Leather Mini-Book Necklaces

Have you seen those mini-book charms as earrings or necklaces? I have long admired other artist's creations and wondered if I could make a few. Earrings seemed too tiny to start with so I went larger. Using Amber Smith's good tutorial from her blog Making My Rent, I altered it by substituting a few materials I did not have and crafting different designs.

My excitement of wearing the first one to work quickly faded as the book fell off within two hours—yikes! After consulting with the Queen of Jewelry Making (my sister, Maria) and researching several books, I removed my faulty handmade jump rings, having too great a gap, and substituted a wire wrap at both ends.

Now the book charms not only look great but are securely attached. Various necklace materials are leather cord, ball chain, and two different sizes of metal chain.

On most books I dangled tiny keys, symbolizing how reading can unlock so many portals of ideas and knowledge. These made great holiday gifts and I already have requests for more--one from my sister!

Two Book Reviews

Since I love creative books and have collected and read so many over the years, I tried cutting back this year. After all, there is only so much shelf space. Yes, I tried reading art and craft ebooks but was very disappointed—so many juicy photographs and layouts left out—and these type of tomes need to be held, taken down from shelves, consulted, propped open when doing exercises. Beginning to feel malnourished, I recently ordered “Personal Geographies” and "Artist's Journal Workshop". Turns out I made good choices!

I have not gotten too far into “Personal Geographies” and already it has provided me with incredible inspiration and ideas. Jill K. Berry has a unique angle of creating personal maps in this mixed-media technique guide that stretches your mind, whether or not you actually do the projects. Reading a little at a time, I already have topics for journal spreads as well as larger pieces. Ms. Berry gives you a broad outline of what she did and why but since you tailor-fit the exercises to your own life, the possibilities are endless. Not only are Ms. Berry’s finished pieces insightful but the other contributing artists have additional ideas.

Usually I focus on one art technique book at a time. But, I couldn’t help it—I started reading “Artist’s Journal Workshop” by Cathy Johnson, as well. Her segment on the 2012 Strathmore online workshops earlier this year was one of my top favorites from the last two years. As a testament to her gentle and encouraging teaching style, I almost wanted to dive into watercolors--her chosen media-- even though I do not use them.

Instead of reviewing which materials to use in your artist journal, she begins asking three thoughtful questions that may define your approach. Ms. Johnson draws and paints exquisitely. I love reading her journal spreads as well as the other invited artists. Even though the focus is on realism, not my usual approach, I do not feel intimidated. I go through periods of wanting to sketch. My drawing is usually confined to small notebooks, working out bookbinding choices about covers, papers, closures or designing 3-D projects and assemblages. But sometimes I want to stretch, illustrating photographs I have taken or exploring memories or dreams. Ms. Johnson gives you courage, guidance, and advice.

Turning Seasons

Turning Seasons
9” x 12”
acrylic on paper

Lately, I have been trying to use up paints bought when I was first learning about color. I bought some color theory books and some recommended tube and fluid acrylics. Since I didn’t complete color charts or delve into examples, many were never used or became favorites. Thus, I was surprised this week at the lovely orange resulting from Cadmium Yellow Light and Napathol Crimson.

Besides playing with paint, I have been making hand bound notebooks and journals for my soon-to-open Etsy store.

A good book about bookbinding is Gwen Diehn’s new “Real Life Journals: Designing & Using Handmade Books,” which I am reading now. She takes each individual’s need and use into consideration. What is your current favorite art or craft book?

Misty Dream Time

Nothing quite beats the combination of a trip to a used bookstore and a little time off work. Although I love the convenience of buying books online, the tactical quality of taking tomes off the shelves and handling them, bending, reaching, and squatting at various subject areas, and the sheer joy of looking at books is something best done in person.

All weekend, I’ve been in a dreamy state of mind. I recall other times leaving bookstores—with or without purchases—feeling so awed by all the knowledge and wonder and possibility wrapped up between two covers. Tingling with that familiar brain-buzz happiness, I came out of the store on Thursday afternoon and saw trees green-yellow with new growth and an overcast blue-gray sky, giving a mythical wash to my thoughts. My choice of books only added fuel to that fire.

Driving home, the city awash with bursting colors of wildflowers, budding trees, and swooping birds, I felt such a connection with Nature and yet also cautious to distance myself from pollen and allergens. I felt so much a part of the Elements around me and also, paradoxically, a longing for ancient places across the sea.

This push and pull reminds me of things I wanted to express while trying to be a writer and not knowing art techniques. So, I may delve into that as well as continue my Fake Journal book (soon to be unveiled). A large painting is also beckoning.

So many paths, so many interests, so many means of expression. I wish you a happy Easter, a lovely spring, a wealth of possibilities. What is pulling you these days?

Four Classes & Three Books

In a recent class on basic bookbinding, we made three books in four class sessions.

This one has six signatures, with an envelope as the last “page.” Even though I had to complete it outside class, I think it’s my favorite. The cover is handmade paper, flax I think, with thin leather tapes we sewed over (at the spine) and on (the "X"s on the covers). The flax cover has tough texture and strength, but folded beautifully with a bone folder. I like the cut squares on the spine showing the sewing and the slits where the tapes are woven through and then sewn on the cover.

The second book we made is a Moleskine-type travel journal with a ribbon bookmark, a folding envelope, and a piece of elastic to close it. We sewed the signatures and then attached it to Davey boards, cutting a tip off the ends and sanding them to round the pages. Those rounding paper punches would do a better job than I did!

The last is an album with a sewn concertina, making it expandable for photos, collage, or other thick items. We used paste papers provided (we didn’t make them).

I’ve learned a lot from both book binding classes I’ve taken this year. Although I’m not destined to be a book binder, I do love the book form to put art in and to make artists books around. After returning to painting, I’m also altering a photography book using cuttings (scissors and a cutting tool) and collage.

An inspirational book, Book + Art: Handcrafting Artists' Books by Dorothy Simpson Krause, will keep me on the book-making path. It is a very artistic, classy, upscale guide to making art within the book form. I’m impressed with the muted palette she uses—brown, black, and red. It transforms her work with a dramatic, chic, old-fashioned, aged, timeless, wise, and somber tone. The style is far elevated from common crafty-cute styles and a departure from my own love of wild colors. You get a definite aura of being in a rich, private library, sitting in a deep leather chair, classic leather-bound books spilling over solid wood shelves--a comfortable but elegant room for serious studies. She also picks serious subjects for her artist’s books, probably prompted by her international travel and academic background. Highly recommended!

Not Beach Reading

Pondering a book to bring on my recent trip, I looked around ones I had just finished (“True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling” by L.K. Ludwig, which deserves a review in itself) or was in the middle of (Ted Sorensen’s “Counselor: A life at the Edge of History”; a great read but too heavy and bulky to tote around) and instead selected a title recently ordered—“The Mist-Filled Path: Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers, and Seekers” by Frank MacEowen.

A step-up from other Celtic New Age books, this title is taking me on a profound journey. It is definitely not beach or summer reading. Yet beginning it far from home, away from the daily routine, has added weight to the words. I haven’t even finished it and already it has moved and altered my thinking.

For example, I am an introvert and a Highly Sensitive Person ((HSP); there are several good books and web sites explaining this trait). Thus, I am uncomfortable in crowds and in the midst of noise. I have great difficulty “chatting” with strangers or even initiating a conversation. But, prompted with some of what I’d read in “The Mist-Filled Path,” I said hello to my airplane seat-mate. Almost immediately, I reverted back to my shy ways and was about to move to a vacant seat near the window to engage in solitary pursuits--sleeping, reading, or watching the changing geography below. However, it turned out my companion and I began a conversation that lasted most the flight and brought out all the things we had in common. We both couldn’t believe how much we were talking! We exchanged e-mail and Flickr addresses and hugged after retrieving our baggage, not saying “good-bye” but “until we meet again.” How often does that happen? For me, usually too reserved to even say more than one sentence, it’s very rare.

Although I am just 1/8th Irish, it is that bloodline I feel most strongly drawn to. Growing up away from most relatives, I have a great hunger for my heritage. Recently, I’ve learned more about my maternal great-grandmother, whom I actually resemble from her wedding photo. I visited Ireland twice so far, once in my early twenties and again two years ago. I am fascinated by ancient Irish Neolithic times when my tribal ancestors built stone circles, cairns, monoliths, and other monuments, as well as Irish Celtic times when my tribal ancestors spread their culture into Britain and Europe (perhaps some of my German heritage was Celtic, too). Some ancient sites can still be seen and some ancient ways still reverberate in modern life.

My vacation book will engage me long after my holiday.

Flowing

acrylic on paper

7" x 9"

Celtic Stones

Watercolor crayons on paper

7" x 9"

Spiral Lessons

acrylic on paper

7" x 9"