Bookmaking and Japanese Stab binding at The Old Printing Works.

On a Saturday workshop at The Old Printing Works, Thornton, I learned the art of Japanese Stab binding for making notebooks/sketchbooks and any other kind of book you'd like to call it!
We also learned how to create a protective hardcover for our book set. The easiest way for me to describe it, is to show you.
Here, from opening to closing, is my very own effort at making these beautiful pieces of art. Artistic, they most definitely are!

The closed book

first flap open

both flaps open with books inside

both flaps open with books removed

the three note books

a close up of the stab binding on each

back in their protective cover

and flaps closing

all snug as a bug!

I hope you've enjoyed this visual tour of my latest piece of art.. a deviation from painting, but oh so useful for me to create sketchbooks!

Thanks to Marion Archibald from The Old Printing Works, Thornton for such a wonderful, creative day.
If you'd like to see their website, go HERE

Art on the Back Burner

This last week, I haven't really picked up any brushes.
My heart hasn't been in it.
But now I have started a new painting and will be blogging about it next week.

Not doing anything creative for the week made me wonder about creativity.
I had put a lot into the painting On Eagle's Wings and it was linked to a bereavement, so after it was finished I needed a break - and art was put on the back burner.

It was surprising how quickly my painting time was filled with other things.
Chores seemed to spring from the woodwork!

But, I love painting too much to be away from it for long - how about you?
Does anything stop you creating?

Creative Instruction

Do you, like me, love to create something?
Do you take instruction in any way?
I remember one of my early tutors in one class being asked which books she'd recommend for people new to watercolours.
Her reply was that people buy too many instructional books and don't paint enough!

Sometimes I feel guilty of that, but books are just so delicious - and I always do at least two of the demos in each book. New ideas spring from different techniques .
Can you have too many books so you get creatively stifled? Can you?

The first painting holiday I went on was a mixture of nerves and fun!
Oh, I was full of nerves to start with, but once the sketching and the washes started, nerves were forgotten :)
I was so worried I would be the dunce of the class, you know - but everyone was so different in their style, that not one could be compared to another. All lovely in their own way. What a relief!

Taking painting holidays can be pricey, so in my last house I had a summerhouse converted to an art studio


- I would take a week off from work, take an instructional book and my painting kit down there and create.. with no expectation of perfection - just the joy of creating.
Another studio is planned for this new house :)


On one of these weeks, I created these...




Do you go on creative weekends or weeks? Do you have a studio?
Tell me all about it...

Blog Awards

I am thrilled to announce that I have received three blog awards (for creativity) from fellow bloggers to date!

I haven't had a chance to show them, because I usually programme the blog to publish paintings stage by stage - and that can last a week!

I may not publish the awards, but I do thank you for them - and every blog I follow is listed on "My blog List" on the right, which shows the latest 10 updates.

Happy blogging to each and every one!