| Bookmaking |
[Jun. 30th, 2008|03:23 pm] |
The past week or so has seen me working on a hand-made guestbook for my friend Theresa's upcoming wedding. As one of her bridesmaids, she asked if I would make her a guestbook like the one at my own wedding, which was made with love and care by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) marionv:
The cover was made with a beautiful shiny red fabric, and the spine was stitched by hand. All the interiors were printed up like you see above, so our guests could draw their self-portraits and write little notes beneath them.
I asked Marion to help me make another book for Theresa, and she graciously typed up a list of everything I'd need to buy at the art and bookbinding supply stores, and then came over to help me measure and cut and glue and fold stuff. I am TERRIBLE when it comes to working with my hands--even though I am pretty proficient with a pencil or a brush, things like origami and sewing and yes, bookbinding, are best left to the deft and dexterous.
Still, I was set up with needle and thread and instructions, and over the past 4 days I managed to bind 60 pages together with only a few small blunders. The hardest part for me was actually threading the needle, which had a very small opening in comparison to the large, sturdy thread I was using. I used a lot of beeswax and a lot of bad words. I don't think I'll ever be able to do this on any sort of regular basis!
I'll show pictures of the new book once the wedding is over, in case the bride-to-be happens across this post! It'll be more fun to give her the finished book if she hasn't seen it yet, I think!
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| Comments: |
That's so beautiful, and what an amazing keepsake!
That is such an awesome guestbook!!
You're doing great! Have you ever tried using a needle threader? I'm not sure if it'd work with the thicker thread though.
Or, just get some more needles and I'll pre-thread them for you ;)
That is entirely adorable.
I keep wondering why somebody hasn't handed you an animated series yet.
what a cool book! i just got a book from the library today on bookbinding, and it's kind of intimidating- the sewing. feel free to spell it out for me in your photos :)
Wow ! What an excellent idea Marion had ! It's really great you've made yourself another one for your friend.
I love, love that guestbook.
that is a very cool idea...i love the boxes for guests to leave self portraits. | |
