I took a poll to name this design, and ‘lunaria‘ was decided on, because it (sort of) looks like the seed pods from that particular plant.
This bind is probably an advanced intermediate, not because the sewing itself is difficult but because it requires drilling 80 holes!
I was proud that as I tested this pattern, I was also able to practice my French numbers, ha!
(I recited each step aloud as my husband typed it up for a future tutorial…)
JSB memories: 57 holes, JSB souvenirs: 51 holes, both straightforward.
Hello all! It’s been quite a while since my last bookbinding post, but a lot has happened in the past year. I both completed a masters degree and got married, moved between two continents and three countries, and am still in the process of relocating across the ocean once again.
A couple of days ago I finally sat down to create samples of designs I drew ages ago. I’ve played around with words before in sketches, though I can’t recall if I ever actually sewed any. I’m contemplating creating a free mini-font of these letters, so those of you who want to sew different words can create your own templates using properly spaced/consistently shaped letters. I’m giving some thought to those of you who would need accented characters, and what those letters might look like.
Also, my husband is French…so there will likely be more French-themed or related works on this blog in the future!
A process shot of JSB memories: halfway sewn
So this came to my attention rather late in the game, but if you haven’t seen this new laser cutting machine called the Glowforge, check it out!
If you have ever looked at some of my laser projects (like these coasters and earrings or this Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy quote book) and really wanted to have a go at something similar, this machine is perfect. (or seems to be, from all of the test videos I have watched!) It is targeted for crafters and artists and people who want to get into laser cutting but have been put off by the price or by the complicated operations of both software and hardware. It seems expensive at first glance, but if you have ever looked at other laser cutters, for what it does, it is a great price (while it is half off, at least!). It has a “real-time full 3D autofocus and a flying lens, giving the ability to actually measure the depth of the material before you engrave and cut over curved surfaces, like warped wood or a MacBook,” which is just crazy! And it uses commodity smart phone components! They have set up a system to be cloud-based, so updates and changes can be made more easily. Which is a pro and con, as you have to be connected to the internet to use the machine.
There are 4.5 days left for the pre-order price of 50% off of the retail cost! Click this referral link to get $100 off of any of the three versions. If you live in the US, it essentially means free shipping. International shipping costs are killer, believe me I know. But… your own laser cutting machine! I can’t wait to see what people do with theirs. And to play with mine! They should start shipping around December.
Some other reviews:
Going In-Depth with The Glowforge Laser Cutter by Tested
Here’s What Convinced Me to Order a $2,000 Glowforge Laser Cutter by xconomy
The new Glowforge laser cutter is amazing by boing boing
One of the fun things I get to do as a part of the program I am studying is seeing the incredibly fascinating and varied collections of Michael Twyman. These books were just too amazing not to share!
Pop-up illustrations from different volumes of the Encyclopedia of Nature, circa 1907.
Butterfly
Frog
Snail
Potatoes
Anatomy and myology pop-up books, both human and animal, circa 1875-1900.
So this isn’t really a pop-up, but still, very cool. A tiny little booklet titled “Music of the Sea”, with a poem by Wordsworth inside. Each recto had a different sailboat painting. Given as a gift in 1888.
Barcelona, Spain. Somewhere along Carrer del Torrent de l’Olla
Look what I received today! My copy of I Love Handmade Books.
I was asked by the author to participate by sending in pictures of some of handbound books and information about them (and myself), as well as a couple of tutorials.
Alas, my Japanese stab binding tutorial didn’t make it in (cut because it was too long) but the French Link Stitch tutorial was included.
Pretty fun, to be in a published book! Also neat to see work by blog-friends Ruth and Lestaret. Check it out on Amazon.com. It appears it was also released as this version, but I don’t know how many copies are available.
The lotus blossom or lily-pad flower, whichever. 36 total holes, about an intermediate bind. Make sure that your holes along the top line are even! As always, if there is an error or if you have a question, leave a comment and I will do my best to answer.
**click on an image to enlarge**
hole pattern
sewing pattern
EXIT = needle pointed DOWN and ENTER = needle pointed UP
=====
enter 1, (leave a tail but don’t knot it), wrap around right edge, enter 1 again
exit 3
enter 4, wrap around right edge, enter 4 again
exit 5
enter 6, wrap around right edge, enter 6 again
exit 7, wrap around right edge, exit 7 again
wrap around spine at angle to below 5, exit 7 again
enter 6
exit 5
enter 8
exit 5
enter 4
exit 3
enter 8
exit 3
enter 1
exit 2
enter 9
exit 10
enter 11
exit 12
enter 11
exit 10
enter 13
exit 14
enter 2
exit 14
enter 8
exit 14
enter 15, wrap around spine through loop from 7, point right, enter 15 again
wrap around spine, enter 16
wrap around spine through loop from 15, point left, enter 15
exit 14
enter 16, wrap around spine, enter 17
wrap around spine through loop from 16, point left, enter 16
exit 14
enter 17, wrap around spine, enter 25
wrap around spine through loop from 17, point left, enter 17
exit 14
enter 13
exit 12
enter 19
exit 14
enter 19
exit 17
enter 18
exit 25
enter 18
exit 17
enter 19
exit 18
enter 19
exit 25
enter 19
exit 24
enter 19
exit 20
enter 23
exit 24
enter 25, wrap around spine, enter 26
wrap around spine through loop from 25, point left, enter 25
exit 24
enter 26, wrap around spine, enter 30
wrap around spine through loop from 26, point left, enter 26 again
exit 24
enter 30, wrap around spine at angle to below 34, enter 30 again
exit 24
enter 29
exit 32
enter 29
exit 34
enter 29
exit 24
enter 28
exit 24
enter 23
exit 22
enter 21
exit 20
enter 21
exit 22
enter 27
exit 28
enter 31
exit 32
enter 33
exit 34
enter 35
exit 36, wrap around spine through loop from 30, point right, exit 36 again
wrap around left edge, exit 36 again
enter 35, wrap around left edge, enter 35 again
exit 34
enter 33, wrap around left edge, enter 33 again
exit 32
enter 31, wrap around left edge, enter 31 again
exit 28
enter 27
exit 22
enter 23
exit 20
enter 19
exit 12
enter 13
exit 10
enter 9
exit 2, tie off
becca making faces 