitle is 24 Unique Oriental Projects, and was published in 2011. The project that caught my eye was the Tsunokobako Box. This is a traditional origami design for holding sweets or trinkets. It is described as being so simple a small child could make it. Maybe it is because I am not a small child that I found initially it was very difficult. I made mine out of eco printed paper and then put into it some of the stones I had made when experimenting with lettering on stones. Just a few little boxes with wishing stones going out to the Strathnairn Gallery Shop.  The challenge this year was to create a 'Stack of Books' using five different methods of binding. This was a fun challenge which saw many participants produce more than one of each type of binding. I settled for one of each secured with an old belt reminiscent of days when books where carried with leather straps. All of my books used the eco prints I had printed earlier in the year. I thought that this made them look like more of a set.   First up was Oriental Stab Binding which I approached in the traditional way. Very satisfying. Next, the pamphlet binding. Mine was certainly very basic compared to others, but did fit the criteria.   Then came the exposed sewing binding. I rather like sewing coptic bindings so....     Next the sculptural book. I thought that my tunnel book fit the criteria perfectly.  and to finish up, a case binding.
This workshop was run by Rosemarie Jeffers-Palmer who introduced us to Split Board Binding. At this stage of my bookbinding career I don't have the words to describe the binding accurately. The nearest I can come is that book cloth is wrapped around board and then adhered to the case binding. Rosemarie encouraged decoration of the covers with many people doing beautiful embroidery. The only embroidery I am able to do with any proficiency is cross stitch which wasn't suitable. Instead I sewed eco printed leaves onto the cover. The outer board was sanded to achieve a rounded cushion look which was very effective. Another great workshop with an almost finished book. Still have to put in the endpapers! Below is a selection of books made at the workshop. Mine is the one with the leaves. 
 No. 1 Eucalyptus Leaves Dos Rapporté binding Leather binding, eco printed cartridge paper. Eco printed end papers. 210 mm x 155 mm x 30 mm  No. 2 Leaf Prints Drum leaf binding Hand printed handmade paper 195 mm x 145 mm x 10 mm  No. 3 Bind Challenge 2013
Artist Book Recycled paper - one star book, two concertinaed books and a scroll Dimensions variable |
