Antiquing Maps

When I did Lori's Books, the map for the cover didn't fit with the rest of the book. So I antiqued the map to make it look older. I used distilled water and acrylics and brushed a thin layer (as thin as watercolor) over the top of the map. I liked the cover insets so well that I decided to do the same antiquing on the end papers on the inside.

I did a large sheet of it but this was a left over piece that I used for a pocket on the back inside cover. It held the colophon for the book. This photo below shows the paper before I cut out the pocket. You can see the difference of the bright blue paper and the antiqued greener (beautiful,beautiful) paper.

I may never be able to use this paper again without antiquing it first!

Chocolate Ice Cream Beard

We're heading to Provo for the bookbinding class on Saturday. Today is family time though and my two boys get to visit with their grandparents and their aunt Haleigh. Their aunt Calixta and cousin Delia Mae will be in town so they get to see them as well.

Jadon loves Haleigh. I think it's because she give him ice cream every time we visit.

He has such a man face as it is but check out that chocolate beard and serious look.

Mister Jadon is three years old.

Book Swap May 2010

This is my book for the book swap that BEST (Bookbinding Etsy Street Team) did just recently.

My book went to Hilke Kirzke of Buechertiger who lives in Germany. She received the first book in the series. If you would like one you can purchase one in my Etsy Shop.

Handmade paper on handmade books is lovely.

New photo album in the shop! This photo album holds quite a lot of photos. You can use photos corners or glue the photographs right into the book. There are no plastic sleeves just beautiful paper.

This is the back of the book (just as lovely as the front) which has a soft brown leather spine with embossed hinges.

This shows the inside covers. Beautiful paper!

 

This photo shows the glassine interleaving between the heavier pages. The glassine is meant to keep your photos from sticking together when placed on facing pages. 

See more of it in my Etsy Shop.

I cut the paper for my books with a butter knife. Seriously.

Daniel took this photo of me a few years ago. I'm tearing down pages for a book at the kitchen table. You can see the bonefolder and the non serrated butter knife that I got from the thrift store. This is how I cut my paper down for years. Last year, I called around to a few places to price out paper and found a company I could buy wholesale from. I was talking with the salesman on the phone while he looked up prices for me. So he was just making conversation as the computer was loading the information for 1000 sheets of Mohawk Superfine that are 25" x 38"

Salesman: We usually deliver to large companies. You say you're out of your home?
Me: Yes, I sell handmade books online and I just work from my home.
Salesman: What do you use to cut down all that paper?
Me: I cut it at my kitchen table with a butter knife.
Salesman: (after a pause) I'll have to call you back since I don't have the prices right on hand.

He never called back. It wasn't until later that I figured out that he probably thought I was a prank call or something. I found a different company to work with though and I'm very pleased with them.

I've also recently switched over to a tear bar and I've been so happy with it! I still use the butterknife occasionally but I could never go back to make hundreds of books with it again.