I haven’t posted in a while, but I have been moving forward on several fronts. In fact, I seem to have too many half-finished projects so thought I’d give you a glimpse of some of them. Ever since Labor Day, I’ve been trying to set up a marbling session, but something always seems to interfere. I think it’s called Life. To marble, I really have to have at least three days clear when I can concentrate just on that – four or five is even better – and it’s just not happening.
So on to what has been happening! About a month ago, I wrote about some books I was starting using some of Sam’s metal. Those books are not all finished, but progress has been made.
Metal books, memo pads and more.
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- Pages & endpapers
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- Brass book cover
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- Brass book cover, inside
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- Finished Brass book
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- Brass book box
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- Brass book box, inside tray
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- Brass book box, both trays
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- Brass book box
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- Brass book box, outside
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- Brass book box, inside
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- Brass book box, outside
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- Book and Box
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- Book and Box
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- Book and Box
This is the book and matching box I made for the brass pieces. The brass had originally meant to be covers for a very small book, but I wanted to show them off more than that so I made this elegant book and box set. I’m really pleased with how they turned out and can’t wait to put them in the Christmas Exhibit at our local gallery.
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- Book before sewing
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- Finished book with aluminum covers
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- Endpapers
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- Spine
I’m not as happy with the Coptic book. Love the covers, but I have never been a fan of Coptic binding. It is not very stable and doesn’t wear well. I’m especially concerned that the metal will eventually cut through the binding cord. If I do any more of these, I’ll have to find a way to put padding between the sewing cord and the metal, perhaps with a grommet.
While finishing the first two books, I started working on two other metal covers, but these are sewn over leather thongs.
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- Sewing over leather thong
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- Sewing over leather thong
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- Textblock, copper covers, leather spine and endpapers
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- Lacing onto covers
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- Textblock, aluminum covers, leather spine and endpapers
I haven’t finished these as I’m not sure about how I’m going to attach the spines. I don’t want an open spine, so I’ll have to attach the leather spine to the metal covers. Right now, I’m planning on a hollow spine with the thongs laced through the leather spine into the metal covers and using an adhesive to adhere the leather to the covers. I still have to shape and pare the leather before I attach it. Not sure how well it will work, but it’s fun trying!
Last was the book I am making from the leftover paper from the metal books. It’s only 3″ high and isn’t finished yet. I was going to call it “Mousings”, but thought that might be a bit cutesy.
Next projects:
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- Cherry bookcloth, copper and marbled paper
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- Stainless steel and paste paper
No idea what these will turn into, but I love these combinations!
