Trying to make more time for the crafty things in life, I am a touch, ah, obsessed with making books at the moment. Still struggling to find a balance, to be able to accomodate all of the things I love, to have a little bit of it all in most days, and make sure that absolutely no-one or nothing ends the day feeling unloved. Hmmm, that's a tough one, but not impossible I have to believe ; )

I guess that can explain why the blog sits silently so often, and why I am only just posting this book which was made, probably about a month ago now. As much as I love to be creative sometimes it all just has to be put on hold. Sometimes family and friends just need a little bit of extra attention, a little bit of extra time. To make it all work. To make sure everyone is ok. There are so many pieces to the puzzle (our lives), I really don't know how some of you do it........ those who blog regularly, beautifully, and keep your whole life running, just so. I'm a little intrigued.......how DO you do it?

Anyway, on with the post : )

I made this journally scrapbook with a little boy in mind......a potential treasure chest in the shape of a book.

I sewed pockets from cardstock and paper, added a bit of tape here and there. I can't believe I don't have a picture of the tags I put in that pocket, really??! Perhaps I can add a picture later if anyone is interested, it's not really mind-blowingly exciting I guess ; )

Simple shipping tags, covered with book pages, some decorated with old stamps, or other paper things. You know.......paper things.

A pocket made with a piece of map (foreign, didn't pay much attention to where the map is from, let me know if you know where it is)

The map pocket holds a mini World map.

Here, a mini book within the book, decorated with tape and more stamps. I bought a couple of little ziplock bags full of stamps at an op shop once.........brilliant purchase at 20 cents a bag! Next time I add a little mini book like this, I would do that hole with an eyelet, I think.

I filled yet more pockets with little envelopes I had made from saved book pages. Perfect for holding little notes written for friends, or perhaps a leaf, a feather found on a backyard adventure.

I included, in this pocket, some larger envelopes. I really am happy with the way this book turned out and I'm working on some more. I do plan to get some stock in my Etsy shop one of these days.

Just want to give a little share on this, although I shouldn't because it's just a practice book and I have a lot to learn here. I wanted to have a go at  a little journal with an exposed spine, pages held together with a simple running stitch. I really enjoyed doing this, loved the process, loved the end result.

I didn't put a whole lot of effort into choosing the absolute-just-right cover pages, spine ribbons or anything else because the purpose of this exercise was really just to have a go at it. It's filled with a mix of hodge-podged together paper scraps and this 'n' that.

Could there be a more perfect hobby for a paper/book/upcycling/diy obsessed person than bookbinding?

Book Binding

I have long been fascinated by the art of book binding, and while this is primitive (very, very primitive) it is my first attempt at handbinding. As in the signatures (pages) are hand sewn to the cover. This was an experiment so it's small and not at all heavy duty. I just wanted to get a bit of a feel for the process.

It's also bound with dental floss, and not waxed binding thread as, like I said, it was an experiment, I didn't want to be spending any money on this one.

While it's primitive by necessity, it's also primitive by design. A project to just let go of perfectionist habits.

The trim I used to hold it closed is elasticised. It's been sitting in my stash for years. Finally a use for it!!

I have written in this since I took the pictures, this was made for Ruby, it's her "Dad" book. My husband works away from home and is gone for nine days at a time. Up until recently it's just been what we've always done, we're used to it.

He came home. He went back to work. The kids didn't know any different.

As they're getting older, it's getting harder for them when he goes off to work again. Ruby, especially, gets very upset the day he leaves. So I made this little book for her. It's small enough that she can stick it in her bag and take it to school with her each day.

I've put in plenty of Dad pictures, and made little spaces where she can write or doodle and the Mister himself can write in there too. (don't ask me why I put the lipsticked Mama above in the 'Dad' book, I've only just noticed it myself and I have no idea why)

It's rough, but I like it.

Most definitely makes me want to make more.

You can see in the picture above the space between the two seperated signatures. I could have had them closer together. It will be a real trial and error process to learn more.

I enjoyed this project more than anything I've done for a while. I love paper, and I love tape!

Normally if I were sewing on to a page I would cover up the 'back' side, probably with another piece of decorative paper. In this one though I left some of those spots uncovered (picture above) to be used as little journaling spots. Although if I stare at that picture for long enough the 'unfinished side' part of it will freak me out and I'll probably have nightmares about it tonight.

Just making this scruffy little book..............I learnt stuff. I looked at You Tube videos of people binding (binding beautifully) and I've learnt the names and uses of tools (none of which I had or used, primitive remember) which I knew nothing of before.

I'm keen for more.

the 30 minute TapeMeasure Cuff

I have been admiring a lot of cuffs I have been seeing lately on Etsy, but funds are limited so I decided to try my hand at making one myself. It's pretty rustic, but really, just fine I think.

And it only took 30 minutes from start to finish. Win.

The hardest part of the whole thing was actually trying to photograph this on my arm. Really.

I just cut two pieces of ticking fabric (I think that's what it's called, feel free to correct me on that one) and a piece of felt the same size which I sandwiched in the middle for a bit of thickness. I have an abundance of tape measures (pretty sure you could call it an actual 'collection'), so I chopped one up for this project.

When I started out I planned to use some hat elastic for the loop to secure the button, as I thought I had oodles of that stuff stashed away somewhere. I didn't. So I used one of Rubys' hairbands. Ended up not fitting quite as tightly as I would have liked, but it's secure anyway.

Here it is in all it's wonky glory.