Elderberry's Handmade Notebooks

[KKay]

Outstanding! I wish I could learn how to do this!

[elderberry]

Kkay, if you have some time on your hands I don't see why you couldn't!

[KKay]

I would like to learn from somebody who knows what they are doing. I think your work is extremely nice!

[snowbear]

@elderberry: I just learned how to do this - your level of work is something I can try to aspire to.

 

@KKay: Check the non-credit courses at your local Community College or University for "Book Arts." I took a short workshop (four sessions) at the local art college.

Edited March 28, 2016 by snowbear

[KKay]

Great idea, thanks.

[elderberry]

Good morning!

 

I made two photo albums for my niece. I bought ready made book blocks for this but hand made covers and silk end bands.

 

 

 

Working the fake nerves with some string so they become nice and crisp.

 

 

I also made a journal with Amalfi paper. I still love the tissue like feel of this 100% cotton paper and its extraordinary looks.

 

 

Also I bought this steam punky type holder but I haven't used it yet as the types are have are quite flat and I'm not sure they're going to work with this. Also this whole embossing and gilding thing is still creeping me out a bit as it's easy to go wrong on any of the factors (angle, pressure, temperature) and mistakes can't be corrected.

 

Edited April 17, 2016 by elderberry

[fountainpagan]

Extraordinary progress!!!

 

Very nice work. And your photos are wonderful.

 

Congratulations, elderberry. Thank you.

[Lennart Wennberg]

Wow!

 

I'm so impressed!

 

You are playing in a totally different league than mine.

 

Lennart

[elderberry]

That's very nice of you to say, thank you!

[KKay]

Lovely, just LOVELY!

[elderberry]

Here's some more pictures of books I finished last weekend.

 

A5 sized, goatskin and Yuzen paper on the outside, 200ish sheets of Tomoe River. Made this one for a friend who loves black and red.

 

 

 

Another Tomoe River book in navy blue and orange. Japanese/German crossover as the cover paper is called "Leipziger Vorsatz", it reminds me of old fashioned kitchens and the aprons my grandma used to wear.

Now my TR stocks are pretty much depleted but I've received the shipping notice for 4000 more sheets earlier today and I'm curious whether Tenso can make due on their promise of 3 days til delivery.

 

 

First one with Bomo Art paper, also A5 size, goatskin for spine and corners.

 

 

 

Also my coptic bindings seem to make a little progress, this one is made of two tone bookcloth and embossed paper. Usually I'm not a fan of leather-lookalike stuff but this paper is an exception, I think it looks really nice and has a great depth to it.

 

 

[KKay]

I like them all out of the last set. The last one though, that one gets the blue ribbon from me!

[elderberry]

I just bought the lizard like paper for fun but it seems to be quite popular!

 

Lately I made another debossed design but I only have pictures of the process, none of the finished product as I've gifted it to someone shortly after.

 

 

 

The koi carp matched the end papers which were a Japanese design of carp in a pond.

 

Also I got some glue for making pads and experimented with it, I'd like to be able to make my own writing pads. So far it has worked pretty great. Here's a stack of waste paper in the process of becoming a pad.

 

 

... and another leather landscape. Russel's Oasis Goatskin in Navy.

 

[MsRedpen]

Miss Elderberry, your work is beautiful!

The "leipziger" - indeed reminds of grandma's kitchen and apron, I immediately saw it as a recipie book.

You are aware how many of us would be honoured to buy one of your books, and appreciate all the dedication, time, skills and fine materials you threaded in each...

Thank you for posts of your art!

[fountainpagan]

Beutiful work, and better and better.

 

Thank you for sharing this.

[TMLee]

 

did you added in the eyes of the koi?

[elderberry]

Miss Elderberry, your work is beautiful!

The "leipziger" - indeed reminds of grandma's kitchen and apron, I immediately saw it as a recipie book.

You are aware how many of us would be honoured to buy one of your books, and appreciate all the dedication, time, skills and fine materials you threaded in each...

Thank you for posts of your art!

 

 

Beutiful work, and better and better.

 

Thank you for sharing this.

 

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like them.

 

 

did you added in the eyes of the koi?

 

Nope, just the silhouette. Maybe I will for the next one.

[kmeredith923]

Good morning!

 

I made two photo albums for my niece. I bought ready made book blocks for this but hand made covers and silk end bands.

 

 

 

Working the fake nerves with some string so they become nice and crisp.

 

 

I also made a journal with Amalfi paper. I still love the tissue like feel of this 100% cotton paper and its extraordinary looks.

 

 

Also I bought this steam punky type holder but I haven't used it yet as the types are have are quite flat and I'm not sure they're going to work with this. Also this whole embossing and gilding thing is still creeping me out a bit as it's easy to go wrong on any of the factors (angle, pressure, temperature) and mistakes can't be corrected.

 

 

I also made a journal with Amalfi paper. I still love the tissue like feel of this 100% cotton paper and its extraordinary looks.

 

Would you mind telling me where you get your Amalfi paper stock from? I can only seem to find it in prebound journals or in correspondence sets. It also looks much thinner than anything I've seen. Weight? Sheet size? HELP??

[elderberry]

There are a few Italian sites selling a wide range of it from watercolor cardstock to stationery, I ordered from this one last time: http://www.amatruda.eu/

 

I've used the 120 gsm for journals, it's about average thickness for the weight, it becomes somewhat thinner very near the edges adding to the frayed and deckled appearance, maybe that's why it looks so thin on the photos?

[KKay]

This thread is killing me. The work is simply outstanding!!