I finished Eric's Guitar Practice Journal a few days ago. I was pretty happy with it, except for the very last row of stitching. I tore the concertina (the big accordion fold that holds the pages) while I was stitching the front cover to the book. It was a major tear, but I made a paper bandage to cover it. It looks a bit Frankenstein, but the other alternative was to trash the entire concertina and rebind the entire book.
My rows of stitching are pretty wavy and crooked, but I am pleased with the result. I learned quite a few lessons from this book.
I figure it will take Eric about 5 years to fill it. By that time, I will be an expert at bookbinding or I will have totally given it up and will be willing to buy him a store-bought journal.
After my success with that book, I have been playing a little more with bookbinding. The book below is a Coptic bound book, approximately 4 x 6 inches.
It is made with leftover ETG letterhead, a Triscuit box cover, and scrapbooking paper left over from another project. It is bound with #5 perle cotton (embroidery floss).
On the front of each signature within the book, I printed a graphic from The Graphics Fairy.
Originally, I planned to make a concertina of a contrasting color to use with this book, but I decided it didn't really need a concertina.
I'm really pleased with this book. I'm not a journal-keeper (unless you count this blog), so I have no use in mind for it. The pleasure of making it was all I needed.
The book I have been using for bookbinding instruction, as well as inspiration and ideas, is Real Life Journals: Designing & Using Handmade Books.
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