I made a book!

Two books, actually.

I followed the very good instructions from the Mindful Art Studio's Coptic Bound Journal workshop, and without much trouble made these two small sketchbooks.

The individual steps are not difficult, but they took time and care to ensure a nice finished product.  There was a lot of cutting, glueing, folding, and finally sewing to bring it all together.

The process starts with cutting the materials for your covers and the inner pages, called signatures.  I used watercolor paper for these, but any paper can be used depending on the purpose of the book.  The cover is made from chip board covered with decorative paper or fabric.

The paper cutter I bought a while back was a real life-saver.  This could all be done by hand, but that would take a long time.  It took a while as it was.  This is not a process to rush through!

The final step before sewing is to poke holes in the signatures and covers.  Again, having the correct tool really makes a difference!  When I made my first simple sketchbook a couple of months ago, I did not have an awl and improvised with a sharp screw Michael found in the garage.  It worked, but was slow and hurt my hand.  Because I enjoyed making the sketchbook and knew I would make more, I bought a beginner's bookbinding kit with the various tools needed to make different books.  I've used almost everything in the kit already.

Look at those neat and tidy holes!

The next step is sewing the pieces together.  As you can imagine, this is a bit awkward at first while trying to figure it all out.  I was really happy to have the curved needles from the bookbinding kit!  A straight needle can do the job, but requires a lot more fiddling around with the book which might lead to loose stitches.  Lots of sharp things involved in book making!

Once you have the hang of it, the sewing step is very enjoyable.

By the time I was finished with the second book (the blue one) I was feeling really good about the process.  I did learn one very important thing - make sure you have enough thread!  I barely squeaked by with just an inch or so to spare on the second book.  Not much more on the first one.

Here's a close up of the stitching.  I know with practice the stitches will be more uniform, but either way they look pretty nifty.

The books lay flat when open, which will make painting in them easy.  The other sketchbooks I've made don't do that, so the paint tries to pool in the middle.

I made a painted piece for the inside cover.  Next time I'll cut the inner pieces smaller so they don't have holes poked in them (and I'll make sure the outer cover paper is big enough to fold in further and cover the board better.

Now I've got these two great books to fill with art!  I know I'll be making more of these, and am really looking forward to visiting a craft store in person to pick out nice paper for the covers.

So many possibilities...

Time flies by

Five days to go and I will be fully vaccinated!  I got my second shot a week ago Friday, felt like garbage on Saturday, and it's all been great since then.  Other than my normal spring allergies, they can go away please.  Among other things, I noticed the Scotch Broom along the freeway is blooming now, yippee.

When Michael sweeps the porch this time of year the pollen creates quite a pile.  No wonder I have issues. 

It's worth it though.  Our yard looks great right now!

I spent some time in the garden today, cleaning up the bed next to the house on the north side.  It was great to be outside again after a few days of rain.  Rowland loves hanging out with me while I work.  I was weeding along the edge of the trailer and heard him fussing around.  I thought he had gotten into the trailer but no - he was under it!

I have a ridiculously busy week ahead at work.  I'm just going to have to power through.

There are things I want to write about but it's getting late and I had better be well rested tomorrow to start the hell week.  Waaaaaaay too much of my time will be spent on Zoom.  I don't know about you, but I'm really bloody sick of Zoom.  It's not done with us yet by any means though.

Mary Jo Salter has written some sonnets about life with Zoom.  Here's a sample.

Zoom Rooms

Nose-scratches broadcast, thoughts shrunk to an icon
or two (Clap, Thumbs Up), and if you leave your mic on
while others talk, your faintest sighing framed
in gold light like a vanity mirror? Named
on your little tile, you can’t slip out unseen.
Self-surveilled, your eye contact onscreen
seems off. Don’t look at people! Focus where
the tiny camera is that proves you’re there.

I'm not much into poetry, but these really hit home.  Via On the Commons.