Lynda Coles
12-04-2000, 11:28 PM
What do you use to write your musings and 'sketch your sketchings' in? Are you one of those people who are happy with the back of an envelope, or like me do you need a beautiful book and a magnificent pen to inspire you?
I recently saw some to-die-for leather bound sketchbook/journals, all embossed with ancient celtic designs and embossed pewter centres. Yummy. Buy me one of those, I thought, and I'll have no more trouble with artists block. Then I saw the price! Oh dear. However, these journals had inspired me so much that I decided to make one - from scratch. Now, I have never worked with leather before, but I have done some (very) simple sewn book-binding. I bought a heavyweight sketch pad, folded and sewed the pages from it, then glued it into a simple leather cover made from a 'scrap bag' of leather that cost me just $6. A thong attatched to the back cover to wind around a beautiful golden button on the front to keep it closed. A couple of hours work and it was complete.
I was so pleased with myself! It feels lovely, it smells lovely and it's a pleasure to write and draw in and the best thing is that I don't have to feel guilty about filling up the pages quickly, 'cos I can soon make another...
[This message has been edited by Lynda Coles (edited December 04, 2000).]
I recently saw some to-die-for leather bound sketchbook/journals, all embossed with ancient celtic designs and embossed pewter centres. Yummy. Buy me one of those, I thought, and I'll have no more trouble with artists block. Then I saw the price! Oh dear. However, these journals had inspired me so much that I decided to make one - from scratch. Now, I have never worked with leather before, but I have done some (very) simple sewn book-binding. I bought a heavyweight sketch pad, folded and sewed the pages from it, then glued it into a simple leather cover made from a 'scrap bag' of leather that cost me just $6. A thong attatched to the back cover to wind around a beautiful golden button on the front to keep it closed. A couple of hours work and it was complete.
I was so pleased with myself! It feels lovely, it smells lovely and it's a pleasure to write and draw in and the best thing is that I don't have to feel guilty about filling up the pages quickly, 'cos I can soon make another...
[This message has been edited by Lynda Coles (edited December 04, 2000).]