"For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free."
-from The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
At Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
This was early one morning before Colorfest began. Sometimes, it is important to sit quietly in nature. Observing. Listening-inwardly and otherwise.
About a month ago, I got to participate in the Kentucky Fried Zine Fest for the first time. I really enjoyed being there and appreciate them inviting me so last min. You should try and come by next year if you can. They even had a table where you could make a page to add to a community zine, which was fun to contribute to.
A group of ladies in Louisville invited me to teach a bookbinding class. These women do a variety of art workshops together and were very enjoyable to teach. I taught the leather long-stitch binding, and each participant left with a journal that they created. Thanks to all of you ladies for having me!
This is a large leather handbound journal that has handmade paper and a leather tie closure. I created it as a custom order recently for a new customer. Here is what she wrote once she received it:
I just got it, and it is absolutely beautiful!!! The colors are right on - perfect! Thank you so very much. You have an amazing talent, and as a person who is very picky about her journals, I'm so very glad I found you :)
Thanks to James Haggie and NAMI Lexington for having me lead a journaling workshop at the 2016 KYSTARS Annual Consumer Conference. We talked about different ways to use journaling and how it can assist the healing process. I am glad to have had the opportunity and was inspired by so many of you.
I now have refillable hardback sketchbooks that have blank pages and are ideal for sketching and drawing. The pages are lightly textured and acid-free and are great for pencil, pen, pastel, charcoal, and other dry media. They each have 110 pages and are 70 lb (or 110 GSM). These refillable sketchbooks come in four sizes (two are horizontal): 8.5 x 11, 11 x 8, 9 x 6, and 4 x 6 inches. The refills will be available on my website.
"To dance, put your hand on your heart and listen to the sound of your soul."
- Eugene Louis Faccuito
"Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds' wings.”
-Rumi
Here is a brief break-down on how to make a leather book (and a peak in the studio)...
Every book is made up of multiple signatures (folded pages) of paper that is either hand-cut or hand-torn.
The covers are then created. They have to be cut and sewed and any decorative additions are added.
The next step is poking holes in all the signatures and cover. This is done using an awl.
One of the final steps is binding the book. Once that is complete, it just needs a closure and any finalizing touches.
"Reflect on the world you carry within you. Your innermost happenings are worth all your love." -Rilke
This gal took her travel journal with her on her Spring break adventures. Looks nice and relaxing!
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
-Irish Proverb
This was a custom order that came in just in time for St. Patrick's Day. A women ordered it for a friend who does Civil War reenactments and has Irish heritage. We needed to keep it rustic and minimalistic (true to the times he is representing) and a nod to his Irish heritage. This is what we came up with, and she let me know that he loved it.
Ky Crafted: The Market is such a fun show and tends to kick off my festival season each year. I love being able to share new designs and get feedback. Because we've just finished up the winter, its a great place to see everyone again and meet new folks as well. The first day is always for wholesale, and I met some new buyers this year as well as saw ones that I've been working with for awhile. You can view the stores that my work is available in under "retailers". Saturday and Sunday is retail. There were around 200 artists, KY Proud food, and a stage with music. If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for next year. Thanks to everyone who came out!!
These girls were so excited to each have their own journal. They were delightful!
This little one is a daughter of a regular customer who has quite a collection of journals, including one that his wife had me make him for their anniversary. His daughter seem to take notice for the first time and was pretty enchanted with them all.
I've been having too much fun playing with new designs. I've added some new sizes, new closures, and speciality books which come with certain insides.
Below are the new sizes in handmade paper. They are for a limited time only. You can use them for writing, sketching, photos, watercolors, and more. This also shows two of the new closures that I've started using more of: the bronze latch and the knotted leather. The knot looks complicated, but it is literally a knot and is a whole different look.
This is a sample page from the Baby Book. Makes a great gift for a baby shower and has all the typical places for notes that you will want to keep as your baby is growing.
The guestbook is nice for a wedding gift or is even good for a wedding shower where you can easily keep track of guests.
The address book is small (about 4 x 6) and is great for those of us who are old school and still write down addresses.
The dated diary has one page per day and would make it easy to do a little daily journaling or would be a good place to keep notes that you need to be dated and organized (for example, a food journal/diary).
The music composition notebook is a unique place to write your music. It is simply pages full of the staff for your composing pleasure.
New photo albums come in three sizes. These also have the inside pages shown below. They have a glassine (a glossy, transparent paper) separating the pages so your photos are protected.
It's that time of year where many of us tend towards more refection and intention than usual. We carve out time in the New Year in a way that is easily filled with many obligations and distractions as the year goes on. However, underneath it all, there continues to be a whispered prodding: remember, remember...
"Our great human adventure is the evolution of consciousness. We are in this life to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit, and light up the brain."
-Tom Robbins
We thankfully have this time and symbolic reminder to look forward and see the areas of our lives and ourselves that we want to raise up. I can't help but wonder if we have some of it backwards. What if instead of trying to do more or be better, we stripped some of that away and remembered our Real selves...the one before the conditioning and the doing and the perfecting. What if we peered beneath all the identities and stories we've picked up and made up over the years...and let go of guilt and perfection to see what we Are? It seems that may "fix" so many of the aspects of ourselves we struggle with. Stop the presses, so to say...
"Normality is the Great Neurosis of civilization."
-Tom Robbins
But everyone is doing it, and it is a little hard (until it isn't) to be different. We are bombarded with commercials and media and friends and family who tell us all the shoulds and all the ways we must improve. There is always room for improvement...that is part of the growing. But, the way we beat ourselves with it and become such head cases about it makes it difficult for any other information to be received. When we operate in these extremes, we miss all the more subtle queuing that can be essential. What if we took all this reflection and intention we are in right now, softened it a bit around the edges, and went through each day with a bit more awareness? What if that became the "new normal"?
These two new closures are available on the medium and large sizes. There is the hook clasp (pictured above and at the very bottom) and the turn lock (pictured directly below). They add to the Old World feel of the journals.
I now offer lined paper in medium and large sizes. The paper in thin and cream-colored with think black lines on both sides.
I have a limited edition of small journals with pink inside paper. They are in two small sizes that close with magnetic snaps under the leather. The pink paper is a subtle dusty rose paper that is handmade with deckled edges. This paper is available for custom orders as well.
I'm delighted to be able to finally offer sketchbooks with watercolor paper. The paper is white, acid-free, and handmade with deckled, hand-torn edges. Its 200 lb or 300 gsm. They are available in medium (5.75 x 7.75 inches) for $98 and large (7.75 x 12 inches) for $140. Both have 80 pages, including both sides. This paper is available for custom orders as well.
Introducing leather diaries with heart locks...and just in time for Valentine's Day.
“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”
― Josephine Baker
Perhaps you would like to note a few secret reflections for only your heart to hold or perhaps you are drawn more to the symbolism of cherishing and holding close certain thoughts, prayers, quotes...If so, this small diary would be a perfect fit. It comes with a heart shaped lock and two small heart shaped keys. Maybe it is an extra key in case you lose the first...or maybe it is a key you give to your love so the two of you can share love notes and memories. May this diary assist you well as you write and/or draw those parts of yourself that you want to hold particularly close.
If you would like a custom color and size with a different lock, here are the other lock and key options. Please contact me with any questions.
To write a life is to live twice. –Patricia Hampl
This is a custom hand-bound leather journal with lined recycled paper inside. It closes securely with a pen and has the recipient's intials hand-stitched on the binding.
