Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Guest on Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:11 am

I made this today, while the weather was dreary. I took sheets of white parchment, made 12 signatures with 6 sheets each, folded them, sewed them, then stitched them together. I then added a cardstock cover, and then added the leather cover, and hardware. Took about 6 hours from start to finish. I have the entire process documented on my blog.

http://professordevlinslab.blogspot.com

It's by invite only, so pm me if you want to be added to the reader list.

Mad Miss Holmes on Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:20 am

That is beautiful! With what do you intend to fill it?

Guest on Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:27 am

I have absolutely no idea yet. I am making a portfolio for myself right now, with pockets large enough to accommodate a journal like this one. I really enjoyed making this today. The weather was dreary enough to want to stay indoors.

Mad Miss Holmes on Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:36 am

I've got to say that's bound to be the best sort of day, if it begets this sort of creativity. Very Happy

Guest on Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:43 am

This is the time of the year where I do a lot of leather work. For whatever reason, this is when people ask me to make stuff for them. I'm getting a lot of commission work making bags and the like. I am going to make more books though, as they're fairly easy, and I do a fair share of writing.

Mad Miss Holmes on Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:08 am

Likely because of the approach of winter. It just seems to be a more homemade time of year, if that makes sense.

Do you also do embossing?

Guest on Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:17 am

Yes. Making the dies though is expensive. Also, the leather has to be vegetable tanned, not chrome tanned in order to take the embossing.

Mad Miss Holmes on Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:25 am

I imagine it would be expensive, but as I know next to nothing about leatherworking... ~shrug~
You've inspired me to raid the DIY section in the library, though.

Prof Eumides Blakehurst on Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:51 am

Very nice work. Did you use a pressof some sort to hold the sigs in place while you sewed them together ? And what sort of material did you sew them to ? (I've been using medium canvas...)

(Sorry, those are the only questions I have, so I figured it would be faster to ask here than get access to your blog - though I would like to see the blog if you don't mind!)

Gazongola on Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:04 am

It seems we have no access to your blog.

Guest on Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:10 am

The blog is by invitation, so you'll have to send me your e-mail addresses.

I sewed each signature, then sewed them together loosely. I put them between two clamped pieces of wood, then drew the stitching tight. Worked a lot better than I thought. Then I sewed the signatures to a piece of heavy card stock. which was fitted tightly to the signatures. I then glued the cover on, and voila, it was done.

I do have a better idea about the next journal I make, as I plan to use some heavy Latigo, and larger paper.

Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.

Re: Leather Bound Journal, Completely hand made.