... Homemade Journal ... 2016

[TMLee]

Completed

 

JOURNAL 235 YUSEN - Black Lacquer - Yoroi

 

A6 size

 

 

Red elastic bookbands

 

 

The print is beautiful ...

slightly embossed

covered with a layer of lacquer

The motif , you can almost imagine to be a studded pattern... reminiscent of those iron stud nails the Japanese use to adorn their wooden doors and such.

 

 

Similar to the maple leaves design, here the spine accent shows a glimpse of the lacquer underneath it.

 

I kept the colours to a minimum , only black and red.

It seems the right thing to do.

 

 

Full spread

 

 

With the black flyleaves in view

 

 

 

The inktestpage

 

The second inktestpage

 

 

The Colophon

 

Writing paper is

FABRIANO ECOQUA BIOPRIMA , 85g , 3.5mm dot-grid

7 Signatures, 6 Folios each

Total 168 writing pages

 

 

somehow, the longer you stare at it, the more appealing the motif looks.

Edited January 14, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is also another set of covers on my (cluttered) workbench ...

 

stumbled upon this set of fabric prints...

 

The slate blue version looked most appealing out of the three ...

so I decided to try it out first ...

I was happy that I was able to cut the fabric.

I was expecting the cloth to get snagged and frayed from the cutting but it didnt.

What was needed though was a supersharp blade and that was how I got very clean cuts.

and careful glueing of the fabric . ( I made sure the cloth to be cut off are not glued at all )

 

Installing back the emboss pieces ..

 

 

Laying over the spine accent - Midnight Blue Bookcloth.

I chose this to match the dark blue on the fabric.

Looks good

 

 

I noticed something unique about this print ...

The white petals are actually painted a thick opaque white.

It was a surprise discovery for me becos you usually see whites are just fabric that is not painted , ie bare cloth.

The disadvantage of this is that you can sometimes see thru this bare white portion, revealing what is underneath.

Here it is not. Its painted white ...

 

This is a better view to see that the whites are very opaque white

(the slate blue fabric here in this pic is most accurately rendered)

 

Done

 

 

 

I am thinking of mango yellow threads to perk things up a bit.

 

Alternatively, it can be blue threads and blue flyleaves and blue bands.

Somewhat a monochrome scheme.

 

Both options work well .

 

 

 

This is JOURNAL 252 Flowers - Slate Blue

 

A6 size.

 

I decided to go with Mango to perk things up a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

This one's stitched with heavier paper, which is firmer and so you see the Signatures formed quite nicely - dimensionally sturdy.

 

 

What it looks like cover to cover

 

The mango accents in view ...

 

 

Matching mango flyleaves

 

 

 

The midnight blue bookcloth along the spine

 

Another view of the emboss/deboss

 

 

The inktestpage

Those of you lucky ones to get this kind of inktestpage , the uncoloured pencils are for you to fill in with whatever medium or hue ...

Blue here is picked - to match the covers...

 

I love red inks ...

 

The Colophon

 

 

Writing paper is :

MELLOTEX , 100g , Brilliant White , Smooth

7 Signatures, 5 Folios each

total 140 writing pages

 

[TMLee]

This is JOURNAL 255 Faux Goatskin - Black

A5 size

My 87th TR Journal,

29th A5 TR Journal

 

This one's made to order and the deep red colourway is selected for a reason.

 

 

 

 

 

matching flyleaves

 

The material is very similar to M*skine covers ...

 

 

 

Inktestpage

 

 

Colophon

 

Writing paper is

TOMOE RIVER paper , 52g , Cream

7 Signatures, 10 Folios each

Total 280 writing pages

 

 

[TMLee]

Working on a large (A5 size) version of the goatskin light tan leather - crinkled

 

 

 

Cutting down to size and skiving the edges down

 

 

 

 

Turning in the corners takes a lot more care and effort, so in order to avoid distractions when working on them,

what I usually do is to glue down the straight edges first, making sure they adhere uniformly against the edges so that the end result is a straight edge achieved.

When the straight edges are glued firmly in place, I can then concentrate on turning each corner one at a time.

 

 

The rounded edge ...

 

 

The 90deg corner

 

This is the 90deg corners turned in with a teflon bone folder , no clamping yet ...

 

 

Here is the rounded corner

 

After all this, its clamped down overnight ...

 

 

 

 

Quite happy with the results so far ...

I like the way the creases continue from one cover to the other

Looks impressive

 

 

I think its going to look good...

 

Completed - on order

 

JOURNAL 249A Goatskin Light Tan - Crinkled

 

A5 size

 

My 88th TR Journal and

30th A5 TR Journal

 

Again the deep red accent colour was picked for a specific reason

 

Back

 

 

 

matching Deep red flyleaves

 

I like the creases , the crinkles ...

here you can see its cut from one piece, the creases flow from one cover to the other

 

Matching deep red threads

 

 

 

inktestpage

 

The Colophon

 

Writing paper is

TOMOE RIVER paper, 52g, Cream, (A4 size)

7 Signatures, 10 Folios each

Total 280 writing pages

 

 

This is a nice one ....

 

 

 

 

 

I like this one.

Its attractive.

[escribo]

I am proud as can be to be able to say that I have in my possession a TMLee!

 

When I saw Journal #248 - Wildflowers (post #202, above) I knew my wife would love to own such a thing. My wife is in the hospital recovering from a series of spine surgeries, and is not the happiest of campers; a hospital bed can't the most fun place to be for two weeks. I shall present her new journal to her today and I know she'll be thrilled. Journal #248A - Wildflowers is such a beautiful thing!

 

Thank you, Mr. Lee, for accepting the commission to produce another copy of the Wildflowers book for me. It arrived yesterday, and it's perfect.

 

Best,

Jon

[TMLee]

I am proud as can be to be able to say that I have in my possession a TMLee!

 

When I saw Journal #248 - Wildflowers (post #202, above) I knew my wife would love to own such a thing. My wife is in the hospital recovering from a series of spine surgeries, and is not the happiest of campers; a hospital bed can't the most fun place to be for two weeks. I shall present her new journal to her today and I know she'll be thrilled. Journal #248A - Wildflowers is such a beautiful thing!

 

Thank you, Mr. Lee, for accepting the commission to produce another copy of the Wildflowers book for me. It arrived yesterday, and it's perfect.

 

Best,

Jon

 

Thank you escribo for your kind words

 

I am happy you are delighted with it.

 

I sincerely hope it will bring a little cheer to her too.

 

Do take care, the both of you.

[TMLee]

 

 

This is the black version

 

JOURNAL 254 FLOWERS - BLACK

 

A6 size

 

 

 

Black spine accent bookcloth over the emboss/deboss

 

 

Black bookbands

 

 

This one needed some red to perk things up a bit

 

 

 

 

Red flyleaves

 

Full spread

black on black

 

 

 

 

Colophon

 

 

My 89th TR Journal

 

Writing paper is

TOMOE RIVER paper , 52g, Cream , supersmooth

7 Signatures , 10 Folios each

Total 280 writing pages

 

 

 

[TMLee]

JOURNAL 180 STUCCO - RED

 

A6 size

 

This is a fabric that reminds me of some decorative plasterwork , broad swathes , nice combination of vermillion , orange, reds ...

 

 

I decided to go with rust orange threads

 

 

Heavier paper will yield better shape and form to the stitched bookblock.

I always apply a layer of pVA glue on the finished spine (under clamping)

It cant be seen becos it dries transparent.

It doesnt make the book stronger, it just seals up the gaps between signatures.

When I want the book to open flat even more easier, I will leave out the glue.

 

 

 

 

 

Its not TOMOE RIVER paper but I decided on a 6 station stitch

Its more rigid, gives better form to the book

 

I decided on some corner accents to add interest.

Orange ribbon pagemarker

 

 

The corner accents are made of Midnight Blue bookcloth.

They are flush level with the fabric, so they wont get snagged...

 

orange flyleaves

 

 

 

 

 

I intentionally left out the elastic band closure for this one .

wanting it to close and shelve neater, since the pages are heavier paper.

Front

 

 

The inktestpage

 

 

The paper is a brilliant white

 

 

DALER ROWNEY pocket watercolour

NOODLERS Black (wtrproof ink)

 

Colophon page

 

 

Writing paper is

MELLOTEX , 100g, Brilliant White

7 Signatures , 5 Folios each

total 140 writing pages

 

Edited February 3, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is JOURNAL 180A Stucco - Red

 

This is the A5 (large) version

 

The card underlay for the emboss/deboss features ...

 

Laying the fabric over ...

 

Completed ...

added corner accents - made of bookcloth - Midnight Blue ...

 

The corner accents are flushed on the same level as the fabric ...

 

Front

The threads are seated in the deboss , providing a little protection from surface abrasions ...

 

 

I chose rust coloured threads to match the orange on the fabric ...

 

 

 

 

Deep blue flyleaves ...

to match the midnight blue bookcloth corner accents ...

 

Red elastic book bands ..

 

 

Full spread ...

 

 

There are 4 pairs of sewing stations

 

 

 

 

With the flyleaves in view ...

 

The inktestpage ..

 

 

 

 

Watercolour DALER ROWNEY

 

 

 

 

Colophon ...

 

Writing paper is

NATURALIS 135g Absolute White , Matte

7 Signatures , 5 Folios each

Total 140 writing pages

 

 

 

[TMLee]

New materials ....

My small loot from

Japan ...

 

Washi paper ...

My favourite is the extreme leftside - that lacquered black with red tombows ....

Pity they didnt have large sheets... this was small (too costly)

 

 

 

 

Washi ...

 

 

 

 

Faux leather ...

Lizard hide imprint black / dark green / light turquoise ?skin / light blue ?skin

 

 

Bookcloth ... rustic textured ...

bright blue ... too small a sheet ....

 

 

 

 

[mhguda]

Lovely, TM. Thanks for sharing.

[Steveg58]

Wow, is that coptic binding?

 

I'm at the other end of the skill scale doing 5 hole sewn pamphlets for my Midori Traveller. At some point when I have enough filled sections I'll have to bind them together.

[TMLee]

Lovely, TM. Thanks for sharing.

 

Yeah theyre beautiful.

I hope one day in near future I can go back to that small shop in Kyoto , Morita Washi.

I can spend half a day there.

The range there is just unbelievable.

You can actually see them busy printing out beauties in the small printshop at the back.

[TMLee]

Let me know, anyone, if any of these you see pictured , suits your fancy ...

(it'll take a long time before they get their turn to be crafted into journals ..)

 

Feel free to ask anything ...

[TMLee]

Wow, is that coptic binding?

 

I'm at the other end of the skill scale doing 5 hole sewn pamphlets for my Midori Traveller. At some point when I have enough filled sections I'll have to bind them together.

 

Yes , its coptic stitching.

My journals here are all using the Double-needle method type of coptic stitch. (ie, a needle on both ends of a thread)

Yes, you can stitch all your refills together when you are ready.

Enjoy...

[mhguda]

Let me know, anyone, if any of these you see pictured , suits your fancy ...

(it'll take a long time before they get their turn to be crafted into journals ..)

 

Feel free to ask anything ...

Actually, yes! there are two, in the second Washi series, on the left side of the photograph... the one you enlarged, and the bluish wavy one left of that...those really strike my fancy. It's a good thing it will take you some time to get to them but when you do, think of me...

[TMLee]

Actually, yes! there are two, in the second Washi series, on the left side of the photograph... the one you enlarged, and the bluish wavy one left of that...those really strike my fancy. It's a good thing it will take you some time to get to them but when you do, think of me...

sure mhguda,

do remind me if I forget.

fulfilling a few orders now.

Cheers

[TMLee]

Are you seeing what i am seeing?

 

The pics in my original thread are viewable......

( and so are the pics in the earlier pages in this thread ... )

 

Dont ask me why or how ...

 

( I was just trying to provide a link here to google image search on my journals...)

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28367-homemade-journal/page-74

Edited June 12, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

Wow, is that coptic binding?

 

I'm at the other end of the skill scale doing 5 hole sewn pamphlets for my Midori Traveller. At some point when I have enough filled sections I'll have to bind them together.

My PBucket pics are viewable, I really am not sure why or how .

I am very happy but don’t know how short lived this will be..

So meanwhile ,

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/163993-how-to-make-your-own-cahier/page-3?do=findComment&comment=3897480

[mhguda]

Someone posted a note a little while ago - it seems photobucket has reversed their policy, and so your stuff should be visible again... Congratulations, very good news. But yes, who knows how long it will last...