Good morning readers…

Now that I’m out of school my mind is swirling with thoughts and ideas about possible future projects. My biggest problem is settling in, choosing a project and starting. Also, my studio is a wreck and desperately needs cleaning and reorganizing but I don’t want to wait until it’s in order to start a new project.

So, how do you settle in and start a project?

One thing I want to do is start selling more books this year and am trying to decide whether or not I want to put them on Etsy or start a store here on the site. I would love to hear your opinions.

I’m also thinking about reviving my “Ten a week” project. Some of you may remember it started out as a ten a day project and quickly went to ten a week and then died out. Apparently I was suffering from a bad case of lack of motivation. “They” say that it takes 21 days to build a new habit. I believe it. So…for the next 21 days or 3 weeks I’ll be making ten or more things each week. I’ll report on my progress each Sunday morning. Wish me luck.

Just a reminder…entry into the new years giveaway ends this evening. Don’t miss out on a chance to get a cool writing inspired prize.

I hope everyone has a great day!

The little Valentine books are finally finished. I’m happy with the way that they have turned out.

The book is 5″ x 5″ in size. The cover is red Duponi silk. There are 12 pages. 11 pages have quotes and room to write your own love notes. There is a red ribbon bookmark with a hematite heart, ruby red glass bead on sterling silver wire. If you are interested in purchasing one you can do so in my Etsy shop.

I’d also like to brag a little tonight. I recently had a private student at the studio who is fairly new to bookbinding but had written a poem for her mother’s birthday and wanted to create a custom binding for it. Below are photos of the finished book and box that holds it. The book is bound in a Japanese stab binding and each page holds a stanza of the poem as well as family memorabillia. She did all the work and added the creativity. I was only in the background to help with the technical aspects. Good job Kristin!

Oh and in the fashion of Where’s Waldo, can you spot the cat paw in one of the above photos?

The book covers waiting for their pages to be added… they remind me a bit of that old fashioned ribbon candy my Grandma used to always get us at Christmastime.

 

For today’s ten, I created and printed the pages for the 10 little Valentine Books that I will be making tomm.

Here is a little teaser for you…

In other news, for you folks that like DIY projects, the new issue of Craft Magazine is out.

Oh…and there’s still 2 sketchbooks up for grabs.

Ok…so yesterday I was a bit of a slacker in the hands on dept. for my 10 A Day project. I did however setup 10 pages of the new tutorial that I am working on. It is a tutorial on album making for my friends over at the DWF (Digital Wedding Forum). I am hoping to be finished with it by next weekend.

Also, I will be updating and revising the Hedgehog tutorial as soon as I get a few spare minutes. My procedure has evolved a bit. I teach this book style in my workshops and my procedure has changed as I am always looking for ways to make the process a little easier for my students as well as doable within the class time frame. Stay tuned.

In other news, there are still a few sketchbooks available. Anyone that comes by is welcome to ask for one.  I know there are a few lurkers from the DWF out there. Don’t be shy. Shoot me an email and say hi.

Every morning I waste spend an hour or more reading blog posts and surfing the web looking for a little artistic inspiration. This morning I started writing a list of the things that I’d like to get done/made in the next couple of weeks. To help myself along the road to accomplishing this, I have given myself a challenge for February to make 10 books a day for the month. A day, meaning week days with the weekends optional. I got a bit of a late start today because I didn’t think up this crazy idea until almost noon. But..I did get my first 10 done with an hour to spare in the day.

Today’s project…Matchbook Sketchbooks. These little gems are approx. 3″ x 5″ with laminated covers and 25 pages of sketch paper.

To kick off my new challenge I’d like to offer a few of these books to my loyal readers. I know there are at least one or two of you out there.

I have 5 of these put aside to give away so if you’re interested in one shoot me an email with “Matchbook” in the subject line. The first 5 folks to email me will get one.

And of course, check back cuz I’ll be posting my daily makings here on the blog.