... Homemade Journal ... 2016

[TMLee]

hoping that the gap is sufficient for the threads to sit in there without bulging ...

 

 

 

Decided to paint a layer of lacquer to seal the black paint along the edges.

 

 

decided to add washi accent on the signature spines ...

 

 

 

 

started the stitching ...

had to ensure that the cords are not twisted - ie, kept flat - so that they don't bulge beyond the drain .

looks okay ...

 

 

 

 

 

I am thinking of a blue slipcase.

So , there will be shades of blue on the exposed spine to match with.

Edited February 12, 2020 by TMLee

[TMLee]

Stitched with a darker blue thread...

to have some interest against the lighter blue washi ...

 

 

The stitches seem to seat well in their drains ...

 

 

 

Trying out a dry fit ...

with the postcard ...

looks okay.

the threads dont bulge out of their drains ... yay ...

 

test fit ...

 

 

test fit ...

 

 

getting ready to glue the postcard ...

wrapped up the bookblock to protect from glue stains ...

 

 

 

 

 

done ...

 

 

The fit is excellent , no bulge from the cords at the stations ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

now I am having second thoughts about the grey embossed cover ...

I think it needs to be improved ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mhguda]

I thought the card itself was going to be the front cover, am I seeing things reflected?

Other than that it looks fantastic to me.

[TMLee]

I thought the card itself was going to be the front cover, am I seeing things reflected?

Other than that it looks fantastic to me.

 

its one of a matching pair.

 

the pair will look like this ...

 

so you are looking at the one at the top.

[mhguda]

Oh. Color me stupid.

[TMLee]

I changed my mind about the grey covers.

 

Decided to re-do , and use white cover paper instead ...

 

 

 

This time, I used a black card base , 350gsm, to carry the white paper, just like the postcard which is mounted onto a stiff card

 

 

This time , I mounted the cutouts onto the backside of the white cover paper.

The reason is that if you mount it on the black card base, you will have a problem locating the outline of the emboss.

 

 

So , to mark the outlines, I had to use a lightbox.

This is a mini portable lightbox at a time when it was still popualr to use such things to view camera film slides !!!!!

Really tiny, A6 size only ...

With the lightbox, I can then see clearly the outlines of the emboss, and quickly burnish it, marking its outline on the white paper.

Without the lightbox, its near impossible to find the outlines on white paper.

 

 

Done

 

 

closeup

I used paper that has fabric lookalike texture.

To add some interest

Here it replicates silk.

 

 

The other cover ...

 

 

Daylight

 

 

 

 

[mhguda]

Also gorgeous! What an interesting paper.

[mhguda]

Needless to say, I am also glad to see you're still at it. How are things where you are? after your worrying news post, no more on the topic... how are you holding up?

[pen2paper]

These are beautiful.

 

also glad to see your post in light of current concerns...

[TMLee]

Needless to say, I am also glad to see you're still at it. How are things where you are? after your worrying news post, no more on the topic... how are you holding up?

 

 

These are beautiful.

 

also glad to see your post in light of current concerns...

 

 

Thanks ...

The govt is doing a good job managing the situation.

Grateful especially to all the health workers who are most affected, they are at the frontline, facing risks , let alone having to take on extra precautions in their usual work routine.

No signs of abatement yet, so we all just have to stay vigilant, cut down on unnecessary large gatherings, upkeep personal hygiene habits, and stay healthy - the best defence.

In daily reports, we are also seeing many recovered and discharged after good medical care.

Harrowing experience, as we hear survivor stories.

Don't know how long more this will last.

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

Ribbon pagemarker not installed yet ...

 

 

This has been a tryout on crafting a journal bearing postcard covers, postcards that are (or have to be) left intact.

Instead,

Covers , signatures , are all cut to match the exact size of the postcard covers. Very tedious

( I also found out that not all postcards are the same size , I wished they were. )

This one however is very close to A6 size.

Just about a millimetre undersized.

 

 

Corners, edges are all crisp and square ...

(I could have painted the edges blue too or some other colour for effect)

 

 

 

 

 

 

letting shadow show up the relief ...

 

 

I intend to make a slipcase for each in this pair of journals ...

that's when the aesthetics of the washi on the spine , the ribbon pagemarker , and the cords will become apparent.

( I hope )

Edited February 20, 2020 by TMLee

[TMLee]

This is Journal 264 - Orthinology made to order.

 

The brief called for something with a nature theme, birds .

 

Using scrapbooking paper (acid free , 120gsm)

 

 

So as not to obscure the birds, the corner accents are omitted.

Only the spine accent is retained.

 

 

For light coloured paper, it matters what goes on underneath.

I wanted the beige to be a richer hue, so I went for a black underlay.

Here you can almost see the difference between a black underlay and a non black underlay

 

 

As usual , the turned in corners are clamped flat for a few hours at least

 

 

 

 

Its an extra step , but worth the wait .

The end result is a very flat corner on all the inside corners.

 

 

 

I decided to go for the deep Indian Red bookcloth because it blended with some of the dark reds on the graphics.

 

 

Using leftover paper from the same thematic series of papers , I decided to make the hinges co-ordinated ...

bird eggs

 

 

Next was deciding the colour of the stitch cords ...

Mango or beige

 

The beige was more in keeping with the nature theme ...

(The bonus was the elastic bookband which was a perfect colour match)

 

 

completed ...

 

 

 

bands deployed

 

 

 

matching ribbon pagemarker

 

 

 

 

 

matching flyleaves

 

 

 

The beige cords blend with the beige cover and writing paper , yet provides a good contrast with the deep red bookcloth ...

Becos the cover paper is 120gsm, it makes the triangular tip emboss very well defined.

 

 

as usual , the paper dives under the bookcloth, and the bookcloth is just a bit under the topmost surface of the cover, shielding it from getting frayed and abrasions over time.

 

The co-ordinated flyleaves

 

 

 

 

Writing paper is NATURALIS , Vanilla White , 135gsm, Smooth

7 signatures , 4 Folios each

total 112 writing pages

 

The birds ...

 

 

 

 

 

the birdlovers here would probably spot any error in the identity of the birds

Edited February 20, 2020 by TMLee

[mhguda]

Lovely.

Good to see how you're coping. Thanks for letting us know.

[TMLee]

Here we go again ...

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/302808-homemade-journal-2016/page-7

 

my old pics at a time when they were on PhotoBucket are all now labelled with this banner across them.

 

despite still paying USD$2.49 or thereabouts every month.

Its a Beginner's plan they called it.

I guess that plan has reached the end of its grace period for hosting.

 

To remove that banner, PB said I needed to upgrade my plan to like USD$5 or $6 per month per account.

I can't afford that.

 

:gaah:

 

Tis happened a few weeks ago... and

I can't say I wasn't affected. and I got depressed for a period of time over this.

 

My old original thread, ....

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/28367-homemade-journal/page-90

 

this one I felt more pain,

cos I noticed the views on that thread continued to grow despite being closed.

It remains one of the most viewed thread in that sub forum.

And I am very proud about it.

It means people do enjoy viewing that thread.

 

arrrgh ...

 

 

wonder what to do next?

let it be?

rebuild the thread ?

 

as if there isn't enough bad news all over ....

 

sigh !

 

ps: thanks to all of you who were checking in on me. Much appreciated. ...

 

 

 

[kazoolaw]

I am so sorry for the PB problem.

 

It is good to see your posts and look forward to seeing more of your journals.

[mhguda]

I can so feel your pain. And I have no advice for you - no idea what to do about it... unless, maybe for a short while, just upload to FPN? I'd hate for us to be deprived of the graphics that go with your descriptions of your work.

But I too am glad you are posting again. And looking forward to a new project.

[TMLee]

Finally ...

 

JOURNAL 265 "CATS by Kiyoshi Saito - Blue"

 

Front

 

Rear

 

 

Blue threads to match the postcard on the cover ...

washi on the spine to continue the blue theme ...

Blue ribbon pagemarker...

 

 

Full spread

 

With the flyleaves in view ...

 

Blue flyleaves

 

The inktestpage

NOODLERS Black

DALER ROWNEY Watercolour Pocket Set

 

 

7 Signatures , 5 Folios each

Total 140 writing pages

MELLOTEX 100gsm, Brilliant White, Smooth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

265A CATS by Kiyoshi Saito - Blue

 

Front

 

Rear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

The matched set

 

Journals 265 and 265A "Cats by Kiyoshi Saito - Blue"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

So I made a slipcase each for this matched set of journals ...

becos its to be gifted away to a couple ...

 

Here pictured with the slipcases ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't find a blue cat ....

Edited June 25, 2020 by TMLee