Right! I've finally got together a little step-by-step for binding very simple books. We're going to be using a sort of pamphlet stitch. Start by cutting a selection of papers down to the same size. I'm using a mix of watercolour paper and squared paper.
Fold each of your pages in half, as exactly as possible. I'm using a bone folder for an accurate fold.
Measure your book and mark 3 points at equal distances down the spine. Take a drawing pin and, opening it out and laying it flat, make holes through all the layers at the points you've marked.
Now thread a needle with a stout thread or anything you like really. I'm using a linen thread and a bookbinding needle that I get from here, but you can use whatever you've got.
Taking your needle, go in from the outside at point B, back out at point C, round the outside to go in at point A, and then back out again at point B.
Tie the ends in a knot.
Now you can decorate your book. I'm gluing buttons on mine! You may need to trim off the right hand edge for neatness, or leave them, it's up to you. Done! Let me know if you have any problems.
This week I am mostly cutting shapes out of leather and attaching them with jump rings... I've got a jump ring callous! How one suffers for one's art. I am going to save those pictured for a craft fair, but if anyone fancies one you know what to do...
How much do you want to sink your face into one of these recycled t-shirt pillows from Talking Squid? AMAZING!
Meet Staggy, Longears, Owly and Foxface. These beauts have made me ridiculously happy ever since I found them in H&M at the weekend for just 5 English Pounds and 99p. And I've only poked myself in the eye twice! Win.
There's a lovely new site on the internet 'block', curated by a nice lady called Simone, which displays pretty things from around the world in a very soothing, clean environment and with a great eye for colour. Ammiki will go far, a mon avis!
She's also put up a little interview with yours truly, if you can bear to hear more of my babblings...
50p? Hello, Queenie. You're coming home with me.
Lovely lovely weekend just making loads of stuff and listening to Stephen Fry read me Harry Potter. That's right, I'm a massive loser. What are you up to?
Another of the things I picked up at the boot sale was this great big frame. I spied it first time round and thought 'don't be silly, it's far too big and useless', but then just as we were leaving there it was with a 'free' sign on it, and what's a girl to do? I also grabbed this great dress, which is in the shop as it's longer than I'd like but I don't have the heart to cut it!
One of the things I nabbed at this weekend's car boot sale was this bundle of leather and faux-leather scraps for the happy-making sum of £1. For a vegetarian I'm inordinately fond of leather, especially metallic leather... Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to experimenting with some nice shiny leather things, and it means more bunting necklaces in nice new colours!
Any other veggies with a guilty love of leather out there?
{EDIT: Having lost the TV remote, I am listening to Fleetwood Mac records, which leads me to put this question to you: have you any inappropriate girl/lady crushes? I'll go first: Stevie Nicks around the time of Rumours. Oh, and Debbie Harry, circa 1978}
After all that new metally stuff, I've gone all soft and triangly. This is my new 'soft geometry' collection (plus a rogue anchor charm bracelet), in the shop now, and more coming this week.
Pastel triangles, anyone?
{EDIT: anchor bracelet now in the shop too!}
I entered this design into the hello handmade t-shirt design competition (theme: colour on a grey day) and all entries are now up on the site for people to peruse and leave their comments which will be taken into account by the judges. Mine's not looking too good on the grey background they've put them on, but you can see here how I envisioned it. Now this isn't a transparent beg for your kindly votes, but I'm number 45... ;)
A bit of a lie-in, a sunny car boot sale, a glass of wine with lunch and making jewellery all afternoon while watching Poirot. Can this day get any better? I got loads of knicker-wettingly good things that I can't wait to share with you this week!
It's most definitely the autumn now. As I walked home last night from drinks with friends the first mist was hanging around, and there was very much a 'back to school' feel in the air today. I felt like I should be filling my pencil case with new pens and stuff... Here are some new autumnal-toned necklaces that are now available in the shop!
Right! I've finally got together a little step-by-step for binding very simple books. We're going to be using a sort of pamphlet stitch. Start by cutting a selection of papers down to the same size. I'm using a mix of watercolour paper and squared paper.
Fold each of your pages in half, as exactly as possible. I'm using a bone folder for an accurate fold.
Measure your book and mark 3 points at equal distances down the spine. Take a drawing pin and, opening it out and laying it flat, make holes through all the layers at the points you've marked.
Now thread a needle with a stout thread or anything you like really. I'm using a linen thread and a bookbinding needle that I get from here, but you can use whatever you've got.
Taking your needle, go in from the outside at point B, back out at point C, round the outside to go in at point A, and then back out again at point B.
Tie the ends in a knot.
