PIANO HINGE BOOK

I've been working on making a Handmade Book based on an Australian Piano Hinge with instructions from Sarah Matthews on Sketchbook Revival 2026. 

Held together with accordian hinges.

Covers made with some Batik fabric

Book block with accordian hinges.

ANOTHER HANDMADE BOOK

 Here's the second handmade book I made from a cookie box covered with some painted papers.  The signatures inside this one are made from mixed media papers.  The seven signatures are stitched in with a mixture of an 'X' stitch and Saddle stitches and beads. 

COOKIE BOX BOOK

 I stitched together the signatures made from leftover papers into a cover made from a cookie box.  The box was covered with paper I had painted and printed.  The closure uses some silk sari ribbon and an old button from my Grandma's Button Jar.

OTHER STUFF

 I've been working on some other projects that have taken a bit of time.  I finished them today.

First was this fast drying clay project that took a while for it to dry, then several coats of sealer, then several coats of paint, waiting for each to dry.  And, no it wasn't supposed to look quite like this.  I had probblems with the clay drooping.  I didn't have very good tools to smooth it with, and I really didn't know what I was doing.  But, it has a style of its own.  Its fun.

Then I finished making this book, too.  It started out as this month's Handmade Book Club's Book of the Month, but I didn't like the binding they were using, so I did a Lattice binding instead.  

STITCHED ENVELOPE JOURNAL DONE

 I stitched the signatures into the cover of the Stitched Envelope Journal this morning.  Then I sewed on some buttons I found in my Grandma's Button Jar for the closure.

It's done.

ENVELOPE JOURNAL

 I started making a handmade book project I found on CreativeBug.  It's called Stitched Envelope Journal.

Made with a Kraftex cover and envelope wrapped signatures, I got the cover stitched today and the signatures made.

I used this 'pricking wheel' to make holes for the stitching around the cover.  

STAR BOOK

 I watched the replay of a live video from Tuesday that I couldn't attend.  It was with e bond, she showed us how to make a Star Book.  I followed along and got it done during the video.  It is a simple and fun little project.

It involves folding the papers and gluing them all together somewhat like an accordian.  Then when you open it up the pages for a star.

ANOTHER BOOK MADE

 I had some papers laying around that I had sewn together into signatures.  I'm using them to complete a simple handmade book.

I used some of the book cloth I made recently.  I stitched them all together with a simple binding.

Sewn signatures ready to go

Newly made book covers 8-1/4" by 10-1/2"  using a batik book cloth

JUNE'S BOOK

 This month's book on Handmade Book Club is the Japanese Stab Stitch in four different versions of the binding. I made three.

I cut the paper and made the book blocks yesterday.   Then I glued the decorative corners on to them and left them to dry overnight.  I cut the covers from Kraft-tex.

Today I sewed some fabric to the covers.  I used Darrell's drill press to punch out the sewing holes in the covers and book blocks, which was much easier than doing it by hand.

And finally, I stitched the bindings to complete them.  On one of them I tore a strip of silk and twisted it to use as the thread.  That was fun.

PAPER BAG BOOK

I've been saving the paper bags, I get for vegetables, from the grocery store for a while now.  Today seemed like a good day to make a book from them.

Yesterday I glued the sides of the bags together I then wrapped some cardboard with a flattened bag to make the covers.  This has all been drying over night.

Today, I punch the holes in each of the bags for the binding.  I threaded some twine onto a needle, not an easy task, and sewed them all together using a Coptic Stitch.

MAKING A BOOK BLOCK

 I glued together the pages to make a book block.

DOUBLE HERRINGBONE BOOK

 This month's Handmade Book Club's Book of the Month is this Double Herringbone binding and a leather cover.

I finally got mine done!  I had ordered this pink leather lacing and have been waiting for it to arrive so I could finish.  I was a little worried when it got here that it was too thick.  But I went with it and I love how it turned out.  I'm very happy.

I had found a vintage metal cloissone button, with green letters, in my Grandma Jennie's button jar.  It is perfect for this.  It was scary making the holes for the lacing and the button, but I did it. 

FODDER FOLDER

 This month's Handmade Book Club's book is Buttonhole Binding. 

I decided to make a Fodder Folder using in this style.  I used file folders and sewed vinyl sleeves into them.  Then I covered book boards with some fabric I've had around for a while.

I got it all assembled today.

BOOK COVER

 This month's Handmade Book Club's book is the Buttonhole Binding.

I cut the covers and spine boards and glued on the cover fabric today.

CONCERTINA BOOK

Handmade Book Club's book for the month of May is the Concertina Book.  

I've been working on mine a little at a time.  I used the last of the drawing paper on a roll that I've had since 2000 for the signatures.  

I wrapped the signatures in some paper printed with bears.

I used Kraftex for the cover and the straps.

Sewing the signatures together was a bit tricky.

JANUARY BOOK PROJECT DONE

 I've been working on the January Book project with the Handmade Book Club.

I finally started stitching the signatures (pages) in it last night.  And I finished it up this morning.

ROUTINE MONDAY

 I finally feel like I'm back into my normal routine, which I missed while I was gone 'on vacation'.

Today, I worked on finishing the Coptic Book Challenge with Vintage Page Designs.  I stitched everything together and it became a book.  It was very satisfying.

Then on Brave Patch Monday Sewcial, we were introduced to a new improv exercise named Coordinates.  We randomly selected pairs of numbers and cut 'rectangles' with those measurements.  Then joined them together.  Each piece must abut a previous piece.

 Then we sewed them together, adding filler pieces as needed.

Afterwards, I made this week's Art East Quilting Mini Charm block.  This is #42 The Witch Hat: