A big birthday sale in my Etsy shop

For the first time ever, I'm hosting a sale in my Etsy shop. In celebration of my birthday this month, I've put more than a dozen books on sale. 

Throughout August, you'll save up to $20 per book on my high-quality hardcover Coptic bound books and a few other styles. Take a look at the sale section, and pick out your new favorite journal.

This sale will help me make room in my studio for some of the new designs I've been working on. You can see some of those books in my shop now, and I'll be adding more throughout the month (like 

new leather Instagram photo albums, hardcover books with my original screenprinted patterns, and softcover notebooks) so check back often. 

Read more...

For the book lovers on your holiday shopping list

As you begin your holiday shopping, don't forget all the great handmade goods available on Etsy. If you're looking for a journal, sketchbook, or photo album for someone on your list, visit my Etsy shop to view the one-of-kind books I've made this year.

And if you live in Nashville, you can also find my books in person at Parnassus Books in Green Hills and at PULP in East Nashville.

Read more...

Collage books with Lokta papers, now on Etsy

I am constantly surrounded by beautiful, handmade papers. It's one of the perks of bookbinding. But sometimes, I've found that it takes a bit of a shakeup to see them in a new way.

My husband was working late one night, and as I rooted around in my paper scrap bin, I noticed an intriguing pairing of bright Lokta papers. These are among my favorite papers. They come in many gorgeous colors, have great texture, and are easy to work with. They respond well to glue and don't crinkle. Plus, they're sustainably made.

That night, I had a spur-of-the-moment urge to collage with these bits of paper. (Ironically, my husband often harps on me about all the scraps that I save, and it was only when he was away that I decided to put them to use.)

I began a free-form binding project without my usual careful planning. I focused on color matching.

 

The first collage covers I made were striped. For the second, I assembled the papers in a patchwork. For this second book, I also rubbed away at pieces of the paper, distressing portions and allowing the color layers to blend. I also preserved the deckled edges of the pages and composed with those in mind.

The books I came up with — a sister set — are now in my Etsy shop. I hope you'll take a look, and show them to friends. They'd be good journals or sketchbooks or a fun guest book for a summer wedding.

:: Striped collage book
:: Patchwork collage journal

Read more...

On the front page again!

I'm thrilled to announce that one of my handmade books made it to the front page of Etsy again!  I was working in my studio yesterday evening making covers for some new photo albums when I happened to glance at my computer screen and notice that I was on the front page.  While my first front page appearance was certainly exciting, I found out about it after the fact.  This time I actually got to see it live up on the site.  (My delay in posting about this on the blog had nothing to do with lack of excitement; my hands were just covered in glue last night and I wanted to keep them away from my keyboard!)  

The treasury below, which includes one of my Italian longstitch books with a rust colored suede cover, was the curated collection featured on the front page yesterday.  A huge thank you goes out to Martata for putting together this gorgeous treasury!

'Rust can be Minty' by Martata

sunshineartdes... $25.00	beverlyyy $5.00	SilverSmack $30.00
LAccentNou $70.00	WoolyBison $15.00	DutchTouchAnti... $795.00
shirae $20.00	sadieolive $30.00	patriciavalery $50.00
zsbekefi $15.00	honeytree $30.00	LinenLaidFelt $30.00
TheJewelryStor... $190.00	zerbamine $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Read more...

Rusty but trusty

I've been on a roll making Italian longstitch books lately.  My goal for February was to focus on making these leather journals, as well as photo albums.  But once I got started with the longstitch books, I just couldn't seem to stop.  

I made some with rich brown leather (like this book), and more recently with butter yellow and bright teal leather covers, but my favorite has been this rustic orange suede.  I can't seem to get enough of the gorgeous color (especially when paired with mint green thread) or the soft texture.  And I think the journal looks especially lovely paired with all of the "rusty but trusty" items in the treasury below. 

'Rusty But Trusty' by CactusAndOlive

supplier $7.50	ellyolson $13.00	LinenLaidFelt $30.00
Evotiv $499.95	photoamato $20.00	woolcandy $24.00
JulieMagersSou... $30.00	modernSCRAPYAR... $10.95	Mechanicality $20.00
jibbyandjuna $18.00	annabelsaprons $7.00	zahavblue $78.00
LeasBoutique $11.95	chefrepublic $22.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Read more...

Handmade treats for Valentine's Day

My husband showered me with handmade delights this Valentine's Day. First, I got a box full of cranberry-orange gumdrops, made by fahrenheitgoods on Etsy.  They are soft and delicious (I had to hide them from myself so I wouldn't eat them all this evening!), and the box was wrapped in a beautiful paper too.  I'm sure that paper will make its way into a handbound book in some way or another.

He also got me a beautiful pair of copper enamel earrings from tekaandzoe, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  (You might remember that I've been lusting over them for months...)  I already planning my outfit for work tomorrow so I can wear my new earrings. 

 

And last but not least, Tony picked out some handmade perfume for me from Sweet Anthem.  I've been obsessed with the "Anita" scent for the past month, after ordering a perfume sampler with a gift card my friend Chase gave me for Christmas.  All of the fragrances I tried were quite nice, but that particular one really stood out to me.  "Anita" smells just like a peppermint mocha, my all-time favorite coffee drink.  And as my sample of that scent was starting to run low, I'm excited to now have a full-sized bottle of it.  

Tony and I will be staying in this evening, cooking dinner together, and watching a movie.  On the menu: homemade chicken curry, chocolate souffle, and a bottle of wine we've been saving since our honeymoon.  It should be the perfect evening.

I hope you've all had a very happy Valentine's Day!

Read more...

Sunny yellow treasury

I was just featured in a beautiful Etsy treasury, and it was too gorgeous not to share.  I'm loving all of the bright sunny colors, and my yellow Italian long-stitch journal is in good company.  Click on any of the photos for more info about the item.  Enjoy! 

'Daffodil Fields ' by sstormster1

CalebandEmilyD... $6.00	OldBaltimoreVi... $28.00	reflectionsbyd... $28.00
sstormster $25.00	katedurkin $38.00	OtisLovesOlivi... $12.00
littlebrownpen $22.00	BijouxMimi $19.00	AlpineGypsy $28.00
humboldtstreet $32.00	clairehartigan $4.50	trendyknitting $72.00
cherryandviole... $26.00	LinenLaidFelt $25.00	sunflowerexpre... $24.50

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Read more...