Happy Holidays Sale from BEST...

The Bookbinding Etsy Street Team (BEST) is having a holiday sale with various shops offering discounts or free shipping. My shop is offering free shipping on my recycled notebooks! For a list of participating BEST shops check out our blog here!

Recycled books...

In an effort to satisfy my effort to recycle I am beginning a line of recycled books using covers from old interesting books no longer being read, and notebooks filled with recycled paper. As a teacher and artist I have access to so much paper that needs to be recycled. It's one of my joys to turn old things into something useful and attractive!

This book shown above will not be listed in my etsy shop, but will be given as a gift! The owl illustration on the cover is hand drawn and cut by me using my own painted paste paper. The endpapers are the same paper as the owl. The signatures are drawing paper, each wrapped in a red coordinating decorative paper. Keep watch - I'll be listing recycled books and notebooks soon on etsy and will still be offering my custom journals and albums using the same fine papers for writing, painting, and scrapbooking - all acid free as always!

New books...

I've actually been busy making books lately! Here are a couple new ones I've added to my etsy store:




The top photo is our fireplace mantle decorations for Thanksgiving! I'm in the midst of cooking and cleaning for tomorrow but thought I'd wish everyone out there in American blogland a Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for so many things! I hope you are too!

Custom Art Journal Complete...

This custom art journal is on it's way to an artist in Hondoros! It is 6"X9" and has 40 pages of Fabriano Artistico 140lb. cold press watercolor paper. Wish I could see it filled with her artwork! Thanks Deni!

New binding...

These are some 4"X6" notebooks that are adhesive bound using PVA glue and single sheets of graph paper for making notes. I got the tutorial from five and a half. I made these for my Etsy shop but I've kept the brown and green one for myself (keep it in my purse and write down ideas for new books when they come to me, grocery lists, cool quotes, appointments that I need to remember to put in my daytimer at home, etc.). The very first one I made my daughter has taken over after my hubby tried to keep it. I'll have to make him one soon! Am working on a custom art journal order now - so should have photos in a few days.

Possibilities for a custom art journal...

Two More Brag Books Complete...

I can't believe that it's taken me so long to complete these two books hat are now available in my etsy shop! Believe me, custom orders are completed very timely and take priority over all other art projects. But stocking my etsy store with books as I'm able seems to have taken way longer than I thought it would now that it's summer and I'm not teaching. I envisioned myself completing a book a day over the summer! We have however been busy with storytelling bliss last week (and the few weeks before with preparations) at Vacation Bible School and ending with a Roswell Magnolia Storytelling Festival last weekend. Our almost daily trips to the neighborhood pool have been fruitful for the twins and big sis and their swimming skills! Also, doctor's appointments (dentists, orthodontist, eye drs., etc.) have taken up their fare share of time. We are making the most of this summer though I suppose!

Last post I showed 3 paste papers and only have 2 books to show this post because I just didn't care for the third paste paper after it was glued to the bookboards - not centered right or something. Trying to save it with more paint didn't produce results either, so it's been set aside with others that haven't quite passed the test of my liking!

These new paste papers...

These new paste papers are in the process of becoming 3 different 5"X7" brag books or photo albums. I love making books in bulk and in stages - especially when they all are very different in color and pattern. So fun!

Sewing in spacers tutorial:

Traci asked about how to sew the spacers into a photo album/scrapbook. I've written out and drawn a tutorial. I hope it's understandable! Thanks for asking Traci! Click on the image below to see the tutorial larger:

New Photo Album listed on Etsy...

This one is 8"X8" and just adorable! My 4 year old son wants it - but I'm going to have to make him another with this paste paper! Each of my 3 kids has their own journal with the paste paper of their choosing - they love to write and draw in them at night before bed especially!

2 new books...

These two books have been added to my Etsy shop (link to the right). The purple and yellow book is a journal with 112 pages of Arches Text Wove paper and the pink and purple one is a brag book/photo album with 28 pages of Fabriano Artistico 90lb. smooth watercolor paper. The photo album has 1" spacers built into the spine to allow for the addition of photos.

I'm currently designing a different option for attaching the long ribbons to my books and albums. Will post a photo when it's complete!

I've been tagged...

I've been tagged by Lisa B.. to list 7 secrets about myself. Hmmmm, didn't think I had any secrets, but there are certainly things about myself that you don't know, so here goes:

1) I was somewhat scared of the dark until I was about 35 years old (that was 5 years ago!).

2) If I miss a couple days of centering prayer in the morning I begin to crave it! Our whole family prays together in the evening - my husband and I, our 7 year old daughter, and 4 year old boy/girl twins. We make a huge effort to teach our children gratitude. We end every prayer time with each person listing off the many things we are thankful for about that day. Even our 4 year olds thank God for the most amazing things that they recognize as gifts!

3) I do a great mosquito impression - sound effects and all!

4) As a kid I was the roller skating limbo champion in our home town - a short reign! That was in the seventies when we rollerskated (not the inline kind either) with a disco ball and those large pom poms attached to our skates.

5) I play the flute - not very often and not in public anymore! My flute, however, is an old friend that I pull out and play every now and then for myself and my family.

6) I met my husband roller skating 16 years ago (again not the inline kind!) and we got engaged 6 years later in a hot air balloon. We've been married 10 years next month - I'm a happy wife!

7) Our kids think that we CAN'T (for whatever reason!) fix the only television in our house that broke a few weeks ago, but in reality we are CHOOSING not to fix it! It's just been soooo nice without a t.v.! (I'm sure we'll fix it sometime in the not too distant future, but for now we are enjoying being t.v. free!)

Now to find 7 bloggers that I can tag to reveal secrets about themselves! Hmmmm....I'll have to come back to that - the first few blogs I checked have already been tagged and I have two books ready for sewing together (my favorite part of the process). They are calling my name!

Another sneak peek at a paste paper and...

a couple of new albums (SOLD) - more in the works!

New Paste Paper designs...

New books with these covers coming soon!

This is my new sketchbook!

I made this one for me. It has my favorite paper - Fabriano Artistico hot press 90lb watercolor paper - and rounded corners. I got the book plaque with the Picasso quote from fellow etsy seller Mudcakes. To see my first entry in this sketchbook look at my other blog Playful Art Journal.

Custom photo album

This 8"X8" photo album is 2 inches thick with 104 pages of my favorite paper - Fabriano Artistico hot press 90lb. watercolor paper. It was a custom album that sold through etsy. I just love the process of creating a one of a kind album or journal for someone who has a specific desire - something to fit just them!

Custom travel albums...

These handbound albums (12"x12" and 5"x7") have 48 and 28 pages (respectively) of Fabriano Artistico 90lb. hot press natural white watercolor paper. The blue one features the names of several places that the recipients are visiting in Europe and lines of latitude and longitude. The green one features the image of a compass. I really enjoyed making these and hope the travellers will enjoy recording their journeys in them!