Bookbinding, Book Making Skills!

    Picked up this great book at the library and thought I would try to
learn a new skill.  Bookbinding!  The book is called Bound
(Over 20 Artful Handmade Books) by Erica Ekrem. Find it here:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Bound-by-Erica-Ekrem?keyword=Bound+by+Erica+Ekrem&store=book
 
    First it was a little hard to wrap my head around the actual binding
process but with the help of the wonderful diagrams I was able to catch
on pretty quickly using the Coptic Stitch.
 
    I have a few rolls of vintage wallpaper which I have been wanting to
use to make books.  The directions on how to make the book covers are
excellent and also easy to follow.
 
    Anxious to make some of the other books, I ordered some leather scraps
on Etsy.  I received a beautiful assortment of various colors and textures
from ORTULeather.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ORTUleather/search?search_query=scraps&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search
 
    The leather books will make beautiful sketchbooks for my personal use and
gifts...a couple below have already been claimed by very anxious little hands and
are filled with drawings/secrets I am not permitted to see! :(
 
    I have also been working on a brochure for my illustration work.  I plan to
send it to be printed this week.

If you love this wallpaper (striped and floral)
and would like your own free sample leave a friendly comment below then email me raradesign@yahoo.com.
While supplies last!

Gift tag bookmarks are fun to make too...

This simple book has a fabric cover and gift tag pages
I dyed with tea and hibiscus flowers at Christmas.