Bookbinding Workshop at Artsway

I've been working on photo albums on and off, a project I've been putting off for several years. I'm writing a tutorial on the subject and in March I'm running a  workshop at Artsway, a contemporary art gallery in the New Forest.

http://www.artsway.org.uk/ed_shortcourse.htm

Meanwhile, I'm still working on another tutorial on the Nag Hammadi Codex. Hopefully this will be finished soon.

Too Busy to Blog

Just listed and sold this:
Custom Made, Natural Calf Leather journal in Nag Hammadi Style

New Tutorial

I've finished the yellow book and also a tutorial showing how to make a Mediaeval Parchment Book with handmade faux parchment. I'll be listing this on Etsy and Folksy soon. Richard, of http://www.edenworkshops.com/ has just agreed to list my tutorials and so has Dawn of http://charnwoodbooks.co.uk/. So, lots of work to do. Better get on!!!

Tegumentum Cinereum

Strictly speaking this should be called 'Tegumentum Croceus', or something like that. This is one of my latest books in the making.

Four Teeny Tiny Tomes

Four Teeny Tiny Tomes
Originally uploaded by Marcade Arts Press

Four little books all made on the same principle. Approximately 6 x 5 x 3 cm.

Red Shoe Leather with leather tie.

White Leather with elastic tie.

Faux Leather with elastic tie.

Momigami Cover with beaded spine.

Three Beautiful Boletes

Three boletus edulus mushrooms picked this morning.

These are one of my three favourite wild mushrooms.

Bookbinding Workshop

Yesterday I taught a bookbinding class at Artsway in the New Forest with 9 very lovely ladies. This was the first class I've taught at this venue and I was really pleased with how it went.

I managed to get a quick snap of just a few books as we were so pushed for time. We sewed the 'Secret Belgian Binding' first, followed by the mediaeval binding you see in the picture.

Bookbinding Tutorials

I am currently writing my latest tutorial which is nearly finished after weeks of hard slog. It involves making samples, taking photographs, drawing diagrams, writing instructions and laying out the pages. Unfortunately for me, I get very fussy and nit-picking and I am compelled to keep making improvements. I'm not totally convinced about the colours on this cover so it might change.



Hewit's have just started selling some of my e-book tutorials.
You can find them here: http://www.hewitonline.com/E-tutorials_s/97.htm

Act of Madness - 1

Act of Madness - 1
Originally uploaded by Marcade Arts Press

Why is this journal an act of madness?

I made it late at night when thoughts go wild. The pages spoke to me. Don't just stick to long stitch and wrap me around with stiff old hide, like any other book. Caress me in soft white leather, play with my fringe. Make me impractical, the sort of book that will take a drama to open and close. Make me into an act of madness. Then I will be yours forever.

Well, anyway, you can see what the book is like in the pictures, rather impractical - the opening and closing of it being a dramatic statement in itself. A book for display, a book that is proud of itself, a rather pompous silly book in fact, sufficient to make Dard H turn in his grave, perhaps.

For whom would it be suitable, one wonders? Not someone who wants to hide in a corner making secret jottings.

This is my tiny story:

Momigami or The Konnyaku Paper Doll

I wrote this story when on holiday in France. I always think of stories when I am away from home.

This is the first edition printing, limited to 50.

I'm really pleased because I've had an excellent reaction from people who have purchased a copy.

One of my recent books

This is one of my books based on Hedi Kyle's 'Blizzard' Binding.