Handmade Books

For the last couple of months I haven't posted anything because my creative interests took a turn into bookmaking! The above photo is the front and back cover of my own new sketchbook. It's done in oils on primed canvas fabric that I bound around some bookbinding cardboard.

Here's the book. I finished it yesterday, with the help of a tutorial by Sea Lemon.

I put the back cover on upside down. Haha! Good thing I wasn't charging myself much.

Here's a book I did for a friend.

And here's a small stack of my first 3 books.

I still have 2 more books in the works, to give as gifts, as well as trying to perfect my own personal Traveler's Journal.

Here's the Traveler's Journal. A friend made it for me several years ago. The outside was a plain cotton canvas which I had requested so that I could paint on the design. I'm now trying to decide what exactly to carry in it - calendar, to do list, sketchbook, etc.

I love planners, bullet journals, sketchbooks, scrapbooks, diaries, etc. and my interest in doing all of this comes from my desire to find that perfect balance for myself. I've been keeping a planner for probably about 10 years, and each year I've learned what works for me and what doesn't. I just decided that to have the perfect book for me, I was going to have to make it myself.

Also, all of the beautiful cover options and embellishments inside the books, open creative play in areas of sewing, embroidery, beading, paper making, marbling, and polymer clay! The sky's the limit!

Here's a small embroidery piece, for the interior of one of the books. I did it with the help of my best friend who has a subscription to Spellbinders and a lot of crafting equipment!

A couple of days ago I received a text from her asking me if I wanted to come play. WHAT?! Those are the greatest words to hear from your buddy no matter how old you are!