As promised...

Here are a few of my non-book art projects Ive done in the past.

This is a line of wine glasses I designed as a gift for my sister. I sandblasted the barcode inspired design on the glass itself.

Because I am so stubbornly against working digitally, this is from the one and only digital class I took in university. This image was the center piece of the series, with single images of her walking away were on either side, in 8x10 then 5x7 to give the feel of her walking away into the distance. This particular image was 11x14.
It didnt project here as well as the print itself looked.


This image is one of my ultimate favorites. Im not sure if I appreciate that its a long exposure image with a medium format camera or if I really appreciate it because it was a total experiment that turned out well.
I had just gotten my first medium format camera, a Yashica A, a very old camera that doesn't take a single battery. Its completely manual and I love it.

This next series was completed in my second year. The print quality wasn't as strong as I had been able to achieve later on and the scanning quality was lacking but I am so proud of this piece on Gender Roles in the Domestic Space.





Through my years studying photography, one of my favorite places to shoot was at a local cemetary, one that was the subject of many highschool stories of where to stay away from at night. I found such beauty in some of the statues and the juxtaposition of life and death in one gated place.

She was one of my favorite statues, although this image doesn't showcase why. Her arm was broken off just below where the image crops off. She had such a tragic beauty behind her, she was broken but still so strong. I thought she was beautiful.

Around the world in 80 Pages is on its way!

I have begun listing items in my new store Aroundtheworldin80pages ! I am proud of the books in this store and cannot wait to send them out into the world!

Ive decided to showcase some of my non-book art, so as soon as the crazyness of the new store settles, Ill be posting some of that!

The days are passing all too quickly

 

Just a few more days until Around the World in 80 Pages officially opens up! Im very excited about this. Im also quite busy these days trying to build up some inventory plus submit a donated book for Feed the Children and choose a book for the book swap Im involved in.

So many books and so little time!

I have just learned something new!

And I am stoked!

Just wanted to add a punch of summer on a day that looks a little gloomy outside!

Ive been featured in a B.E.S.T interview!

My interview with BEST bookbinding team was released today!

Read my interview here!

ROUNDTHEWORLDIN80PGS OPENING JUNE 1ST 2010!!!

I will be launching a new store, Roundtheworldin80pgs on June 1st and I can't wait! I will be showcasing and selling the books that I handbind using papers that I have ordered or picked up from different countries around the world : Japan, Italy, Nepal, China etc etc and of course local papers.

I am so excited about the new store and my new focus. I will still be able to fill custom orders but in the mean time I will be working on a line of photo albums/ scrapbooks.

And as always, all my books are one of a kind!

Hope to see you soon!
Be well

Taa Daaaaaaaaaaa!

I have completed the Wedding Guest book and am really proud of myself. I sent a few images of it to the Bride via facebook and she loved it! Of course, I was thrilled (and relieved)

The book is coptically stitched with Irish waxed linen thread, which was the first time Ive used anything of the sort. The pages are strathmore paper and the silver peacock feather was created by a hand cut stencil and silver leafing. I wished that the silver leafing was more patchy for lack of a better word, like when you are leafing a 3D item but then it would be difficult finishing it in a way that it wouldnt chip off an any given time.

Turns out two days after I finished this book, I cut a piece of my finger off and had to go to the ER. THANK GOODNESS I finished the book already! The Bride picks it up this weekend and then the bitter/sweet feelings kick in. My creation is gone but now it is the hands of the Bride and will participate in the happiest day for her!

thanks to UberArt / Studio B at http://www.etsy.com/shop/emersonbindery for all your help! you were fantastic!

Deep thoughts by Jack Handy

"Instead of a trap door, what about a trap window? The guy looks out it, and if he leans too far, he falls out. Wait. I guess that's like a regular window."

I couldn't resist.

Ive been working hard with not only the guest book (which Im pretty stoked about) but coming up with a constant pricing system. Ive been logging how much Im paying for supplies such as paper, how much they cost per sq. inch so I can charge accordingly. Turns out, Ive been charging decently, even when guessing.

Things Ive learned this week when it comes to bookbinding:
When making your own stencil to embellish with a silver leaf pen, the stencil can be as thin as simple computer paper. This saves wrist power when using an xacto to cut the stencil out.

I at first tried to adhere the stencil using rubber cement which can usually be a god send, however it stains certain papers, so test it out first. I was afraid to use moveable spray adhesive because I thought it would stain the paper but it didnt! Turns out that it worked perfectly. But only spray it once or else it will leave a sticky residue on the paper.

Using a silver leaf pen makes things really easy. After applying, let it sit over night and dry out or else its easy to smudge. Ill check on how it is tomorrow and report back. The pen didnt leave the look I originally wanted when thinking about using the sheets of silver, however Im thinking of going over parts of it again to give it a layered look that you get with sheets of silver leafing.

I didnt open a window when using the spray adhesive and trust me, its not ideal. Opening the window is difficult for me logistically with the wheelchair and all so Ive got to figure that one out before the spray makes me ga-ga.

I always keep in mind to measure twice, cut once. But remember to make sure the sheet of paper you are cutting is sat the correct way so the strips you are cutting arent too long and there isnt enough space to cut as many per sheet as you were doing all along.

Words from my old prof...be ok with the mistake you made because you will never make it again.
Here is hoping George.

Busy as a bee, and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool!

I just couldn't help myself. I thought 'busy as a bee' and then the Music Man lyrics just came out. My grade 13 drama teacher would be SO proud!!

So, Ive been busy. And when I'm busy, I'm happy. I was in a bit of a funk and neglected my studio space where I make my books. It wasn't until I had to work on the order from my Aunt that I went back in there and boy am I glad I did.

She had ordered 5 address books for gifts. For Christmas I had made each of my Dad's sisters one and she liked it so much that she called to thank me and to order 5 more!

When I was waiting for the last one's glue to fully dry so I could unclamp it, I remembered a little phrase I had printed out ages ago but never got around to using. An idea I had before came rushing back and I just had to make the book right then.





I had printed out the phrase "what do you think" for a diary/journal since we all become close enough friends with our journals to tell them what we really think. I used lined pages and a traditional French stitch I learned in my first bookbinding course. I love the window I created in the cover and am SO THANKFUL that my on a whim idea worked out.

While I was photographing the above books, I thought that I was neglecting the very thing that I couldn't live without when making books...my studio space! I started out making books in my living room and the flow of work would be interrupted by having to tidy up so the family could have their dining room back. Ive since moved into the kitchen, where we never eat for some reason and have been creating there ever since!

The drawers I couldn't live without. They sit perpendicular to the table thats always too messy to photograph on its own but is lovely in the way the old glue shimmers in the light and the tool box is the embodiment of strength. How is that for writing when its way too late to do anything but sleep :)



Listening to : the sound of traffic outside

Spring is almost here, I promise

I have returned from my trip longing to make more books and take more photographs. I am currently working on a custom order for 5 address books, and then Im on to a wedding guest book, something that has me both exhilirated and scared. I want to do the Bride right with this book, she is special and Id like the book to be too.



At http://www.bethr99.etsy.com/ I have listed quite a few photographs that I had printed and stored away. I realized that through various peoples reactions, they would make GREAT Mother's Day gifts!! I have included a few as a tastey sample of whats in my store.







Quite a few of the images are 8x12, I just couldn't crop any of the image off! There are a few 4x6 copies as well.




I have recently been introduced to secret Belgian binding, and Ill have to give it a try. Like most stitches, at first glance it looks tough but I have faith I can do it. Ill just have to try :)


I am asking anyone who is reading this to please donate to the Relay for Life Cancer walk this year in honour of a few specific people who have received heartbreaking prognoses this year.