A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 7 of 7

From a piece of thick, yellow leather...

...I cut a cover for this book.

                                       I used the natural edge of the tanned hide...

                                       ...for the asymmetrical top and front flap.

                                    I added a loop of black leather for the closure...

                                 ...(stitching it to the cover with waxed linen thread).

                                                I punched holes in the leather...

                                                    ..for the paper signatures...

                                            ...and with additional linen thread...

                                                  ...stitched them into place.

                                  

                                                   The back of the journal...

                       ...and a peek inside to see my friend, Deborah's sweet doodles.

                                                        The finished journal.

A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 6 of 7

Drawing a template...

                                              ...for the eight paper signatures...

                                               
                                                     ...in this rather thick book!

  
                                 I used the natural edge of the tanned leather hide...

                                            ...to fashion an asymmetrical front flap.

                                                     The book back with strap.

                          Since I employed a marbled, burgundy buckle for the closure...

                                           ...I chose black leather for the strap...

                                 ...and golden waxed linen thread for the stitching...

                                                ..(to provide a bit of contrast).

                                          Next time: the final book in the series...

                                               ...in a rather vibrant color! :)

A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 5 of 7

My daughter, Hayden, making a template...

...and preparing her paper signatures.

                                                     Stitching an earth magnet...

                                          ...into each 'hem' of the leather cover...

                                     ...and testing it to see whether it stays closed.

                             Punching holes into the leather for the paper signatures.

                                            Knotting off the waxed linen stitches...

                                             ...and cutting off the excess thread.

                                       'Pamphlet' stitches were used in this project.

                                                    The finished book (open)...

                                                           ...and closed.

                      My daughter wanted to make a book that would stay closed...

                                    ...without any kind of button or buckle closure.

                         Using two strong magnets, sewn into the edges of the cover...

                                               ...this concept became reality!! 

A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 4 of ?

A leather punch tool...

                                    ...is used to attach a hand-trimmed leather thong...

                                                       ...to the book cover.

                             The paper signatures are sewn in with red waxed linen...

                                                   ...using a 'pamphlet stitch'...

                             ...and a shimmery pearl button is featured as a closure.

                                                    This is a full-fledged book...

                                       ...just tiny in size (approx. 2 inches square).

                              The red stitching provides an exhuberant counterpoint...

                                                   ...to the sober grey leather.

                                       Next time: an ingenious magnetic closure...

                                         ...designed by my daughter, Hayden! :)

A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 3 of ?

A Japanese stab binding book...

...(sorry for the backwards photo!).

                                                   The front and back covers...

                                               ...are lined with fibery endpapers.

                      Unlike my earlier two books, containing signatures of folded paper...

                                      ...this one is made using flat sheets of paper.

                                                        The back of the book.

                              I embellished the book cover with leftover squares of felt...

                                                 ...from this long-ago project!

                                                    Next time: "Let's Get Small!"

                                                  (with apologies to Steve Martin)

A Brief Foray Into Bookmaking- Part 2 of ?

Choosing the perfect buckle is difficult, with all of these to choose from!

(Thanks, again, Elis for the 'stash'!!)

                                          Instead of a leather thong and a button...

                                             ...to hold the book closed this time...

                                                 ...I used a wider strip of leather...

                                                           ...and a buckle!

                           I also did my own thing while stitching in the signatures. :)

                                                     Here they are in place.

                                                         The finished journal.

                      Next time: I make an ominously monikered 'stab binding' book...

                                                         ...with felt accents.