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

First full week of June Challenge

A painting a day. How hard can that be? Easy, right?
That's what I thought, but once you commit to say yes, sometimes inspiration flies out of the window. Or work gets busy, or there's the book needs attention and always there's the ongoing rehab for the ankle.

So on the days I got busy or inspiration was lacking, I fell back on my favourite fruit, the pear. Just so you know. It is possible to do the challenge, but sometimes a little leeway is needed. That's where my pears come in.

So sorry if I'm not around to visit blogs, but I need to do this. It felt as if some of my painting had become stale, so I'm hoping this will force me to be fresher and grow a little. In fact, perhaps if I'd done thirty different pears, I'd be forced to be even more creative!
But thirty different pears I have not done. I do hope you enjoy viewing what I have done. You'll see some experimentation over the next few weeks.
As ever, I do enjoy your comments, even if at the moment, I haven't the time to reply. Thanks for your patience as I try to grow as an artist.

The week's paintings.

Cider Days

Shepherd Snowman

Pear II

Poisoned Apple.

Roadside Flowers

Herb and Fruit.

Pear III

and finally, here's a bonus one - I had a lady ask me for a pencil drawing of one of her dogs. Not actually a June Painting - so I've not included it in the above section, but drawn in June, so here she is:

Amber