Introducing Vintage Book Journals

I absolutely fell in love with bookbinding and journal-making, and it didn't take me long to realize that I wanted to keep making them, so I have launched a line of journals for the shop that uses reclaimed vintage books. I do the whole book by hand, from cutting the books apart (carefully!) to sewing and binding them, and I really love the fact that I am able to save these gorgeous book covers and give them a new life. I am researching sources for renewable paper, too, and hope to eventually use recycled paper for the interiors. The tapes may be vintage ribbon, sturdy paper, or reclaimed suede from a purse manufacturer that is gorgeous stuff. Of the pics below, the Art Nouveau Blue Book can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50556512/reclaimed-ornate-vintage-book-art and the red one here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50555074/reclaimed-vintage-book-art-journal The Our Lady of Guadeloupe journal is spoken for, but I will be listing a couple of others this week, and would love to custom create one. The sky really is the limit here, and my plan is to keep them reasonably priced and one of a kind. So that's all my news, and its all pretty exciting. I am buried up to my eyes in papers, boards, suede, and a bunch of new jewelry to list, so hopefully I will be getting caught up in the next week or so!

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

Introducing Vintage Book Journals

I absolutely fell in love with bookbinding and journal-making, and it didn't take me long to realize that I wanted to keep making them, so I have launched a line of journals for the shop that uses reclaimed vintage books. I do the whole book by hand, from cutting the books apart (carefully!) to sewing and binding them, and I really love the fact that I am able to save these gorgeous book covers and give them a new life. I am researching sources for renewable paper, too, and hope to eventually use recycled paper for the interiors. The tapes may be vintage ribbon, sturdy paper, or reclaimed suede from a purse manufacturer that is gorgeous stuff. Of the pics below, the Art Nouveau Blue Book can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50556512/reclaimed-ornate-vintage-book-art

and the red one here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50555074/reclaimed-vintage-book-art-journal

The Our Lady of Guadeloupe journal is spoken for, but I will be listing a couple of others this week, and would love to custom create one. The sky really is the limit here, and my plan is to keep them reasonably priced and one of a kind. So that's all my news, and its all pretty exciting. I am buried up to my eyes in papers, boards, suede, and a bunch of new jewelry to list, so hopefully I will be getting caught up in the next week or so!

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

Bound-Attempting to Make My Own Art Journal

I'm a journaling nut, and what I usually do to journals via paint and all kinds of mixed media puts serious stress on whatever poor book I am working in at the time. I like Piccadilly blank books for their size and their hard covers, but they are getting harder to find, and moleskines just don't seem to have the same stability. It was time, I decided, to learn to bind my own journals. As intimidating as it seemed, I loved the idea of being able to customize papers and create the feel and flow of the book before I even put anything into it. LK Ludwig's new art journaling book, Creative Wildfire, was just the push I needed- there's lots of good instructions in it, including one for this binding-super easy, amazingly flexible, and just about perfect for whatever journaling you want to do, since it lays flat. It was also fun :) So much fun, I am seriously thinking about making a bigger one!

About the book:
This 5.5 x 7 journal has a " sewn over tapes" exposed binding, and I used fairly strong linen which I frayed before binding and gluing. The covers are actually 7 gypsies book boards that I already had, but I think I will be using rescued boards for my next one. I wanted the book to look old, frayed, and much loved, as the title and theme of it is Journeying. So covers, page edges, and tapes were all aged and scuffed with sanding, walnut ink, some weathered wood ink from Tim Holtz, and several layers of matte medium and glue. I used Hollander's bookbinder's PVA as a resist in patches on the covers to give them a worn look. Sealed with 3 coats of varnish, sanded in between to cut down on stickiness. The hand beaded decoration on the cover is a vintage piece from India. Ridiculously excited about how this turned out :D Especially for a first attempt. And really pleased with LK Ludwig's instructions on crafting your own journal- she made it doable and very non-scary!

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Bad Hair Days

I got started making bobby and hair pins while growing my own hair out late last summer. I couldn't find what I wanted, and so I designed some that definitely saved me on those days when my hair was frankly, well, scary ;) What started out as a couple of extra sets I made as a kind of one-time thing has grown into lots of requests and interest, so I've been stocking some new pairs over the last few weeks. Many of these are currently listed in the store, and some can even be recreated, depending on the materials I used. I've done pairs for bridesmaids and brides, as well, so if you see something you love but can't find it in the store, drop me a line or convo and I will see what I can do!

:)Kristen

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Sultry Nights- A Treasury of One of a Kind Elegance

I love finding beautiful things that are a little different, unique, or a less common color than the usual. Here is my latest collection of favorite things, inspired by my fav color as a child- purple.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4be952f2d0198eef332cc168/sultry-nights?sort=hotn...

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Queen Victoria Meets Twilight

When I got this vintage jewel, i took one look at its perfect triangular facets and decided it needed a setting that would take it from beautiful to WOW. Its so rare to find a glass jewel this size without chips and cracks, from age if nothing else-

So it has perched on my studio table for about a month while i set it, then began trying to create just the right setting. I truly have fallen in love with the substantial bracelet that resulted-

This is the second larger piece I have done recently, and i definitely see more in my future...

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Fabulous Eco-Friendly Finds Under $30

In honor of Earth Day, I did some shopping on Etsy and found all kinds of awesome and amazing eco-friendly ( and budget friendly) goodies! This Treasury East doesn't expire, so click and comment to your heart's content.

The screen shot links directly to the actual Treasury. I was really amazed and pleased by all of the recycled and repurposed items that I found, and even got some gift ideas for Mother's Day and Graduation.

Tomorrow's blog post will be full of easy tips and tricks for making each day a little more eco-friendly. If you're like me, your days are packed enough without taking on more "to-do"s, but these ideas and the book that inspired me are so quick and simple that anyone can do them.

Stay tuned!