At first, I didn’t like this binding. After the book was finished, I really love it. I’ll be using it again.
Title: Sunny Days
Inside: Warm Sunny Days, My Front Porch, Becomes The Perfect, Spot To Dry Yarn & Paint
Crown Binding May 28, 2012
House Card Book May 25, 2012
This was an interesting construction. I was inspired my my octopus stamp again.
The inside has the lyrics to Octopus’ Garden by the Beatles
T-Cut Book May 24, 2012
Title: Octopus or Cthulhu?
I had a little fun with watercolor making this one.
Venetian Blind Book May 22, 2012
I kind of like this book because you can hang it up if you want. The poem is called the Fairy & Child and is only the first verse:
Fairy & Child
Oh, listen, little Dear-My-Soul,
To the fairy voices calling,
For the moon is high in the misty sky,
And the honey dew is falling;
To the midnight feast in the clover bloom,
The bluebells are a-ringing,
And it’s “come away to the land of fay”
That the katydid is singing.
Bookbinding Etsy Street Team Blog Post October 4, 2009
I was included in a post on the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team’s blog today. Click Here to see the post!
Virtual Studio Tour – Studios Magazine October 3, 2009
Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine Open Studio Virtual Tour
My studio is what is formerly known as a dinning room. It’s actually an addition that was built onto our house long before we ever moved in. Originally it was a porch that was closed in and another porch built on that was then closed in to make the closet. This means that in the winter it is very cold in the room. I have a large double door cabinet that I keep most of my supplies in (along with some kitchen equipment). I also have an awesome easel that doubles as a drafting table, a few small bookshelves under a built in counter top, and a large wooden box where I keep my yarn and fabric.
This is my main worktable. It was given to me by two very dear friends when they were moving into a new home and no longer wanted this table. The glass top makes a perfect work surface since I can clean anything off of it easily.
Here, I’m making book cloth, which has to be pasted down to a glass surface to dry. I used the top and bottom of the glass. When I removed the book cloth, it was super easy to clean.
My bookshelf makes my life easier. I needed one for along time and finally bought one this summer. On top, I keep my ribbons and post card collection. The top shelf is where I keep my inspiration and favorite things. Next shelf down is things in progress, then a shelf of buttons and easy to reach towels. The next to last shelf is my knitting books and art books. On the bottom I keep my dye pot and my hand spun yarns.
Shelf of my favorite things:
In Progress Shelf:
I like to work assembly line style when I’m producing blank journals.
Breaking down paper for text blocks:
Text Blocks:
Covers In Progress:
Books waiting to be bound:
All bound up:
I don’t own a book press so I have a makeshift one. I have lots of heavy books, Masonite boards, and a large can of pineapple juice.
This is a glimpse of my very large bookbinding tool box. This is just the top tray.
My studio extends outside this one room and on into the rest of the house when I need more space. I do most of my knitting, crocheting & spinning in the den so I can use my computer & watch TV. I use the living room as a sewing room since it has our dinning table in it. I use my kitchen to dye wool and make felt and my porch doubles as a drying rack on sunny warm days (on rainy days, the shower rod in the bathroom is used for drying).
I have some furry help in all this mess too. Zoe, my black kitty, is the reason that my shop is called “The Crafty Kitten”. He loves to sit beside me no matter what I’m doing and just watch.
Piggy usually sneaks in when I’m not looking to check my work.
Snuggies has been known to fall asleep on my feet if I stand in one place too long (usually when I’m breaking down paper for text blocks).
Then there is Raisin, who isn’t allowed in the studio alone because she will eat all the kitty’s food. She likes to sleep by my feet or in my lap too.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the little virtual tour of my studio. Feel free to check out my online shop (which is a little empty at the moment) The Crafty Kitten.
BookOpolis September 26, 2009
I went to BookOpolis at Asheville Bookworks today. It was awesome to be in a room filled with wonderful people and beautiful books. I got a chance to screen print and print on a letterpress machine.
I also had two books in the show. The Red Needle Case and the Cell Diagram Science Book.
Eco Books Inventive Project from the Recycling Bin September 23, 2009
Eco Books Inventive Project from the Recycling Bin by Terry Taylor Amazon Link
I’m so excited, I just can’t stop squeeing. My wonderful UPS man dropped off a box of these books for me just 15 minutes ago. I immediately cracked one open and found my project. I’m on page 48 & 49 with a bio in the back.
There’s a back story about my Book Jar that I feel I should share. My grandfather, aka my hero, passed away in September of 2007. This project was part of my healing process after his passing. I used to visit my grandparent’s house after school when I was a kid. When I would come in he would ask me what I learned for the day. Whatever my reply, his was always the same, “Learn all you can and can all you learn.” There were many tears shed during the months of creating all those tiny books while thinking back on my precious time with him. I’m so proud of my tribute to him.
