Book of Letters

For a friend's 30th birthday this year I decided to create a book of old childhood photographs, however while rummaging in the loft searching for pictures I stumbled across a box of old letters. The letters were from friends I'd moved away from when I was about eleven and I sat for ages reading through them, laughing until I cried about their latest crushes, school, boys at school, films they'd seen at the cinema, boys they'd seen at the cinema (can you see a theme emerging here?!). So I thought what would be a better memory than a book of letters to read/cringe through!?

I created the book with brown envelopes that I'd printed 80's and 90's imagery and illustrations onto, sewing them together and then binding them into a hard packaging envelope that rather handily converted into a cover. The final touches were collected and printed stamps and labels, and of course copies of the letters and photos.

(collection of awesome 80s/90s imagery used throughout the book, oh how I miss my Speak and Spell *sigh*)

Spoilers!

I didn't have much time before Christmas to make many presents this year unfortunately, but I did manage to make a couple of books, two of which were for Doctor Who fans! The Diary of River Song is a pretty awesome looking book in the show (see above), below is my 'notebook' version. One day I'd love to spend the time creating one with aged pages and full of time travel scribblings, but for now I was pretty happy with how these turned out...

Trees Are Best. Fact.

After finishing my tree book a good while ago and then losing most of it from my hard drive, this moment has felt like a long time coming! It feels amazing to finally have the book hand bound and available for sale as well as a selection of badges, handmade notebooks and leaf garlands all inspired by the original book.

As a lover of all things tree, I was daydreaming about them one sunny day, listing all the things about them I liked. In my head it sounded quite a childish list and I imagined myself as a school kid arguing with a friend about why trees were "way better than diggers". An irrational argument maybe but it didn't stop the images flowing into my head and onto the page. The images are quite varied in style as I wanted the overall book to have a sketchbook feel with a child's doodlings and represent the way their imaginations whizz from one place to another.

I have hand bound each section along the spine with different shades of green and packaged it with a nice spotty green ribbon.

I hope you like them, you can see them here.


Journal



Badges

Hand Painted Journals

I made a few handmade presents for Christmas, including these hand-painted journals. Above, a wedding planner and a notebook for 'important thoughts'

May the printing commence

Started printing out my tree book ready for the Artist Book Fair in Manchester, it's not until November but it'll probably take me that long to bind it and make more than one copy!

One day, one day...

Visited the Portico Library in Manchester yesterday. One of the most beautiful libraries, made all the more special as it's hidden away in the city centre. The first time I visited this library, (after being drawn in by a sign saying 'Adopt a Book'!), I was buzzed in and climbed the winding steps up not knowing the wonder that lay beyond! Being a massive fan of the Beauty and the Beast library (!) and vowing one day to have one of my own to rival it, the Portico will see me through until that day!
Built in 1806, the library houses over 25,000 books, many of which are more than a little worse for wear. The 'Adopt - A - Book' scheme helps repair and restore the books through donations, find out more here.