Popcorn and crepes!

Finally came around to making another book. For this one I used a colourful popcorn fabric that we sell at the store, as well as a small drawing I had digitally printed on some silk ages ago. I also threw in a bit of ribbon and lace in there for good measure. My fingers froze from how bitingly cold it is at the moment up here in the Arctic, but I somehow managed to use my lovely fabriano paper to make this sketchbook and whip up a batch of crepes for an unsuspecting person :).

Have a great weekend~

Demons & Migraines

Learning life lessons too late is sort of a painful burden to bear, especially when they involve (currently) seemingly irreversible physical and mental consequences.

However I have managed to put those botherments aside for a moment long enough to work on some creating. 

This mah my new scratch book.

The battle to keep warm and make stuff

Noticed a nice colour pattern while working on this book cover.

Current lab where I make. A bit far away and lonely from what used to be home, but it's nice to have so much space now!

A few books I made in the last few months and one from the past. All covers are constructed from scraps of fabric and the furthest to the right includes some original doodels.

Papers.

Finished set of books for a talented friend.

CLOSE UP.

A belated sketchbook post!

What a wild ride these recent months have been. Yet, even when the waters of my life are calm, I'm still not very organized when it comes to blog posting.. This is something I need to work at, since I find great satisfaction in photographing my work and sharing it to whoever may stumble upon here.

Today's belated post is of a pair of sketchbooks I had made back in late April/early May, for a student who was about to go on a month-long intense drawing course in Italy. The very same I had been to 3 years ago! (why does time fly?? I want to go back!). It's a really great feeling to hand over completely handmade sketchbooks to someone who is about to venture off into an adventure. I've been lucky to be such an accomplice quite a few times since officially starting to sell my sketchbooks.

I still feel I have much to do and learn in regards to bookmaking (and life in general) but I am most definitely driven, and that's what counts the most.

Travel journal

Just finished this latest custom travel journal and now peeling the glue off of my palms :) I was told it will be flying to Africa, which is so SO very exciting. I travel vicariously through these journals since I haven't had the incredible privilege in so long. Travelling is an indescribably rich experience and changes you forever. Flying however scares the crap out of me, but being in another country, another set of everything makes it all worthwhile.

First monthly and weekly planner!

How proud am I for realizing my first monthly and weekly planner? Very proud! It was a bit of a painstaking process since I was printing at home, but it still turned out alright so I am glad. I printed out another copy which is "dirtier" (the toner double printed all over the place) I don't mind it at all, I look forward to making that one later on.

Happy weekend!

Bookmaking BOOM!

I don't know what else to call it! It really was a bookmaking boom! Since my last post, I was contacted by a very talented friend of mine to make some sketchbooks for her before she goes back abroad to complete her master's degree. Of course it was a total pleasure and I couldn't ask for a more fun selection of papers and fabrics to work with. It was also really nice to catch up with her however briefly as she and I and 13 other people were in Italy a few years ago (already approaching 3 years! ah!) for a month-long drawing course and it still comes up in conversation as having been an incredibly rich experience that has affected our lives and our work in a completely positive way. Speaking of wich, I invite you to check out her work as she is an amazing artist/painter. I'm truly honoured that henceforth her drawings will grace the handmade books I custom made for her :)

mili

Book for sale

A completely handmade book for sale :)

It is 9 x 12 inches, has a patchwork sewn fabric cover, ribbon bookmark, and white vellum pages (feels and looks like bond paper - slightly textured).

It's perfect for drawing or writing, sketching, planning.. anything you can think to fill blank pages with!

I'm selling it for $48.

Let me know if you're interested :)

mili

Smart Design Mart

Getting into the deep end of preparing for the Smart Design Mart which will be happening December 2-3-4, 2011! I'm really excited to be a part of it for the first time, while trying get a lot of work done before the deadline. It's not easy doing it all by myself, I might end up having to enlist some help!

As for books, I always discover something new when I make them, and this time was no different. I figured out how to add pencil pockets to my covers! Pure inovation, though I'm sure it's been done before. Regardless, I think it's pretty neat.

I should get back to work now!

mili

D-I-S-C-O

Time keeps going forward, whether you like it or not, with or without you. These days I feel like time is moving on without me. I'm not keeping up good pace and am delayed. On the other hand, time also feels like it has stopped. Perhaps time and I don't share the same clock. Despite going through a rough patch right now, things seem to be resolved as soon as I really begin to worry. Now's not really time to take a break, silence doesn't mean nothing's going on, but there is so much silence it is a bit worrying.

As I crossed the last day of September off my calendar,  I was a bit overwhelmed and exhaled heavily. Looking over the whole month I saw it was full of of notes and doodles and stars. It was an intense month and now looking at a new calendar page, empty with no markings it makes me wonder what lies ahead.

This past week I was kept busy with two new commissions. The first being a journal and the second being earrings (which are near completion). For the journal I tested out a new way of sewing a cover design. I used a quilting technique to create a dye-cut effect on the fabric. I was surprised how do-able it was and am really happy with the look.

Last Wednesday I had hoped to catch the Jean Paul Gauthier exhibition at the Fine Arts museum but the line was insane so I took some window-shopping photographs of a mannequin with some stellar disco ball earrings instead. Other than that, I also did my nails and enjoyed a lovely movie night with some gal-pals while we munched on lactose-free crepes and movie night tea from DAVIDsTEA (verdict: didn't hate it, but didn't love it either).

mili

Breaking out and breaking in while bookmaking

It is getting cold and dark in these parts! The fall equinox is in our midst and I sort of mind it but mostly welcome it. While typing away and browsing through the inter-webs today I suddenly felt my toes and my nose getting cold and the annoyance of. It won't be winter for another 3 months, but more than the snow I look forward to getting toasty and cozy in wool-y sweaters and mittens. Last winter I didn't really embrace the cold by counter-attacking it with some warmth I just gritted my teeth and stayed under covers for as long as I was allowed. This winter will be different, I will enjoy it and make it my wonderland.

In the meantime, I've come back to book making which I'd been avoiding as my working space (the living room coffee table) has been cluttered for so long and I would often just look away when I saw the mess. Thankfully I cleaned it all up and got everything organized a few days ago and have been able to make a few books for myself and for others.

On a last note, I dedicate this post to nutella and adorably dorky ASL sign-along videos.

mili