30/7/11

DIY Notebook Tutorial

Summertime is traveltime. Why not take a notebook with you to the exotic mysterious places you visit? Pardon me, you do not have a notebook? Lets make one!

First of all you have to cut the pages for the notebook. I am aiming for a 14x9cm notebook, so I cut 30 pages of 14x18cm. Fold the pages in half and group them to 6 signatures of 5 pages each.

IMG_3823

Make a hole guide for stitching the pages. I just took a strip of carton and marked three points. Make holes with a pointy implement (I used a fine tip screwdriver).

IMG_3824

Now cut out a paperback for the notebook. I used 14,5 cm height and 9,5+0,75+9,5cm width (9,5cm for front and back and 0,75 for the spine). Score the folds for the spine and fold the paperback.

IMG_3825

See how the 6 signatures fit in the paperback:

IMG_3826

Now its time to stitch the signatures all together. I used a 3 hole pamphlet stitch on the first signature and connected the following signatures with a similar stitch to the first one.

IMG_3827

Now you punch 3 holes into the spine of the paperback (according to the holes in the signatures).

IMG_3829

Insert the signatures and sew them with one pamphlet stitch through on signature to the back.

IMG_3830

For making things pretty (and protect the stitch on the back) you can add a strip of oilcloth.

IMG_3831

I just glued the strip horizontally on the paperback, leaving about 1,5cm stand over the edge.

IMG_3832IMG_3833

Fold the oilcloth over the edge of the paperback and sew it in place. You can secure the cut threads with a bit of white glue.

IMG_3835

To make the binding more durable glue the first and last page to the paperback.

IMG_3836

With a corner punch you can round off the corners of the notebook.

IMG_3837

Put the notebook under a heavy book or so over night, so it keeps shut and flat (so you don’t have to push it shut with your finger to take the final photo…).

IMG_3838

27/7/11

Watercolor Wednesday: Washable felt markers

On my task of watercolor research I scored a set of washable felt markers at the dollar store the other day. Carioca seems to be a real brand of fine italian art supplies.

IMG_3843

So this is a little test run for the markers.

IMG_3817

IMG_3819

IMG_3820

The color of the markers runs more easy than you might think. When you wet the paper at first it looks like nothing happens, but after a little while the colors are starting to creep in the wet area.

In conclusion I think the markers are fine, even though by not mixing your own tones you are limited to the colors of the markers.

23/7/11

Sewing project: A hip pouch

This is just for documentation purposes. I had to throw together rather fast a pouch for a friend, so I couldn’t take more notes for a tutorial.

IMG_3840

The good news is, that I was asked for another one, so most likely I am going to publish a tutorial on it.

18/7/11

Patchwork balls

This are two patchwork gift ideas for kids. The first ball is a Patchwork Puzzle Ball and you can find a tutorial at Thimble.

IMG_3809

The second one is a simple Patchwork Ball, consisting of 12 pentagons. A tutorial can be found at Ihanna.

IMG_3811IMG_3815

11/7/11

Ojos de dios

A fun short project to make decorative things to hang on your wall or window. For this you only need two long wood skewers and scraps of wool. By wrapping the wool around the skewers you get these colorful “Ojos de Dios” (or as I prefer to call them “Lid for Russell’s Teapot”).

 IMG_3804  IMG_3799

 IMG_3803

 IMG_3805