... homemade journal ...

[TMLee]

Wow! That's all I can say about your work! I have been wanting to learn to make coptic stitch journals for quite some time. A friend and I are getting "starter kits" from Hollanders and begin the learning fun next month..

I can't imagine being as good as you are, which may lead to me begging to buy a journal from you!

 

Thanks for sharing your art!

 

Thank you for your kind words

 

Your website and craftworks are also very nice.

the quilting fabrics are nice, they make good journal covers ...

 

 

When you start stitching a journal for your own use, you can have its covers adorned with your webpage logo

The graphics are good material for a journal cover.....

 

You can also experiment printing out your logo in monotone themes ,

example

Sepia (make it really dark)

or

any colour that suits your design philosophy.

 

 

 

From the little I know about the craft of quilting - I admire the amount of time / effort / skill , that goes into making one,

and accordingly

( I found out only in the recent past )

that those really elaborate and intricate ones can be really quite expensive.

[macktastic]

 

 

 

Hi ,

 

Welcome to FPN ....

 

 

 

That is what is known as the 'fishtail' effect.

 

It is a product of 2 factors :

• the number of Folios in that Signature (more Folios = more pronounced 'fishtail' )
• the thickness (grammage) of each sheet of Folio.

All the Signatures in my journals have this 'fishtail' effect.

 

I don't trim them away but I do ensure they don't become aesthetically unacceptable

I do this by limiting the number of Folios in any given Signature.

 

In my journals, one overriding design principle is to keep wastage as minimal as possible , if not avoidable altogether.

So I let the 'fishtails' remain there , ie , uncut.

Besides, I think it contributes to the handmade quality about them

 

 

 

The picture you posted seems to show quite many sheets of Folios in there.

My guess is around 15 to 20 ?

 

The other replies are right,

you can either trim them away,

or

have fewer Folios in each Signature.

 

 

 

I do trim away only when the situation warrants it , like I did here in one of my other threads here ...

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/163993-how-to-make-your-own-cahier/?p=2711300

 

In this example, it was a Cahier , so its a single Signature kind of a binding.

The number of Folios was significant - 20 !

But the paper was the fabulous TOMOE RIVER paper - very thin at only 52gsm.

And becos it was so thin, the 'fishtail' effect was not that terrible.

( see the pic showing the extent of the fishtail I had to trim away. )

 

For the paper you are using, you have to decide how many Folios are needed in order that any one Signature can be sturdy enough to withstand the piercing and stitching.

 

HTH

Bests ....

 

Thanks for the info. I've been making cashier notebooks, so the the fishtail is kinda unavoidable. I tried using a ruler and razor to trim edges, like in your picture, but my results weren't that nice. I'm gonna rig up some kind of straight edge clamp for trimming.

[TMLee]

 

...... I tried using a ruler and razor to trim edges, like in your picture, but my results weren't that nice. I'm gonna rig up some kind of straight edge clamp for trimming.

 

 

 

Hmmmmm ....

 

A utility cutter with snap-off blades is sufficient to do the job.

 

If I can help,

What kind of cutting problems are you encountering ?

 

[fraktur]

 

Thanks for the info. I've been making cashier notebooks, so the the fishtail is kinda unavoidable. I tried using a ruler and razor to trim edges, like in your picture, but my results weren't that nice. I'm gonna rig up some kind of straight edge clamp for trimming.

 

It might take a couple of passes, just take take your time and try to use a sharp/new blade.

[TMLee]

This is Journal 179 (A5) "Handbags" in A5 size

 

Found this nice print , theme on handbags ...

very high quality print ..

Italian made , by ROSSI1931 ...

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8383_zpsdff95569.jpg

 

 

I decided to use magenta bookcloth accents on the corners ..

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8382_zps84918fad.jpg

 

I hesitated on doing a spine accent, thinking perhaps it may not let the graphics stand out enough.

I had to craft it to convince myself...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8385_zps4176d286.jpg

 

 

I think corners only is best ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8381_zps339b4693.jpg

 

 

 

 

Front

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8395_zpsfc46cd5a.jpg

 

 

Rear

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8398_zps8b8a2d43.jpg

 

with bands deployed

White elastic bands by CLOVER of Japan ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8400_zpse2290c92.jpg

 

 

 

I usually try to align the bands with junction of the bookcloth and cover material

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8402_zpsccea09d9.jpg

 

 

 

Decided on matching magenta stitches

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8405_zps882c57e7.jpg

 

and matching ribbon pagemarker

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8404_zpsd8efc799.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8403_zps5473670d.jpg

 

 

 

Full spread

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8408_zps8dff5087.jpg

 

 

 

Now with the matching flyleaves in view

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8406_zpsffa618bc.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8407_zps7c4c1128.jpg

 

Flyleaves are also magenta ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8410_zps37644f5b.jpg

 

 

The hinges are co-ordinated ....

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8411_zps75459cf9.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8412_zps133fda47.jpg

 

Light can still pass thru and light up the pocket ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8413_zpseef1827f.jpg

 

 

The corner bookcloth accents are flushed with the cover wraps ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8416_zpscafe04d3.jpg

 

 

Inktestpage

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/042_zps6f6c5eb4.jpg

 

Colophon

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/043_zps62eb2f54.jpg

 

7 Signatures, 4 Folios each

paper is NATURALIS , Vanilla White , 135g , Smooth

 

 

 

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/DSCF8396_zps3d3a5025.jpg

Edited January 17, 2014 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is the smaller A6 variant

 

Journal 179A "Handbags"

 

For this, I tried a different hue of the corner accents

 

Front

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/018_zps17a45bb4.jpg

 

Rear

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/021_zpsb7dc19cf.jpg

 

band deployed

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/022_zps98e7ce54.jpg

 

by CLOVER of Japan

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/023_zps49dce2cf.jpg

 

 

I decided to use orange stitches

This is Linen thread , #18 gauge , 4-ply, Orange Crush

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/025_zps18e1b7f6.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/026_zps4e4926f8.jpg

 

 

Found a warm grey / olive drab flyleaves to match the corner accents.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/035_zps12dd0b25.jpg

 

 

Full spread

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/030_zps512de025.jpg

 

With the flyleaves in view.

And matching orange ribbon pagemarker.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/031_zpsb0b9320a.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/032_zps2806ee54.jpg

 

 

The corner accents are done in Olive Drab bookcloth by SAIFU.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/034_zps75f12d86.jpg

 

I prefer to mount them flush with the cover wraps.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/033_zpsdfc9aa59.jpg

 

 

 

The hinges are co-ordinated too.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/038_zpsa080c6a8.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/039_zps054758a5.jpg

 

 

The hinges are translucent enough to admit light.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/037_zpsc913885f.jpg

 

 

The inktestpage

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/040_zps061258d1.jpg

 

 

The Colophon

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/041_zpsa534d0e5.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/179A%20Handbags/020_zps00213f09.jpg

 

 

 

[TMLee]

The pair ...

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/011_zps3b1f2d05.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/012_zpsa779122f.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/013_zps577527c8.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/015_zpsb8a3c53d.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/014_zps2c4b6817.jpg

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/016_zps86b4f3bc.jpg

 

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2014/179%20A5%20Handbags/017_zps3accfd66.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

This is Journal 177B "Peacock Feathers" , another A5 sized variant.

 

Front

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8464_zps06eeccfd.jpg

 

 

 

Bands deployed

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8468_zpse0158696.jpg

 

 

For this variant, I decided on blue accents in the ribbon and the stitches , to match the blues on the prints ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8479_zps6326ce04.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8471_zps783bbfd9.jpg

 

 

Full spread

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8476_zpseaf83c04.jpg

 

Stitches

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8472_zps1326941a.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8473_zps97a02627.jpg

 

 

The accents - flushed with the covers.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8474_zpsc70d13a8.jpg

 

 

Deep magenta flyleaves

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8483_zpsc599032d.jpg

 

 

Co-ordinated hinges

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8484_zps4bd66e31.jpg

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8485_zpsfc93a031.jpg

 

 

Inktestpage

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8486_zpsbf63699d.jpg

 

 

Colophon

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8487_zps4c8dbdaa.jpg

 

 

Writing paper is

NATURALIS , Vanilla White , 135gsm, Smooth

7 Signatures, 4 Folios each .

Total 112 writing pages

 

 

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/DSCF8465_zpsa5bce215.jpg

Edited January 26, 2014 by TMLee

[TSherbs]

TMLee, beautiful!

[TMLee]

TMLee, beautiful!

 

Thanks

Edited January 28, 2014 by TMLee

[mortiana27]

Wow, that's gorgeous!

[TMLee]

Experimenting with making my own bookcloth....

 

I have leftover TR paper from crafting odd-sized journals.

Its good paper and I usually dont throw away scraps of good paper.

 

Well, it came in handy ,

so instead of using really thin tissue paper, I glued fabric onto the TR paper.

 

I had tested one using just a plain glue-stick, and it worked fine ....

 

then I proceeded to make a bookcloth ( a tiny piece - not a huge piece )

but

I decided to use PVa glue ...

 

 

I brushed on the entire piece of TR paper with PVa glue , then positioned the fabric onto it. ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8491.jpg

 

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8492.jpg

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8492.jpgl

 

 

I learnt that , with PVA glue, the newly made bookcloth becomes stiffer , compared to that which was glued using a kids glue-stick.

 

 

 

 

So I went back to making another scrap , using the glue-stick again ....

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8517.jpg

 

Reverse side showing the TR paper base...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8518.jpg

 

 

 

It feels softer - more pliable - which is what I need for corner accents , as they are folded into the rounded corners.

 

I am quite happy with the outcome.

 

I dont think I can use this technique for a large piece of fabric.

I would still go back to using "heat n bond" ...

 

I would be happy to learn from others here of other methods of making bookcloth DIY

Edited January 28, 2014 by TMLee

[fraktur]

I recently started using head n bond to make my own and it's my preferred method (mostly because of ease and it gets the work done) but I do feel like it adds thickness that could be avoided.

 

I've done a thin layer of PVA on mullberry paper and then laid the fabric on top and that works very well as long as there isn't too much excess glue that can bleed through, my professor liked making wheat paste to bond the two but that was too much work for me to try.

[TMLee]

Wow, that's gorgeous!

 

 

Thanks

[TMLee]

I recently started using head n bond to make my own and it's my preferred method (mostly because of ease and it gets the work done) but I do feel like it adds thickness that could be avoided.

 

I've done a thin layer of PVA on mullberry paper and then laid the fabric on top and that works very well as long as there isn't too much excess glue that can bleed through, my professor liked making wheat paste to bond the two but that was too much work for me to try.

 

 

Yes I have the same experience with 'Heat n Bond' , ie, i find the paper backing a bit thick when finished.

The thickness is fine , except when I need to foldover the corners.

The thickness makes this part bulk up.

 

Yes , I too find making my own wheat paste , a little beyond me.

 

Mulberry paper , hmmm ...

Isnt it uneven ? , I mean uneven in thickness ?

 

Laying glue on paper , this stage has to be controlled properly, becos when you start to press down the fabric to flatten out all possible bubbles, the wet glue can penetrate up on the finished surface.

 

If its done this way, I think the wet glue has to be let dry to a tacky finish first before laying the fabric down.

 

I also am wondering how to lay fabric evenly down.

I once saw a video clip where the person held the fabric with one hand , using a stiff rod that has somehow been attached to the edge of the fabric ,

and the other hand positioning the free edge to the sticky paper.

 

No .. wait ...

was he holding up the paper or fabric ?

 

Wonder if there are any other failsafe techniques ?

Edited January 28, 2014 by TMLee

[my63]

There is a veneering trick when working with porous veneer that may be of interest allow the pva to almost dry, add your veneer / material then pass a warm iron over it this reactivates the glue but does not allow any bleed through.

Michael

[TMLee]

There is a veneering trick when working with porous veneer that may be of interest allow the pva to almost dry, add your veneer / material then pass a warm iron over it this reactivates the glue but does not allow any bleed through.

Michael

 

 

Ah yes !

 

Thanks for reminding me.

 

I did this sometime back when repairing a bookcloth covered journal.

It had a bubble which disappeared upon ironing with a warm iron.

 

[TMLee]

Experimenting with making my own bookcloth....

 

I have leftover TR paper from crafting odd-sized journals.

Its good paper and I usually dont throw away scraps of good paper.

 

Well, it came in handy ,

so instead of using really thin tissue paper, I glued fabric onto the TR paper.

 

I had tested one using just a plain glue-stick, and it worked fine ....

 

then I proceeded to make a bookcloth ( a tiny piece - not a huge piece )

but

I decided to use PVa glue ...

 

 

I brushed on the entire piece of TR paper with PVa glue , then positioned the fabric onto it. ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8491.jpg

 

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8492.jpg

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8492.jpgl

 

 

I learnt that , with PVA glue, the newly made bookcloth becomes stiffer , compared to that which was glued using a kids glue-stick.

 

 

 

 

So I went back to making another scrap , using the glue-stick again ....

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8517.jpg

 

Reverse side showing the TR paper base...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8518.jpg

 

 

 

It feels softer - more pliable - which is what I need for corner accents , as they are folded into the rounded corners.

 

I am quite happy with the outcome.

 

I dont think I can use this technique for a large piece of fabric.

I would still go back to using "heat n bond" ...

 

I would be happy to learn from others here of other methods of making bookcloth DIY

 

 

 

Okay this is the result of using this DIY bookcloth ...

 

I used it as corner accents on a journal covered with Midnight Blue Bkcloth.

 

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8520.jpg

 

 

I wanted to try out a contrasting theme ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8519.jpg

 

 

The corners folded in well ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8532.jpg

 

 

This is clamped overnight and its really flat

 

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8534.jpg

 

 

There is a matching equivalent, but the colours are reversed ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8540.jpg

 

 

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8541.jpg

 

 

 

 

The matching set ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/2010%20HOW-TO/DIY%20Bookcloth/DSCF8531.jpg

 

 

Being able to make your bookcloth DIY opens up a alot of creative possibilities....

[TSherbs]

looks awesome!

[TMLee]

looks awesome!

 

Thanks