On My Bookshelf

Today's book really was just pulled off the shelf. I have been so busy getting the materials ready for the Bar Mitzvah prayer books that I simply pulled something off the shelf and dumped it into my messenger bag. I didn't even look at the title until now.

This was a book in response to my lack of holiday paper crafting. I usually don't decorate or design for the holidays other than for Christmas. This was one of those books that was recommended to my by the Amazon.com bot when it realized that I had bought every other paper cutting book on their site.

This is done in the German style of paper cutting and uses those motifs quite readily. I purchased the book in hopes of designing some more of my own Halloween styled cuttings. It is a good reference point but in reality it is only a reading book rather than a craft book.

Full Disclose: Neither Amazon.com nor the author have provided any compensation for this review. This book was purchased online without a personal perusal before purchase.

Waxed versus Unwaxed Thread

In the video discussed yesterday, the author utilizes waxed thread. I am not a big fan of pre-waxed thread. For me, the thread gets sticky and gummy and clogs the eye of the needle. If I am doing smaller projects, I do not use waxed thread. On the occasions that I need to use waxed thread, I usually wax my own thread with a beeswax block. The only time that I really use waxed thread is when I am sewing multiple signatures in a text block where the thread will be hidden along the spine in the final product.

Now, some notes regarding threads and needles (all images are from Hollanders where I purchase all of my sewing needs).

Observation #1: For thread, the small the number, the thicker the thread. 18/3 refers to the size and number of strands. So 18/3 is a large thread made from 3 strands which is much larger than 30/3.

Observation #2: For needles, the smaller the number the larger the eye and circumference of the hole it will make. In other words, a number 1 needle will have a larger eye and make a larger hole. This is important to consider when sewing. Your needles should match the thickness of your thread. 

For example, a number 1 needle should be used for 18/3 thread. You can use a #3 needle but threading the eye of the needle becomes more challenging; yet, a #3 needle might be preferable if you want a smaller hole in the paper or if you are using delicate paper. You should always match your needle to your thread to your paper.

Observation #3: If you find that you need to wax your thread, you can run the thread against a block of beeswax rather than use pre-waxed thread. If find that this is preferable since you can control the amount of wax on your thread.

Observation #4: My preference of thread is Irish thread. I have never had a problem since I have been using it.

5 Hole Pamphlet Stitch

My life right now is dealing with 100 prayer books for an upcoming Bar Mitzvah. I am hand sewing the books using a 5 hole pamphlet stitch so I thought that I would share the experience with you. Rather than trying to explain how to do the basic stitch, I found a great video that explains the process quite well.

Instead, I decided that I would share some other insights with you based on the video presentation.

Insight #1: Rather than mark the pages with a pencil, you should use a punch guide--especially if you are doing multiple books (as I am). As a rule, I don't like marking the pages in any way.

How to make a punch guide: Take a scrap piece of paper and cut it to the height of the pages on your book. The width of the paper can be anything as long as you can fold it vertically.

Fold the page in half in parallel to the long side.

Marking the punch guide

Mark the center point on this crease (the page was turned 90 degrees for illustration purposes). I simply fold the page in half along the short side to find the center and mark it.

Mark the center point on the crease

Working from the left side toward the center, find a spot towards the left edge no shorter than 1 inch from the left edge and mark a point along the crease. 

Mark the left hole

Mark the right hole

Split the distance between the left mark and the center by creating a crease by having the two marks meet.

Fold the left hole mark to meet the center mark and crease

Do the same for the right side.

The final punch guide

Use the punch guide as a basis for punching your pages/signatures.

Insight #2: The maximum number of pages should not exceed 10 pages of text weight paper. If your paper is thicker then you should use fewer sheets. If you want to use cover stock for the cover of your booklet, keep this in mind when sewing your pages.

Insight #3: You can use any number of odd number of holes. The number of holes depends on the height of your pages--the taller your pages the more holes you need.

Insight #4: You can start sewing on the inside or the outside but just remember--wherever you start sewing is where your knot will end up.

Insight #5: Knotting your thread. In the video, the author does not knot her thread on the needle. Traditionally, the thread is knotted on the needle so it doesn't fall off the needle in the middle of sewing.

Thread the needle.

Threading the needle

Piece the thread.

Pierce the thread

Pull the thread toward the eye
 

The thread clears the eye of the needle.

 Pull the knot to the eye of the needle.

Pull the thread to the eye of the needle

Idea Book

Pop Up Valentine's Card

Valentine's Heart Accordion Book

A couple of people asked me about my idea book that I mentioned in an earlier post. I have a handmade "moleskin" type of book that I purchased from Leslie Herger at Comfortable Shoes Studio. The pages are approximately 3 and 3/8ths by 5 and 3/8ths. It has the classic black leather cover, elastic band, and accordion pocket in the back. The pages are ivory and medium weight.

I usually carry it in the breast pocket of an outer coat or in one of my pockets when I am wearing a hoodie. These are two examples of my idea doodles as I like to call them. I have a minimum of a 20 minute commute on the subway coming into and from work so I always like to have some place to jot down my ideas.

The doodle on the left is for a tri-fold pop-up card that I am working on. You might recognize the "LOVE" and "U" letters from the Valentine's Snack Bags that I designed for a Iron Craft Challenge earlier this season. The ideal is that the outline of the word LOVE will be cut from the card itself so when it is opened it will pop up from the crease.

The doodle on the right is an idea that I have been working on for some time. It is a heart shaped accordion book. The problem that I am having is getting a flat side on the hearts so that the pages stay connected without throwing off the shape of the heart too much.

Every time that I need some inspiration, I will look in my idea book and remember projects that I have been meaning to work on.

Week 17

This week's card is another in my NYC series of cards. This is a postcard made with Duplex paper with purple on one side and Columbia Blue on the reverse. The words New York City are Gocco printed in black ink and the Statue of Liberty is overprinted in a dark purple.

I think that the image is a little too small for the card and will enlarge it for future runs of the card. I will probably make this into a bi-fold card as well.

Do people send out postcards anymore?

On My Bookshelf

I have always been interested in the creative processes of other artists so I was very pleased when this book came across my computer screen. This book highlights an art project  by Darren Di Lieto when he challenged artists to send him Mail Art. He shares over 200 individual pieces in this book. For those people who love mail, paper, illustrations, fine art, graphic art or the creative process--this is a must have book. Absolutely fascinating on what people can do with a finite space and limited resources.

Who wouldn't want to receive this in the mail?

Full Disclosure: Neither Amazon.com nor the author have provided any compensation for this review. This book was purchased online without a personal perusal before purchase.

Quick Binding--Japanese Journal

Completed Book

Did you ever have one of those weeks where your mind was totally settled on crafting/creating but your schedule just wouldn't allow it? My entire week has been like this. I barely made it for the Iron Craft Challenge but I put a project together that I was really pleased with.

I didn't get home until 1:30 am this morning and I didn't have a project to share for today's blog entry. I went to sleep hoping for some inspiration through osmosis and when I woke up at 6:30 am this project popped into my head.

This was a project that I had thought about for months and had added it to my personal craft journal as something to complete in the future--well, the future was now.

The finished book is 4.25" in width by 6" in height. I took 18 pieces of scrap Crane Letra lightweight paper (text weight) and fold the 8.5 " by 6" sheets in half to create the text block (18 sheets of paper). I took two sheets of Japanese paper for the front and back paper covers. I used a half inch turn in for the covers and glued the first and last pages of the signature directly to the paper covers.

This is a Japanese Journal in the true sense of the word in that the open ends of the pages are actually sewn together in the stab binding leaving the folded edge as the foreedge.

Detail of the front paper cover

The stab binding is a traditional four hole binding. I did not know how to finish the final knot so I just tied it to the front of the journal since I was using a thin bookbinding thread. Once bound, I simply added a bit of glue to the foreedge of the cover to secure the endsheets (which are the first and last pages of the signatures). In the above photo, I realized I didn't take a picture of the covers so I gently separated the pages so I could take a picture. I then re-glued the sheet for the finish product below.

The glued front endsheet.