Friday 24 August 2012

MINIATURES


Star Light, Star Bright
 We are approaching the end of summer and fall is just around the corner.  The nice thing is the warm weather has continued.  The rain has turned everything back to green from burnt brown. 

I have had a number of text blocks made up and ready to be made into books.  They kept getting pushed aside while I worked on my Show of Hands exhibit.  I have finished all but one of the exhibit books, which will take a longer time to complete.  I will be photographing them this weekend for the promotional materials. 

I have now put my hand to turning the text blocks into completed books.  All the books are miniatures - 3 to 3.5 inches.  Some are coptic bound and some long stitch which I have woven with other coloured threads.  This creates a nice finished spine with exposed stitching.  I have used a mixture of papers and leather to create these little treasures.  

Star Light and Star Bright are two little Coptic bound, hard covered books with silk ribbon ties.  One has 50 pages and the other has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  They measure 2.25 in X 2.5 in.

I joined two pieces of leather for this book, leaving the natrual edges on both.  I like to let the materials dictate the design sometimes.  The tie on this book is waxed cotton thread and finished with glass beads.  There are 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  It has one mini painting on the first page and measures 2.5 in X 2.75 in. 


Textured Touch
This little book has a stamped leather cover and the binding is woven with waxed cotton threads, which are the same as the braided tie.  It is lined with hand made paste paper and contains 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper with a decorative die cut on the edge of each page.  It measures 3.25 in X 2.125 in.


I have always wanted to try making a clam shell box for books.  This is usually done by conservationists who want to protect special books.  This is my version of a clam shell box.  The first caption shows the closed book inside the box and the second caption shows the open book.  The box measures 4.25 in X 4 in X 1.25 in.  The internal box is lined with suede leather and the book and box are covered with a green and silver hand made paper with a granite effect.  The book measures 2.5 in X 2.25 in and has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper. 



I combined mulberry coloured Lokta paper, lined with the green and silver granite patterned paper and created the tab from a piece of ox blood coloured leather and green suede leather for the loop.  The Coptic bound, hard covered book is covered with a decorative Japanese paper.  Mini acrylic paintings decorate some of the pages.  There are 50 pages of Fabriano sketch paper and the book measures 2.5 in X 2.75 in. 


This is the inside of the book.  This is one of my new designs.  I create the coptic bound, hard covered book and then attach it to the outer cover.  The effect is very stunning. 


This is another Lokta covered book with a leather closure.  It has mini acrylic paintings on some of the 60 pages and measures 2.25 in X 2.25 in.



I had a small piece of this beautiful yellow stamped leather.  Working with the original shape of the leather edge, I created a wrap around cover which is lined.  The book is tacket bound and has a yellow braided, waxed cotton thread tie.  It has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper and a heart die cut on the edge of each page.  It measures 2.25 in X 2.5 in.



This combination is a sleeve made from Lokta paper and leather and lined with the green and silver granite patterned paper.  The book is covered with Japanese decorative paper and the book has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper with mini acrylic paintings on some of the pages.  The overall measurement is 2.75 in X 2.5 in and the book measures 2.25 in  X 2.5 in. 

This book is a little larger.  I used the same design of the coptic bound, hard cover book attached to an outer cover.  The heavy leather cover is lined with a purple Lokta paper which is the same as the book cover.  The outer cover has a bone button and braided, waxed cotton thread tie.  There are 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper, decorated with mini acrylic paintings on some of the pages.  It measures 3 in X 3.5 in. 


BUTTERFLY LANDSCAPES

This little creation came about as a result of playing with some small pieces of paper I had on my table.  Soon they became one longer piece of paper joined with butterflies and then mini acrylic paintings representing landscapes were added.  The box is decorated with mini butterflies, peacock feathers and wooden beads for feet.  The box measures 2.25" X 1.75" X 1" and the book measures 1.75" X 1" X 27".  It was great fun to make. 

 
 

CREATIVE BOOKBINDING CLASSES - Ottawa School of Art

Bookbinding classes will start again in September.  I'll be teaching at the Ottawa School of Art George Street campus on Tuesday evenings, starting September 18, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm and on Wednesday evenings at the Orléans campus, located in the Shenkman Arts Centre, starting September 26, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

BOOKBINDING WORKSHOPS - Ottawa School of Art

I will also be teaching one-day workshops, on Saturdays, this fall:

George Street Campus

October 13, 2012 : Japanese Stab Stitch Book: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

November 10, 2012: Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book with Sleeve: 9:00 - 4:00 pm

Orléans Campus - Shenkman Arts Centre

September 29, 2012: Japanese Stab Stitch Book, 10 am to 4:00 pm

October 27, 2012: Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book with Sleeve: 10: 00 am to 4:00 pm

Registration is through the Ottawa School of Art at: www.artottawa.ca - General Interest Courses. 

That's about all for now.  Looking forward to a full fall and winter with teaching, preparing for exhibits, craft shows and book fairs. 



If you would like more information about the books, I would be happy to hear from you.  

Wishing you all a great fall. 

Mary


bbinder999@gmail.com

http://youtu.be/k8w13ewrOqg