... Homemade Journal ... 2016

[TMLee]

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...

 

Ah ... so ...

 

Now we can all revisit my threadposts ...

(including myself )

:D

[TMLee]

Bought these 2 handmade postcards from Kurodaya, Asasuka, Japan.

 

 

[TMLee]

Hmmm ...

 

I am noticing that my old original superlong thread (locked) is still being actively viewed/read.

 

[pen2paper]

As it should. A delightful journey.

[TMLee]

As it should. A delightful journey.

 

Thanks

[TMLee]

This is an order for a set of journals carrying a marine theme.

 

I had a fabric in my stash that was in that theme.

I bought it at that time cos it was done in Batik and I liked it.

 

 

 

Closeup

 

 

The challenge was to maximise the entire fabric with as little wastage as possible.

This being a fat quarter size, the quantity of journal covers it can yield is limited.

Here you see an attempt at maximising the number of journal covers , in whatever assorted sizes.

I managed to get only 3 large and 1 small journal.

whatever remainder fabric can be used for either hinges or bookmarks as I have done before.

 

The brief called for 5 journals.

and I had to figure out how to meet that requirement.

 

Thought of colour copying the fabric like so ...

 

but it wasnt good enough. ...

 

Had to scrap that idea.

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

I started with the small A6 variant cos its more manageable ...

 

After like cutting out the fabric for all the journals, this was what I got left ...

3 large and 1 small journal.

The way to achieve this is to use less fabric for each journal. And this is accomplished by using a spine accent.

 

 

So whatever substantial amount of fabric , I will incorporate them into the hinges.

 

 

Whatever remaining are turned into bookmarks

Very little wastage upon using one pc of fabric.

 

 

Used a dark blue textured heavy paper for the flyleaves

And the 2 hinges ready

 

 

Creating the hinges ...

 

 

 

 

As long as the fabric is not black, it can admit light into the pocket.

 

 

 

Covers done, with matching hinges ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

This is JOURNAL 256 "IKAN - BATIK" - Warm Grey

A6 (small) size

 

Front

 

 

Back

 

 

I used a matching dark midnight blue elastic bookband

 

 

Rust Orange stitches

 

 

Full spread

 

The dark bookcloth somehow seems to show off the emboss / deboss better

 

 

Rear flyleaves

 

 

I drew a triggerfish , at that time trying to test whether this paper could take light watercolour washes.

So this one went into the inktestpage on the front.

I like triggerfishes for their riot of colours on their body markings.

This one's called "HumuHumu " by its local name ... Hawaiian ?

 

 

The name is drawn in with NOODLER's Black with no feathering nor bleedthru ...

 

 

I think the artwork can do with some more colouring to improve it ...

O yeah now I remember, I used PLATINUM irongall ink for the yellows at the lips ...

 

Colophon

 

 

Writing paper is FABRIANO ECOQUA BIOPRIMA , 85g, Plain (unlined)

7 Signatures , 6 Folios each

Total 168 writing pages

not bad for such a lightweight paper ...

 

I like this one ...

Beautiful batik print

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

Next was doing the A5 (large) variant ...

 

For embossing , debossing, its important to select your card underlay carefully.

I reckon the card underlay to be about 250-300g in grammage.

sometimes, whatever is underneath can be noticeable, especially if your fabric is light coloured.

Here I decided on a plain white underlay where the orange looks a little lighter coloured.

I am quite sure the shade of orange would be different if the card underlay were to be black.

As per my original design, I have turned the spine accent/fabric junction into a feature.

The pointed triangular fabric shapes will show up later when the spine accent bookcloth covers this part.

 

 

The trapezoidal shapes being installed back into position

 

The completed covers compared against its smaller A6 variant

 

 

I decided to try something different for the flyleaves , which the Owner was happy to go along with , something I appreciate very much in my customers.

So I looked at scrapbooking paper , and found this ...

not only is it double-sided , it was turquoise in colour which matched the orange fabric well.

 

 

Studying the combo ...

 

 

Execution ...

I decided to invert the whale at the other flyleaf to create interest.

so you see both front and rear flyleaves with pocket

 

 

 

Completed ... JOURNAL 256A "IKAN - BATIK" - Warm Grey

 

A5 size (large)

 

Front

 

Rear

 

 

And I chose turquoise bands which matched perfectly ...

 

 

Orange stitches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full spread

 

 

With its A6 variant

 

 

Front flyleaf

 

Rear flyleaf with built-in pocket

 

 

 

The anti drop-out flap is cut to size such that it is aligned with the whale on the rear inside cover

 

 

So in effect, the front and rear flyleaves look co-ordinated like so ... :bunny01:

 

 

Inktestpage

 

Colophon

 

 

Writing paper is

NATURALIS Absolute White , 120g , Smooth

7 Signatures 4 Folios each,

total 112 writing pages

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is the 3rd variant but here I explored using some other material for the spine accent instead of the usual bookcloth which I prefer.

 

I used scrapbooking paper mainly cos of the colour that was requested - teal.

The paper had swirls in it and so I used the centre part of the paper to achieve symmetry.

 

The colour combo was very good.

 

 

The right grammage and type of paper can really make a huge difference.

This one is also textured.

 

 

Wrapped

 

 

I managed to find a matching flyleaf in a marine theme ..

seahorses , double-sided print

 

and turquoise bands ...

perfect match ...

 

 

Installed the flyleaves ...

 

 

completed ...

JOURNAL 256B " IKAN - BATIK" - Teal

 

A5 size (large)

 

Front

 

Back

 

 

Turquoise bands

 

 

Rust orange stitches and orange ribbon pagemarker

 

 

 

Front flyleaf

 

Rear Flyleaf

 

 

The flap is aligned ...

 

 

Double-sided provides some interest ...

 

 

So the front and rear flyleaves co-ordinated ...

 

 

 

Colophon

 

 

Writing paper is a combination of

NATURALIS Absolute White , 135g , Matte , and

NATURALIS Vanilla White . 135g, Smooth

7 Signatures, 5 Folios each

Total 140 writing pages

 

The papers alternate in signatures like so ...

The Matte Absolute White (whiter shade) has just that little texture which is sometimes preferred in certain art media.

Likewise the smooth Vanilla White (ivory shade) has its advantages too ...

This is useful as an art journal, offering both kinds of papers for various art mediums.

 

 

This is a nice colour combo ..

Edited November 23, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is JOURNAL 256C "IKAN - BATIK" - Cobalt Blue

 

Front

 

 

Rear

 

 

with bands

 

 

 

Orange stitches , ribbon ...

 

 

This one's also a combo of writing paper ...

 

 

Full spread

 

 

 

 

 

Like the other variants, this one too had its special flyleaves

 

Front flyleaves

 

 

Rear flyleaves

 

 

Front and rear in view

 

 

Colophon

 

Writing paper is

NATURALIS Absolute White , 135g, Matte

NATURALIS Vanilla White , 135g, Smooth

7 Signatures, 5 Folios each (getting a tad too thick )

Total 140 writing pages

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

The fabric set ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

This is an order for a set of journals carrying a marine theme.

 

I had a fabric in my stash that was in that theme.

I bought it at that time cos it was done in Batik and I liked it.

 

 

 

Closeup

 

 

The challenge was to maximise the entire fabric with as little wastage as possible.

This being a fat quarter size, the quantity of journal covers it can yield is limited.

Here you see an attempt at maximising the number of journal covers , in whatever assorted sizes.

I managed to get only 3 large and 1 small journal.

whatever remainder fabric can be used for either hinges or bookmarks as I have done before.

 

The brief called for 5 journals.

and I had to figure out how to meet that requirement.

 

Thought of colour copying the fabric like so ...

 

but it wasnt good enough. ...

 

Had to scrap that idea.

 

 

 

 

I decided to try embossing / debossing after seeing that the fish motif was kind of uncomplicated ...

Traced out the motif ...

 

On an A5 coverboard ...

 

 

Photocopied onto card and

Tried out some cuts ...

 

 

This is the emboss ...

 

 

All parts are cut out carefully, making sure the left behind card remains intact.

The reason is that whatever is left behind will form the mirror image and become the deboss version

 

 

 

The original trace was too busy , so I reduced the clutter ...

Here you see the emboss on the rightside and its leftover on the leftside that will form the identical deboss version

 

 

So this are the completed covers for the emboss variant ...

Space is reserved along the spine to cater for the stitches that will take up position there ...

 

 

This is the left behind card that now forms the deboss variant of the embossed variant...

 

 

Both debossed and embossed together ...

[TMLee]

Next came the selection of the bookcloth that would be suitable to do the emboss and deboss ...

 

 

 

settled on a yellow ochre bookcloth ...

 

 

I think its the shade of the bookcloth that makes the deboss more visible...

 

 

 

 

Quite relieved to see it turned out okay...

 

 

 

Completed ...

This is JOURNAL 118H GEMATEX - YELLOW OCHRE - DEBOSS - Ikan Batik

A5 size

 

 

 

Back

 

 

Brown stitches, brown ribbon, and brown bands

 

 

 

Full spread ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Used this matching scrapbooking paper as flyleaves

 

 

Front flyleaves

 

 

Rear flyleaves

 

 

Front and rear in view

 

 

Inktestpage

 

 

Colophon

 

writing paper is a combo of ...

NATURALIS Absolute White , 135g , Matte

NATURALIS Vanilla White , 135g , Smooth

7 Signatures , 5 Folios each

total 140 writing pages

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is the emboss variant ...

 

 

I decided to use Lime Green bookcloth ...

 

 

 

completed

for a moment, I was anxious whether the emboss will work out or not with the Lime Green which is a light shade.

Some colours may not be able to catch the shadows quite as well as other shades of bookcloth.

 

It came out quite well, plus the fact that the simple shapes and patterns made the execution - the cutting and the burnishing - more do-able.

 

 

 

 

Completed,

 

JOURNAL 186E "GEMATEX - Lime Green - Ikan - Batik - Emboss"

 

A5 size

 

 

Front

 

 

Rear

 

 

 

I couldnt find the exact shade of bands

so I had to make do with this ...

 

nice bookbands

 

 

matching lime green stitches ... and ribbon pagemarker ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinda looked like sea kelp

 

 

Rear flyleaves with built-in pocket ...

 

 

 

 

Colophon

 

 

Writing paper is a combination of

NATURALIS Absolute White , 135g, Matte (4 Signatures)

NATURALIS Vanilla White , 135g, Smooth (3 Signatures)

They both alternate in the Signatures.

7 Signatures, 5 Folios each

Total 140 writing pages

 

This is another journal in this matched set of 6, thats made more for art use.

 

 

side by side with its yellow ochre companion ...

 

 

Here you see the exact twin of the emboss (leftside) and its deboss (rightside) ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like this pair ...

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

The whole set ....

 

JOURNALS 256 "IKAN - BATIK"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like this entire set , pretty unique....

One of a kind ...

 

 

And howzabout that ....

This is also post #256 !!!

:bunny01:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by TMLee

[XYZZY]

These look amazing!

 

One question: (actually I have many questions, but...) Where do you get the colored elastic bands? I see many options on Amazon but it's hard to know without actually holding it, and local craft stores don't seem to stock it.

[TMLee]

These look amazing!

 

One question: (actually I have many questions, but...) Where do you get the colored elastic bands? I see many options on Amazon but it's hard to know without actually holding it, and local craft stores don't seem to stock it.

 

Thanks ...

 

Yes I too cannot find them here in stores.

You can find them online from TaoBao (China)

[TMLee]

This one's an order thats supposed to be similar to its small variant.

 

But here I decided to try to add in the emboss / deboss,

- to see whether this buckram material can handle emboss/debossing

- and to add interest onto this large plain cover.

 

JOURNAL 192B "Oxblood"

 

A5 size (large)

 

Front

 

 

Rear

 

 

I used deep magenta bands

 

 

 

Selected Mango stitches for contrast ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full spread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matching mango flyleaves too ...

 

 

 

Colophon

writing paper is

NATURALIS Vanilla White , 135g, Smooth

7 Signatures, 4 Folios each

Total 112 writing pages

 

 

 

Was relieved to see that buckram can handle the emboss/deboss quite well.

the stitches are seated in the debossed parts and so are a little protected from abrasions.

Buckram is hardy, robust . Its like tarpaulin. This journal can take quite a bit of 'abuse ' .

[TMLee]

This is a long overdue order ...

The 2nd last piece of Goatskin Light Tan Crinkled leather that is remaining ..

This one is an odd size - a 7" x 5" midsize journal ...

It came to this size becos the remnant leather only had space to accommodate this size and another conventional sized journal.

 

Preparing the leather ...

someone bought this for me from NZ ... a Kiridashi ?

Smallish in size.

Finally got something been looking for a long time.

Sharp !

Skiving down the corners ...

 

 

I applied neatsfoot oil around the edges on the wrong side , where there's gonna be foldovers - just to soften the hide and make it pliable ...

 

 

Also applied on the right side ...

It will darken the leather where it is oiled, but it will fade back to its original colour after some time ...

This time I used neatsfoot oil , its a lot less viscous, almost watery like. a very thin oil ... I am guessing it will do its work and yet not darken the leather for longer than desired.

 

 

mounted onto the greyboards

 

 

 

After these few leather journals, I have come to adopt this technique of folding in the corners.

I will glue all the straight edges first , leaving the corners unglued ...

Becos the leather has been softened a bit, they stretch as they are folded tight over the covers, so you see the edge of the leather not exactly perfectly straight, a little wavy ....

 

 

 

Here you see the leftover leather at one of the right -angled corner ...

 

What you see above is that there's quite a bit of leather at these unfolded corners.

What I did was (not illustrated) to :

- pinch the corners together with your fingers;

- use a scissors and cut away this extra leather , close to the greyboards

 

The reason for doing this is to reduce the amount of leather so that when you foldover, you have less leather to compress and flatten upon itself, so that you won't end up with an unsightly mound of leather here at these corners.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a pic after folding over and using a teflon bone folder.

(I highly recommend using a teflon bonefolder for this operation becos leather cant stick to the teflon and what you are doing is applying very high pressure as you press and shape the leather into position at this right angled corner. You are moulding the leather into shape.)

When I foldover,

- I apply a bit more generous glue to cover every corner of the inside leather;

- then wait till the glue is almost dried (this is necessary cos you are dealing with leather - a stiffer medium - which will resist adhering. so half dried glue is stickier than fresh glue ...

- then foldover onto itself, making it as flat as possible, shifting the leather around in that corner if necessary to achieve as much flatness as you can.

You can see that at this stage, its pretty decent flatness you can achieve with a teflon bonefolder (and lots of patient, repetitive kneading)

For the kind of journals that I make, this is not flat enough , at least for me ...

I will clamp down and flatten all corners overnight as you will see later.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a rounded corner

Here, for rounded corners, you dont trim away leather with scissors like the right angled corners above...

You need enough leather to form pleats round the corner.

 

 

Rounded corner , folded in ...

pictured with the teflon bonefolder.

Pleats formed radially over the corner.

You need angled tweezers to execute this.

 

 

After the corners are folded in, next I will do the filler board .

The filler board makes up for the thickness of the leather.

The objective is to achieve as flat as possible the inside flyleaves covering the foldovers (where the leather ends on the inside cover)

The filler board must abut the leather as tightly as possible.

So what I do is to use a steel straightedge and make a fresh and very straight cut on the wavy edge of the folded-over leather.

You can notice the straight edges of the leather on this pic below.

So On the left , you see the cover ready to receive the filler board on the right.

The filler board is cut carefully to fit exactly the space bounded by the leather on all 4 sides. Nevermind if they are not exactly 90 degrees square.

 

 

 

 

Here you see the filler board in place , achieving an almost flushed surface with the leather.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

 

All corners are clamped flat overnight...

This operation adds time, but I highly recommend this for superior results ...

 

 

 

The morning after

 

 

and the right angled corners ...

see how flat they can be flattened ...

(see how the filler board is cut to match the exact outline of the leather)

 

 

 

 

I love this one.

Visually stunning ..

Its one piece of leather across two covers. The creases match up .

The darkened edges (by neatsfoot oil) will fade away, which you will see in the finished product ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like this very much

Lots of character ...