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KNIT Notebooklets

So, I was playing around with Adobe Illustrator today -- trying to come up with some cover designs for booklets and I threw this one together. If you like it and could use a notebook, I put it up in the etsy shop. It's 32 pages, softcover and handsewn with linen thread. Any ideas for softcover notebooks? Leave me a comment! I'm having fun making them, so don't hesitate to give me suggestions!

My Etsy Shop

On a whim I started an etsy shop today called Black Sheep Bags (& more!).  Not much there yet, but I did finish up some felting I had to do and I put this bag up in the shop:

I have to admit that I have a lot to learn about etsy.  They seem to be resizing my photos which results in them looking fuzzy.  hmmmmm.  So, I need to work on that. 

Now I have to figure out what I can sew, knit, bookbind next so that I have more fun things to put in the shop!

Storms and Scrapbooks

Last Thursday was a wild one here -- storms tore through and damaged too many trees, flooded roads and rivers and downed power lines.  We were out at the post office when in struck!  It went from sunny to 60-70 mph winds in a heartbeat -- in fact, it was sunny when we left the house.  On the ride home we had to turn around several times because trees were blocking roads.  Our power went out, which lead to a harrowing trip to the grocery to get ice. (Of course the power was on when we got home -- go figure.)   Pete had a business trip and got stuck on the road for 3 1/2 hours coming home.  (He would normally be on the train which was also very slow we heard.)

When Maddie and I reached our house, we found this huge branch down in the backyard.  This is sad because it's the second large branch to come down from this tree just this year, so it looks like the tree trimming we had done didn't save it.  That first photo is a look up at the gaping hole where about 1/3 of the tree is now missing.  This is the 3rd huge maple we are losing since moving to this house -- very sad.

In crafting news, I finally started -- and finished -- a project that had been hanging over my head for years. 

We went to Disney World back in 2004 and I bought a scrapbook there, got the photos developed and then I never did anything with it.  With another trip to Disney planned for next year, I decided that it was time to get this thing done.  This project did confirm my belief in my office remodeling project.  I can't wait to have a huge countertop to do crafty projects on!

Finished!  Bring on Disney World 2008!

Office Remodel

It's time for a big house project.  I'm completely remodeling my office and I'm chronicling it here for all to see.  Let's start with the before:

We have an old 2 story colonial revival house that was built in the 20's (photo here.)  And at the top of the stairs from the first to second floor is a landing -- if you turn around 180 degrees you go up three steps to the upstairs hall and if you go straight and go up 3 step, you are in my office.

There are big windows on three sides (nice light -- difficult because you can't have any tall furniture).  this is a shot looking to the west.  You can see a built in right next to the doorway.

The room is long and somewhat narrow (about 7' X 17') and this is the view looking south.  The room serves many functions.  I run both of my businesses out of here, do crafty things and homeschool my daughter.  Speaking of homeschooling. . .

Here's the view to the east.  Maddie is sitting and doing her schoolwork at her desk.  You can see the other built in as well as the shelves that hold all my craft books and rubber stamps (inventory for Stamping Online.)

Here are the plans:

• Refinish the floors
• Replace the windows
• Paint
• Install cabinetry
• Get new window treatments
• Have more electrical outlets installed

Phase one is floors.  I had the flooring company that I think we will use out to take a look.  More on that in the next installment!

Books & Pesto

Okay, so I'm way behind on posting the books I've been reading -- so here goes:

I finally finished re-reading HP books 1-6 this summer.  When I last posted, I believe I was only midway through Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  Well, I plowed through that and then devoured Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I was very happy with how the story went and loved the last book for it's suspense and action.  The Epilogue -- eh.

So having finished 7 HP books in a row, I was ready to resume the "summer of classics" -- and I did:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was up next and it was supremely satisfying.  There's so much to think about in this book -- race, standing up for what you believe in, other-ness -- I could go on.  Beside that, the stage is truly set in this book.  It's almost if you are transported to that time and place while reading it.  So if you haven't read it in a while, I would recommend you giving it another go. 

Night by Elie Wiesel was my first non-reread (i.e. I hadn't read it before) of the "summer of classics".  I picked this up at a garage sale or used bookstore and put in on the shelf for a while thinking I had read it years ago.  Upon reading it, I realized that it was new to me and I was pleasantly surprised.  (Not that the subject matter is pleasant.)

Wiesel's account of his time spent in concentration camps is chilling and shockingly honest.  I was specially amazed by the account of his own feelings at his father's illness and death.  Amazing stuff.  If you haven't read it, pick up a copy -- it's very short and very powerful.  I don't think you will be disappointed.

Time for a break from the classics -- I picked up Philip Roth's Everyman at the library. It had been on my to read list for awhile since I had enjoyed The Plot Against America.  This book was somewhat depressing.  It begins with the death of the main character and the rest of the book is a look back at his unsatisfying life.  It was a good read, but disturbing.

Now I'm kind of in limbo.  I started Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje (author of the English Patient -- which I never read or saw) and it is supposed to be excellent, but I haven't really gotten into it yet.  We'll see how it goes.

Oh!  I almost forgot, then I saw the title of this post -- PESTO!  I made my own pesto from scratch (and even from some basil I grew, although I had to add extra store purchased basil).  It is so delicious!  I'll have to post a photo tutorial next time I make it since it's so pretty too.  And boy is it easy to make.  The only hard part is cleaning the food processor when you are finished.  Yeah pesto! 

Book Arts

I've always been a fan of book arts and I've even taken a few classes with Theresa over at Paper Source.  There is a great place in Chicago to take classes in book arts and letterpress -- Columbia College -- and I've been thinking it's time to take a few classes or maybe even get a degree (!)  I thought I should get my feet wet on my own first though before I took any drastic steps. 

I have quite a few supplies around here from other crafty pursuits, but I wanted some good tools to get me started on the right foot.  So I placed an order with Talas and Paper Source.  They both had a good selection and good prices and I'm happy to report that they both shipped my things very quickly and I received all items just as I ordered them -- so I can highly recommend both.

I decided to start off with something easy.  I had a nice Italian text block (the text block is the pages that go in a book -- it's usually made separately from the case, or cover) sitting around and I whipped up this soft spined book in very little time. 

There's something very satisfying about making books and I'm sure you'll see more here on the blog.  First I'm going to read Keith A. Smith's Bookbinding for Book Artists which is supposed to be an excellent book on the subject.  I can't wait to try my hand at some different techniques!

5 Years of Blogging

Wow -- hard to believe that I've been blogging for 5 years now! Where has the time gone?

If it wasn't so cloudy and I could take a decent photo, I'd show you all my bookbinding supplies that just arrived. Perhaps I'll have a new book to show after this weekend.