Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Journal Making

This is a collection of journals I have been making recently. All constructed in pretty much the same way but the spines are all made differently – 4 different techniques in all.
The spines on the top two were made using the rag rug method demonstrated by Traci Bautista in her book and on her DVD.

I really like the way these spines turn out so I wanted to try and recreate them using a different method.

All four journals have been are made from scrim that has been embellished on to cotton velvet.
One made from a rust dyed embellished piece, two from pre-coloured scrim and one from an embellished piece that was dyed then overdyed.

This is a very brief run through of how I constructed the spine on the one in the bottom left hand corner.
This one:
I dyed a piece of cotton fabric using the same dyes and methods as the covers of the book.
Some of the fabric was put to one side for the base of the spine and the rest was torn into strips and then ironed.
The strips of torn fabric are laid across the top edge of the spine base fabric with another piece of the torn fabric laid across horizontally. This piece is sewn across to hold the strips in position.
The finished first row looks like this.
The next row is laid in position at the bottom of the spine base.
You can now work out where the other rows go to get the fullness of the spine as you would like it. The spine is then attached to the inside covers of the journal.

This particular journal has been constructed using hand made paper for the signatures.

As I said at the beginning this is just a brief run through of how I put this journal together. If anyone would like the full S.P. on this technique there will be a free downloadable .pdf file on my website (Purple Missus) very shortly - as soon as I can figure out how to get it on there :)

25 comments:

bookwraps by suz.com said...

Lynda---your journals are so fantastic!!! winners all!!!! I'll be looking forward to your tutorial...thanks so much for sharing...

Carol said...

Wow this is a much easier way of getting the look with out all that rag rugging. When i did my one it was the rag rugging that was a bind! Clever you. Can't wait for a look at the pdf.

Unknown said...

OOh gorgeous, I love the rust and blue colour, much easier way do a nice raggy spine as well

liz said...

That's great. I had been trying to work out a quicker way of doing it, all that rug hooking was very time consuming.
By the way, I loved your brooches (last Weds) I was inspired to make some of my own, although mine bear very little resemblance to yours:)
Love your blog, very inspirational.

Susan D said...

Thanks for sharing this easy way of doing a spine for the journal. I hadn't tried another one because the rag rugging took too long to do.

Sandy said...

Wonderful books! I'm taking a class from Traci Bautista on Friday at Art and Soul in Portland, Oregon. Lucky me. Sandy

Vicki W said...

The journals are all beautiful. I've got to come back later and concentrate on your instructions - I've got to give this a try!

crafty pam said...

Love the journals, I also have the Tracy B dvd- another thing I keep meaning to try. Look forward to the full instructions on your website.Thanks

Barbara said...

Wonderful books and thank you for the tutorial and the different photos !

Barbara said...

Wonderful books and thank you for the tutorial and the different photos !

Marie said...

Love your journals - thanks so much for sharing your techniques too!

gunnelsvensson said...

Your journals are wonderful!

Dot said...

I love each of these journals Lynda - they are beautiful!

Was wondering if they are for sale at all? I have fallen in love with the green one.

You art, as always, is gorgeous!

Françoise said...

Lovely! It sounds very simple the way you explain it. Thanks!

artmixter said...

these are gorgeous...I lust after the blue one...yummy...

Annica said...

Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

Moira Anne Dickson said...

Brilliant! They look great, you've made it look very easy. Thanks.
Moira

Anonymous said...

Love your journals.I have never heard of the rag rug method.I am also looking forward to pdf. Thanks for sharing.

Barbara B. said...

Lynda---your journals are so fantastic!!!
hese are gorgeous!

Micki said...

Wonderfuljournals, Lynda. I will definately check out the pdf tutorial when you get it posted.

Unknown said...

Thanks for figuring out an improved way to do the spines! I made one the tedious rug latching way and even though I loved how it turned out I haven't been in any rush to make another one! Hugs!

Susan Lenz said...

Hi!
Your recent work is wonderful, of course. So, are you going to the Knitting and Stitching Show in London next Thursday? (Or on another day?) My sister Wanda, an excellent counted thread embroiderer very dedicated to blackwork, will be joining me. She's an absolute delight...part a Grateful Dead fan, sporting two new dragon tattoos, and totally obsessed with producing a perfect back to an embroidery....and wanting to see some play featuring songs by Queen...I might die during this trip. Anyway, we'd love to have a cup of coffee or lunch with another totally independent and self assured needleworker such as yourself! Name the time and place...we'll goggle it and figure it out from there...or use my son Mathias' cell phone!
Susan

neki desu said...

great! thanks for sharing.
now if i could go on to making paper...

neki desu

Dianne said...

These are fantastic!! Love the red one - love them all!!!

Dianne said...

Lynda, Lynda - had to come back again and leave another comment!! You are the most generous lady ever - I love the lime green one best now - cause it's mine!! In real life these are absolutely gorgeous!! The fluffy spine is just fluffiness in itself (does that make sense?), and I need to touch it every time I walk past it.... Thankyou,thankyou Lynda. You are truly the best!!
A great big hug and kiss from me....xxxxoooo