... Homemade Journal ... 2016

[TMLee]

I can somewhat understand - not having the plain cover in front of me, of course. It's a pity. What would be the effect of just a narrow strip of dark material, no emboss/deboss, at the spine? to counter the "unfinished" impression of the paper only. Do you think it's because of the color? Too bad you cannot "wash" it with a different color... like an ink or watercolor wash...

 

 

Yes, I was thinking of that too ...

Paulownia flowers are generally purplish ...

 

I was thinking of applying some watercolour in the gaps ...

say around the small centre circle of each flower.

That tinge of colour might help to unify the overall aesthetics...

 

I think its challenging ...

No room for mistakes ....

 

Its crazy ambitious , but

 

will try out ...

Edited December 16, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

Tried some watercolour on the gaps ...

 

 

 

The embossed flowers are not impervious to paint as tested on the centre part

 

So had to paint carefully in between the embossing ...

 

Its difficult ...

 

 

 

[TMLee]

I went ahead and used the Red Karakami paper for the spine ...

 

Very thin Washi paper. Delicate but strong paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I can paint a splotch of red around the centre of each flower,

It might help a bit.

(this also means that if it can be painted, it can be painted to suit the colour of the spine , whatever its colour ...)

But really unsure until its done and can be seen ...

But I am hesitant ...

 

 

There's alot to paint, I counted 19 flowers on these two covers total ...

 

 

 

[mhguda]

I like this as it is, and would be hesitant to paint only spots on the flowers - too difficult. My idea was rather to wash the entire thing, maybe slightly diluted so that it is a bit watery. Large strokes. I thought your main problem was the beige color of the paper. I agree that red centers for each flower, to match the karakami paper, would be spectacular, but you saw the difficulty in getting there, so I wouldn't risk it....

One other idea that hits me while looking at your last picture: make a protecting piece of paper that covers the flowers and lets you paint around them. Then the flowers will stand out. Or, make a cutout for each center of a flower and use it to paint the hearts.

[TMLee]

I like this as it is, and would be hesitant to paint only spots on the flowers - too difficult. My idea was rather to wash the entire thing, maybe slightly diluted so that it is a bit watery. Large strokes. I thought your main problem was the beige color of the paper. I agree that red centers for each flower, to match the karakami paper, would be spectacular, but you saw the difficulty in getting there, so I wouldn't risk it....

One other idea that hits me while looking at your last picture: make a protecting piece of paper that covers the flowers and lets you paint around them. Then the flowers will stand out. Or, make a cutout for each center of a flower and use it to paint the hearts.

 

 

I've decided to abandon painting the spots on each flower.

 

Doesn't look good.

 

I think its best to leave it as it is ...

 

The stitches - since they are ivory, won't get to stand out on the spine ...

This set me thinking ... suppose I would add some colour on the spine ? ...

[TMLee]

I decided to experiment on the spine ...

 

I looked for washi paper and glued on narrow strips on the spine of each signature where the stations are.

 

 

Trying out some pattern combos on the stations ...

 

 

Quite close a shade of green ..

Like bamboo green ...

 

 

 

Unsure,

looks kinda unfinished ...

 

 

 

Decided to also cover both ends , head and tail ...

 

 

The white blank Signature in the centre will carry the ribbon pagemarker - also green in colour ...

I intend to use threads that are ivory in colour...

This way they will stand out on the spine against the added on washi green.

 

 

Not sure how it will turn out.

The stitches are not installed yet.

The stitches always are a significant element to the overall aesthetics...

Until they are there, the verdict remains inconclusive ...

 

 

 

I hope this paves the way for another aesthetic element that I can choose to incorporate into the kind of journals that I make.

Wish me luck ....

Gee ... they look like bamboo ...

 

 

If this works, then I can employ this on the embossed Kiri flowers with the Red spine ...

Similar problem with ivory coloured stitches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mhguda]

Gee, that's a nice addition. I like the asymmetry of the washi paper on the signatures. So the stitches will pass over them, correct? so the spine part of them would be quite visible. I say try it, I think it would work for me.

[TMLee]

Gee, that's a nice addition. I like the asymmetry of the washi paper on the signatures. So the stitches will pass over them, correct? so the spine part of them would be quite visible. I say try it, I think it would work for me.

 

Thanks.

Yes, the stitches will pass atop the green washi portions.

This way the ivory coloured stitches will stand out against a green background.

That was the idea behind addressing the situation where stitches dont stand out from its background.

 

But now, this has got me thinking a bit more.

These washi-on-the-spine is also an aesthetic element.

This means that I have to put more thought into how its employed.

 

I am now wondering if I shld only apply on the head and the tail ?

 

I am thinking of trying this with the white Kiri flower covers.

 

Question now is , how much to cover at these ends ?

[mhguda]

 

Thanks.

Yes, the stitches will pass atop the green washi portions.

This way the ivory coloured stitches will stand out against a green background.

That was the idea behind addressing the situation where stitches dont stand out from its background.

 

But now, this has got me thinking a bit more.

These washi-on-the-spine is also an aesthetic element.

This means that I have to put more thought into how its employed.

 

I am now wondering if I shld only apply on the head and the tail ?

 

I am thinking of trying this with the white Kiri flower covers.

 

Question now is , how much to cover at these ends ?

I like how it is now, with the washi under all the stitches, not only the head and tail. Also, that they are not all equal in length and position, only approximately. As would be found in nature.

Do you think the uncovered pieces of the signature backs stand out too much now? Or not enough. I think if you only cover head and tail, those pieces should be quite long, so you'd leave maybe 1/3 of the paper uncovered. Or maybe half. And then not all the stitches would stand out against a dark background.

[TMLee]

I like how it is now, with the washi under all the stitches, not only the head and tail. Also, that they are not all equal in length and position, only approximately. As would be found in nature.

Do you think the uncovered pieces of the signature backs stand out too much now? Or not enough. I think if you only cover head and tail, those pieces should be quite long, so you'd leave maybe 1/3 of the paper uncovered. Or maybe half. And then not all the stitches would stand out against a dark background.

 

 

Yes, its the amount of covered vs bare that is what I am grappling with now.

 

Here is what I mean ...

fresh from the oven ...

 

Here I used the same Karakami paper to tie in with the spine accents on the emboss/deboss part.

Here the concept is using these washi-on-the-spine as an element to visually tie in the two covers.

Its a slight departure from using it as a background to make the stitches stand out .

 

 

 

 

 

All the stitches won't have the red backgrd except for the one at the head and at the tail.

 

 

I decided to have that spine decor longer - stretching across the first station ...

I thought that below the station was too little a visual impact (or perhaps too much ?)

hmmm ....

 

Sorry , you have to try very hard to imagine the stitches in place.

The stitches really do have a significant impact on the overall visual aesthetics.

 

 

This would make a very nice wedding guestbook.

(but that will take place in dunno when ... )

It would be in Landscaped format.

Red spine emboss/deboss accent

and matching washi-on-the-spine decor too ...

 

I feel like gifting this to the shop where I bought these papers years ago in Japan . ..

I think they might be encouraged to see how their fabulous papers are put to use.

 

 

 

I am quite excited about this latest development.

It opens up another whole range of possiblilities. :bunny01:

 

I would want to try this on those journals with washi coverings.

eg the Blue Sakura ....

That is one stunning journal ...

Lots of permutations, if you can imagine ...

Edited December 20, 2018 by TMLee

[mhguda]

I like the first iteration a little better... this one looks a little too much like a box. But I do think it would look better if the book is in landscape format...

[TMLee]

I like the first iteration a little better... this one looks a little too much like a box. But I do think it would look better if the book is in landscape format...

😊

Yes it looks like a box visually, but I'll wait till its stitched to appraise it in its entirety...

😁

[TMLee]

I decided to experiment on the spine ...

 

I looked for washi paper and glued on narrow strips on the spine of each signature where the stations are.

 

 

Trying out some pattern combos on the stations ...

 

 

Quite close a shade of green ..

Like bamboo green ...

 

 

 

Unsure,

looks kinda unfinished ...

 

 

 

Decided to also cover both ends , head and tail ...

 

 

The white blank Signature in the centre will carry the ribbon pagemarker - also green in colour ...

I intend to use threads that are ivory in colour...

This way they will stand out on the spine against the added on washi green.

 

 

Not sure how it will turn out.

The stitches are not installed yet.

The stitches always are a significant element to the overall aesthetics...

Until they are there, the verdict remains inconclusive ...

 

 

 

I hope this paves the way for another aesthetic element that I can choose to incorporate into the kind of journals that I make.

Wish me luck ....

Gee ... they look like bamboo ...

 

 

If this works, then I can employ this on the embossed Kiri flowers with the Red spine ...

Similar problem with ivory coloured stitches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completed ...

 

This is JOURNAL 259 WASHI - BLOOMS - SAP GREEN

 

Front

 

Rear

 

Washi paper on the Signature spines ..

 

The writing paper is a little too white for my taste.

The contrast is too much ...

The Washi green paper is a nice dark bamboo green... very matching to the spine bookcloth ...

 

At the head of the book.

I left the middle signature uncovered , to carry the ribbon ...

Well ... the ribbon can be red also ... it will also match ...

 

 

 

In doing this, washi on the spine ties the bookcloth spine accents visually ...

The green shades also blend with the greens on the cover wraps.

 

 

I am studying this composition on the spine...

and what if I cover the white parts with the cover wraps ?

 

 

 

Full spread ...

Nice colour combo ..

 

 

With the matching Deep Red flyleaves

 

 

 

The spine bookcloth accent and washi on the spine and rice white stitches all together in composition ...

 

 

The Deep Red flyleaves

I decided to leave out the elastic bands...

sometimes the journal looks better without the bands...

 

 

Ink test page ...

 

 

 

Colophon

 

Writing paper is

MELLOTEX , Brilliant White , 100g

7 Signatures, 5 Folios each

Total 140 writing pages

 

 

 

SAILOR PROMENADE Bamboo Green I think ... I forget ...

too puny a pen for me ...

 

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by TMLee

[mhguda]

That came out really well...

[TMLee]

That came out really well...

 

Thanks ...

 

I am still experimenting ....

 

I decided to try a variation ...

this time

1) using the same washi paper used for the covers

2) applying that washi on the sewing stations only ...

 

 

compared to the previous one where its in-between stations ...

 

 

 

I am unsure what works better ...

maybe they both work ...

[mhguda]

I think they do, but my sense of symmetry wants a neater top and bottom of the "bamboo" on the spine - more like the green one.

I don't see how you would make that work nicely with the A6 book though... not enough space!

The same paper as the cover does work, although maybe we want a little more un-orderliness/entropy there...

Difficult choices!

[TMLee]

Completed ...

 

JOURNAL 208D "YUZEN - Blue Sakura "

 

Front

 

Rear

 

 

I used matching blue bands

 

 

 

I chose a white stitch instead of blue as in the earlier variants ...

 

 

 

 

Becos I apply glue on the spine, the transparent glue makes the washi on the spine appear darker ...

The thin layer of glue cuts away all specular reflections

Its similar to like when you apply lacquer , you see whats underneath in all its detail and true colour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closeup

 

 

Blue ribbon pagemarker

 

 

 

The blue sakura motif carried across on the spine ...

 

 

 

Full spread

 

 

Blue flyleaves

 

 

 

 

Maybe I should have left the signature uncovered , to carry the ribbon ...

 

 

Colophon ...

 

Writing paper is

FABRIANO ECOQUA BIOPRIMA , 85G, Plain

7 Signatures, 6 Folios each

Total 168 writing pages

I haven't done the inktestpage yet ... probably draw something ....

 

 

Edited December 25, 2018 by TMLee

[TMLee]

I think they do, but my sense of symmetry wants a neater top and bottom of the "bamboo" on the spine - more like the green one.

I don't see how you would make that work nicely with the A6 book though... not enough space!

The same paper as the cover does work, although maybe we want a little more un-orderliness/entropy there...

Difficult choices!

 

 

Yeah,

I struggle with the same thoughts ...

 

Maybe there's too many interruptions ?

 

How about a long unbroken variant , leaving only the head and tail blank ?

That might be a stronger impact visually ...

 

 

I think I shall try making a matching pair ...

one with head and tail covered and stations too ,

and

the other with a long covering, leaving only the head and tail blank ...

Will try this on that Kiri embossed flowers with red spine ...

I think it will be a nice pair ..

Edited December 25, 2018 by TMLee

[mhguda]

It does look better than I expected. Go for it!

 

ETA: in fact, it looks a little like a treasure chest... think of all the good stuff that will be inside, hidden from view until you open the page...

Edited December 25, 2018 by mhguda

[pen2paper]

Love this blue & pattern.

There's a blue white pen from Japan that in my wildest imagination would pair with this beautifully.

(mentioned since pairing a pen is your practice)

 

After pondering the spine additions, they break up the startling white space. If you'd enjoy an added challenge, placing these strips to replicate the floral shape. Center strip is black white dot, next white dots in blue field, & blue exterior edges.

 

Your amphibian friend offers another idea for future nature theme, frog button on ribbon.

 

None of which you need use, but your creativity energizes ours.

 

PS, when I opened this page 8 others were enjoying your posts too, so carry on - (smile)