Underground Book

Posted on July 9, 2010 by chocolatetrudi

The cover of this one is from the cardboard packaging that came with a tea towel I plan to make into a pillow. I tried a simple kind of decorative long stitch. It’s very easy and I can see all sorts of possible variations.

I still have one bookbinding project on the go. Otherwise I’ve been in a bit of a self-assessment stage. It’s a bit of a surprise to me that I love the sewing bit of making books. The glueing bit not so much. Partly it’s waiting for it to dry, but mostly it’s the annoyance and disappointment of covers developing a warp weeks after they were glued and dried under a weight.

I’m finding that I really like the feel of flexible covers bound with longstitch. I like the look of leather used with this binding and would like to try making a few books with it, but I’m also really drawn to the pattern and colour in cloth and decorative paper. Which is why, earlier this week, I went into Lincraft to buy some antique/blackened silver chain and came out with a pack of fat quarters instead:

I can see all but the zebra print as bookcovers or book cloth spines. (And I need some red material to make the next book bag out of.) Mostly I’m wondering if there’s a material I could stick cloth to that would stiffen it enough to be a cover, was still flexible enough to wrap around a spine and not spring open again, and can be sewn through. Perhaps some sort of iron-on facing, but I’d like it even better if I can recycling something.

Chain/Coptic stitch bindings are also fun, especially as they’re a great way to turn interesting and unexpected objects into book covers. I want to do more of that. A few years back I was given the yarn stash of a deceased knitter. In it was some silk thread.

I wasn’t sure what to do with it, toyed with the idea of miniature macrame, and nearly gave it to the op shop a few times. I’m so glad I hung onto it now, because it would be lovely as binding thread, especially on chain/coptic stitch binding where the thread is visible.

I’d also like to try Italian style cross structure binding.

Lots of things to try.

Darn it, I can see the zebra print as a book, too.

More Sketchbook/Journal Thoughts

Posted on July 7, 2010 by chocolatetrudi

I’ve been filling up pages in my current sketchbook with notes as I work out what all these ideas about journals and sketchbooks are leading to. The last thing I wrote on the sketchbook page I photographed was “all in one or sep. books?”, and that was the next page of notes tackled. I listed the pros and cons of having all my doodling, sketching, sticking down of stuff and writing in one book as opposed to different ones. Looking at all the places I keep them – my handbag, workroom, beside the computer, beside the armchair while watching tv, taking it on holidays or to conventions – it was pretty obvious that restrictions to keep it portable and making sure I kept it beside me would making having one book impractical.

And besides, if I had one sketchbook/journal what would I do with all these?

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Well, as you can see, I’ve been working on that question, too. Some of these books are lined, some are unlined. Some contain paper that is better to paint on than others. Some have lots of room at the spine for the extra bulk of stuff glued onto the pages, others haven’t.

I also looked at new ways to use the books. I like the idea of journaling, but not of keeping a diary (my old diaries are full of whiny stuff, because I only wrote in them when I needed to vent). I want to sketch and doodle more. I want to have a place to collect lovely things like cards, pictures from magazines, cute packaging and photos.

The next question this led to was: “But when am I doing to do all this?”

Looking at when I have opportunities and excess time in my day for sketching/journaling I realised that I work differently at different times of the day. In the morning I’m receptive to taking in information and ideas, and struggle to get them out, so I scrapped my idea of a breakfast book. Lunchtimes are good times for either creative input or output, while the afternoons are definitely all output (writing). Late afternoon and evening is great for output – so long as it’s not too demanding (and even better if I can watch tv or listen to a podcast at the same time, which is kind of an easier form on input). More challenging projects are for weekends.

At the same time as all this, I’ve been thinking chewing on the question of what to sketch.

Judging by the amount of advice and lists of subjects on the net, this is a common dilemma. My main problem is I work from home. No public transport drawing, no city streets. I look at Urban Sketchers and think “I’d never be able to join a group like that, unless it was called Suburban Sketchers.” Then I think: “So what? I’ll just draw what’s around me.” And then it occurred to me that, other than objects around the house and garden, or the weather, the most exciting visual things I see each day are on the internet. So why not draw them?

At the same time I was wondering what the heck I’d put in a journal. I decided to start by cutting out anything that interested me in a pile of old Gallery magazines I inherited from Paul’s father. And that’s when I remembered an idea I’ve had for a while now, of an ‘art inspiration’ book full of paintings I love, ideas and reference photos. The only think that stopped me was wondering where I’d get the pics from. Turns out I have plenty of fodder already in these old magazines, and most of everything else can be photographed or sourced on the net and printed out on my inkjet printer.

So I made a few decisions, matching books to ideas.

First, I’m keeping the little square leather book in front of my computer ready for when inspiring pics like those in the “Tiny House In A Landscape” blog posts appear.

Secondly, I’m going to keep an ideas and doodle book next to my tv-room chair. Thirdly, the regular black spiral-bound sketchbook stays in the workroom for sketches. Fourthly, I have my portable sketchbook in my handbag. And, finally, I’ll have an art inspiration journal.

I’ve made a start on both the inspiration journal and blog pics sketchbook. There was something liberating about this. It feels like I’ve been planning an exciting trip, and I’ve finally finished making bookings and packing bags, and I’ve finally set off on my journey.

Alison’s Socks

Posted on July 5, 2010 by chocolatetrudi

Pattern: my own toe-up short row heel pattern (which is a modified version of Wendy’s Toe-Up Sock Pattern).
Yarn: Berroco Sox
Comments: I love the colourway! The way the yarn was wound onto the ball made it look as if there would be wide stripes of colour, but when I started knitting I found they were actually short length of colour. But I like how it turned out. Once again, I’ve made a pair of socks that I’d really like to keep myself. I even found myself thinking that, if the recipient didn’t like them, I could make them fit me by unpicking the cast off and ribbing, dropping stitches down and turning them into purls, so they’d be ribbed socks and fit a smaller foot.

But I’ll be good, and send them off to Alison, who could probably do with a pair of warm wool socks now that we’re heading into the coldest months of winter.

The Bernardathon is going well. Here is Pink (which I’m calling Purple):

I’ve been impressed at how quickly this has knit up, considering that I only work on it a few days a week due to back pain and hand stiffness from work. Just a sleeve and a half, and the neckband, to go!

Sketch Sunday 34

Posted on July 3, 2010 by chocolatetrudi

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As I mentioned in my last Sunday Sketch post, I went to my local-ish art store recently and was really pleased to see they stock the artist pens I bought at the city art store. I bought a ‘sepia’ coloured one. I also found a pack of water resistant pens in different sizes, so I have a bit of variety and will eventually work out what I prefer to sketch with, and a different brand of water brush.

That night, while watching tv, I sketched a few cats from a little picture book I have on the coffee table. I used the finest pen, and tried out the water brush with my new mint tin paint set. The tools did their job perfectly – this water brush doesn’t overload with water like the other ones.

My job on the cats isn’t as great (the white one looks dead – or so Paul says) but I had fun sketching them.

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I really enjoyed being able to play with paints while relaxing downstairs with the tv and heater on, or while listening to a podcast, without much danger of making a mess. This is usually knitting time, though. But sometimes I need to give the knitting a break, if my hands are a bit sore, and I reckon I’d really enjoy doing more tv watching sketching.