The Blue Book

For the better part of a few days I experimented with some mixed media techniques I used for a book back in February. This time I repurposed a cover of the book A Pocketful of Years which seemed like a great title for a journal that could possibly contain memoirs, or serve as a guestbook or wedding book. For now I'm just calling it the blue book. It was fun tea staining paper, lace and other ephemera to embellish the torn edge pages. I'm also really pleased with the buttons, charms and ribbons I found for the cover, which are a mixture of modern and vintage pieces.

- Sam

Custom Wedding Guest Book 'The Love Book'

A lovely customer recently approached us for a custom made wedding guestbook, which I took on:

"Think love, light, laughter, happiness, family, rural living, history, heritage, creativity, joy, union, light and magic ... A magical, beautiful, oozing-with-love book, complete in every way. A wedding guest book to inspire beautiful, supportive loving words and images," she said. So I set to work.

The first step was gathering bundles of materials; textures and hues in red and gold.

Then I cut and shaped the book board to the required size (A4).

The next thing to do was lay elements together, stitching as I went. 

I had an image in my mind of how colours and textures would

morph from one end of the book to the other.

As the elements came together, they were adhered permanently to the board. 

Loose threads were left trailing from the ends of pieces. 

The result: a work of art!

But I wasn't finished yet. With the layers and materials in place, 

I still had to decide where to attach my selection of beads, buttons and charms. 

Once I had the cover it was easy enough to lay them out

and push them around until I found a composition I liked. 

The flowing composition of circular buttons nicely offset 

the straight lines formed by the layers of materials underneath.

The process was repeated for the back cover.

The inside cover, front and back, was lined with a rich burgundy red book cloth. 

Ribbons were sewn directly into the edges of the board to close it. 

Pages were torn, aged, pressed, gilded and sewn by hand, using coptic stitch binding,

to complete a book I am very proud of. 

A few weeks ago I blogged about the importance of storytelling in my life and my work;

about journeys, adventure, mystery, wonder, magic, love; 

about incorporating these elements in my work in 2014. 

What a coincidence, then, that this custom order should find its way to me!

- Sam

Planning a New Journal

 I felt the anticipation building as I headed home with

new treasures I'd discovered at local stores this morning.

I fossicked through cupboards, boxes and drawers,

pulling out old favourites and adding them to the mix.

Cottons, linens, lace, doilies, ribbons, mesh and more.

 Once my collection was spread across the floor of the lounge

it was easy to make the final selection.

A delicate mix of old and new, pinks and creams

lace and linen.

My next journal cover is just around the corner . . . 

- Karen