One More Softie

I only managed to get one of the soft covered books made this week. I was hoping to get two done, but things do not always go as planned. I always think I can get more done than I actually can.

I stamped and painted onto the cover

and added a tea bag paper decorated wrap around the three signatures.

The cover is actually a bit greener than the pictures.

Fun to make.... I have materials all ready to make another one, but not sure when I will find the hours I need to actually make it.... maybe soon, maybe not. I will let you know!

Soft Covered Books

My creative time has been spent making a couple of new soft covered books.

The cover is made from layers of fabric, paper and glue that is then sewn onto. The final layer is wax. I love the feel of these covers. They are almost leather like. The fabric layers keep the cover flexible, while the paper layer gives it strength and stability.

Inside the book I added a decorated first narrow page, that was made with tea bags and a decorative piece of fabric.

I also sewed on the back cover...

and the decorative narrow page wraps around all three signatures. This book has about 60 pages (or 120 if you count both sides) of 60 lb. paper.

This book is a little smaller in size, but was made the same way

except I decorated it with white paint stampings.

It too has a decorated page the wraps around the 3 signatures.

I do hope to be able to make a few more of these books this week.

Things to Share

I often have a big 'To Do' list, and at the top of my list a few days ago was to write a letter to an elderly friend of mine.

I wanted some nice paper to write to her on, but I didn't have much time. So I took a page out of a glossy used book I had bought for $1, and with an old envelope as a template, I made an envelope out of it.

With the scrap pieces I had left over, I decorated a couple of pieces of paper to write the letter on.

When I had written the letter, I tucked it inside the colourful envelope and popped it in the mail.

The other thing I have to share is about the newest edition of Somerset Studio. Last January I took an online course from the very talented Misty Mawn, and she wrote an article for this magazine.

And to my happy surprise my artwork was in it!(bottom two pictures) She had invited people to send her some artwork for her article, but I also knew she had received a lot of different people's work, so was not expecting to see mine.

and even though they spelled my name wrong in the magazine I am smiling from ear to ear!

Messy Pocket Books

I made a couple more messy pocket books...

and these ones have even more pages than the last one I made

I can't show you them all.....

but here are a few.

Some of the pages have things clipped or pinned to them.

and the pockets at both the front and the end of the book. . . .

are full of extra bits and pieces of paper... some blank some not - that can be added to the book.

If it wasn't for the piece of fabric I tied around this book it wouldn't be able to stay shut!

Little Drawings and Paintings

I have just finished making a couple more small folders (about 6"x 5").....

they are deocrated with layers of paint and ink

and my hand carved stamps.

When you open them, they are full of various weights of small pieces of paper just waiting to be drawn or painted onto.

I am often afraid to draw or paint in my journals, as I am afraid I will make a mess of it, or draw something I don't like. This way if I like it I keep it in the folder, and if I really don't like it, I can throw it away.

This one I made for myself some time ago.... it is beginning to have a number of drawings and paintings in, and I find it so nice to use.... never worrying about messing up!

and here are the two most recent paintings.... as you can see by the dates I don't manage to use it often, but when I do, I enjoy it a lot.

Soft Covered Handmade Books

Growing up I always loved books - whether that was a book to read or one to write or draw in (although I didn't draw because I didn't think I could) I especially loved hard covered books, and when I first started making books I loved making hard covered books.... but times change and lately I have really enjoyed making soft covered books.

This soft covered book was made as a 'thank you' gift

The covers are made from material and paper and layers of paint, and ink with a final layer of wax. The feel of the cover is hard to describe, but I love the feel of them.

This is a thicker book that I made as a gift for a friend.

It has so many different layers of paint, and took a long time to get to a stage that I was happy with.

BUT FINALLY I finished the cover... here is the inside cover before I added the pages.

and here is the finished book - outside....

and inside.

And the final book I have to share today is one that I hope to be selling. Here you can see the inside of the cover and the pages that will go inside the book.

- the inside of the front cover with many layers of paint.

- and a close up of the outside front cover

and the book as it is now - finished front view

- finished back view

and finished inside view..... which includes sewn together recycled poster pages (my favourites).