I have been intrigued with bookbinding for quite some time. on my list of things to try for a while. It seems like a natural progression to where I am trying to go with my art and printmaking. This past summer I was able to take a few classes with the very talented Pam MacKeller. I took away so much from this class. Not only was I able to learn some of the basics of bookbinding, but she deepened my excitement and fascination with books and bookbinding. There is just something so special about holding a book in your hand and flipping the pages and letting it reveal its story.
Here is the first journal I made on my own from the different techniques I learned and some that I researched on my own. It is a 9×12 journal with 11 signatures of watercolor paper. Heavy duty paper will let me use the journal for what ever medium suits me that day. I will never buy a journal for myself again.
The cover was made with book board and then covered with paper from Creative Culture, the best paper store ever. I am absolutely like a kid in a candy store every time I go into this place.
The stitching for this book was quite a challenge for my novice skills. I used a running stitch to connect the signatures together and then a kettle stitch was used at the top and bottom to join the covers to text block and solidify the structure of the entire journal. Fun project and I was happy with the results. Many more journals and creations in my future.
Daylene Horn Art 