Guestbook: Warren + Shantelle

I loved everything about Warren and Shantelle's wedding (probably because I helped), but the guestbook is definitely one of my favorites. 

Guestbook: Jessica + Bruce

This guestbook was for Jessica & Bruce's wedding in April 2012. The cover came from the lace fabric that was used on the centerpiece tables. As always on my guestbooks I prefer a coptic binding to create a book that lays completely flat. We incorporated 20 photos throughout the book with 5 of them being full-page 8"x8" images, which were pretty stunning as you flip through the book. (The full photos were the bride's idea, so great job Jekkie!) 

Christmas + 3 Coptic Notebooks

Here are three little coptic notebooks I made as gifts this week. They measure about 4" wide by 5" high. Very cute, and I couldn't help but take some photos with awesome Christmas tree bokeh.

Guestbook: Jennifer + Grant

I actually had this book done a few weeks ago, but I still follow my unofficial policy of not posting anything until after the event...

This book was an experiment for me as it is a longstitch binding with hard covers. Or basically I've been calling it the inverted flatback. Let's just say if I do this again I have a much better idea about how to make it!

Jennifer's wedding was very natural, inspired by the Pacific Northwest where she grew up. (Okay maybe not really but that assumption sounds good to me.) Stumps of aspen trees played a major role in the centerpieces and cake stands, and the combined effect looked amazing. The book was a great tie-in to all of this as I went with a light muslin fabric stitched with brown thread surrounding white and light grey pages.  I drew their initials on the front using a light brown colored pencil, which makes the whole thing look really awesome. :)

Guestbook: Camille + Bryce

One of my brothers-in-law had a mom who knew I bound books. So she asked me to make a book for her daughter Camille's wedding. I made it just after Stef's book so it's pretty similar in design but the color and tone is totally different. Happy wedding, Camille!

 

Board Book 4: R

I had the day off today so I decided to try and finish up a few outstanding projects. One of those projects is my Board books, and on my fourth one I had finished everything except the sewing. So today I sewed it up! All my Board books are sewn with a coptic binding, and for a book as large as my fourth one is, coptic probably isn't the sturdiest of options, but I still like it a lot.

Guestbook: Stef + Matt

For this guestbook I tried my new bookbinding stitch called the longstitch, which ties around the head and tail of the book, but I actually used a stitch called a buttonhole stitch. A true buttonhole has a small cutout on the front and back covers, but I only cut out the spine piece. I like how the colored paper comes through.

An Official Attempt at Longstitch Binding

Yesterday I took a class at the University of Utah book arts program for a half-day workshop about longstitch binding. I've wanted to try this binding for a long time, and I was delighted to learn that it really isn't as hard as it looks.

Basically longstitch adheres the textblock to a soft type of cover paper and is sewn together in very long stitches (as the name would suggest). And about 95% of the time the binding is exposed on the spine. I was actually really happy with my first attempt here. This may be my new favorite type of binding, in addition to coptic of course. Now that I have the basic concept I may have to try this binding more often. Maybe even for Stef & Matt's wedding book (no, I haven't even started thinking about it yet...)

Board Book 3: A

It only took, what, a year, to get back to bookbinding my 100 Hour Board project?

This weekend I was extremely productive and decided to try and clean out my crafty crap (that's what I call it) under the stairs (that's where I'm storing it all these days). I actually thought I was still on book 2 and started freaking out when I couldn't find the "O" paper (funny I realized later it was on the second book and I should have been looking for the "A" paper). A, as in the third letter in the word BOARD. Ha ha...

I actually don't like this one 'cause I was experimenting with a new cover idea combined with my coptic binding. I actually tried this same idea with my second book, but I used leather on that one, which is a little stronger than my waxed thread on this one. The cover is on, but it shifts a little, so I'll probably try to strengthen it.

Two more to go! (I hope to have them both done before 2012.)

Blog Book Volume 4

I started sewing the text block for my fourth blog book, oh, last November. Another 500-something-page novel. And this week I finally finished it. This is another flatback sewing variety. I am still trying to learn how to make better headbands; I am not good at tying them at all, even though I'm taking the instructions from a book I bought a few months ago. I'll keep practicing, and if I never get good at them, I'll just buy the premade ones! It's so ironic that the headband on the bottom of the book is so much better than the top one. Grr.

Anyway, I try to make each of my blogs stand apart from each other. I really like the buttons on this one, and I thought the twine would be fun, especially because it works with the paper. And yes the twine is crooked on purpose. It's different. It's fun.

Board Book 2: O

I finally finished my second 100 Hour Board book, O. (Here is the first.) This one is probably the smallest--it's the first year I started writing for the Board. From here, they just get larger. Book 2 is tied with linen thread onto red strips of lightweight leather. Glued leather strips on the front and back hold the boards to the text block. My sewing isn't as tight as I would like it to be on this type of binding, but I'm getting better.

Missionary Journal Returns

About two years ago I made this journal for my brother on his mission.

Well, it's back. And it looks like this:


Looks like it held up relatively well.

Guestbook: Katie + Dallin

Finally finished! It's definitely the most "custom" book I've ever done, in the sense of the word.

Board Book 1: B

Board books: one down, four to go. Each book is going to have a different sewing stitch because I'm trying to teach myself different variations of coptic binding. This was done with the one-needle coptic variation. I don't think I like it as much as the two-needle variation; the covers don't seem as secure. I also ruined the front of this book with glue; good thing it is for me. I looked all over for a replacement piece, but I finally decided to finish the book and worry about how the cover looks later.

Cute Little Coptic

Just finished this one. This little guy measures 4.25" x 3.25", the perfect size for taking notes somewhere or keeping in a purse as a journal. Happy birthday, Amber!

Lesley's Book

This is the book I just finished for Lesley's birthday (although three months late).

Missionary Journal

This is the journal I made for my little brother on his mission. This is a basic coptic binding with a missionary-esque cover.

Coupon Book

I made this book to help out Dylan for Christmas--he wanted to bind a bunch of coupons for Jessie. This is what it looked like.