Shhh, don't tell my sister!

This year I've tried to make a lot of my Christmas presents, including this little notebook / sketchbook for my sister. I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, so I think I'm pretty safe showing you.

Before I bound the book I painted little pictures and funny things on some of the pages and spread them out through the book. Then I bound it using the coptic binding method. I made the cover from book-board and covered it in a Paris map (my sister likes maps, and Paris). Voila, handmade book!

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Perri and her friends

Lately I've been hand-binding a lot of notebooks and sketchbooks as Christmas presents. I almost exclusively use Coptic binding because I love how the book opens completely flat on every page.

On the weekend I decided it was time to make myself a new sketchbook using my favourite watercolor paper. I repurposed this old Disney Golden Book from 1974, keeping the original pages inside along with the watercolor paper.

There are some wonderful '70s photos and the storyline is....well....strange.

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Peerless Paints

Recently I was introduced to Peerless Watercolours on The Bliss Artworks blog. They are highly pigmented paint applied to paper, which makes them really convenient for location painting. Have a look at this video by Jane Davenport on making your own portable palette.

So this got me wondering if I could make some myself out of paints I already have. I used a few different weights of paper and applied gouache to the top half and watercolor to the bottom. I applied three coats, waiting for each one to dry fully before applying the next.

They actually did work reasonably well. The colour came off again the way I had hoped. 

However, the paper curled, and as the paint really dried out it cracked and started to flake off the paper. So my conclusion is this...put the Peerless paints on your Christmas wish list. They aren't very expensive, and they've been making them since 1885, so I guess they know what they're doing. ;)

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Narwhal mini books

 To continue on from my last post, here is the finished product of my stamp-carving. I've popped these mini Moleskines up in the Brown Paper Bunny store too. They make nice little stocking stuffers.

P.S. I've just about convinced my boyfriend that Narwhals exist.

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http://www.etsy.com/listing/88259644/hand-stamped-moleskine-mini

Narwhal stamps

We are doing a Secret Santa at work and the theme of the presents is water. So last night I carved this little Narwhal stamp and have been testing it before I use it to make a little set of Narwhal notebooks.

My boyfriend saw it and asked 'what's with the sea unicorn'. He doesn't believe that Narwhals actually exist. So my dear, this is for you: Read about Narwhals

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Christmas ornament swap

This month I participated in the Creative Collective Christmas decoration swap. I sent off my little stocking ornaments, and check out what I received in return!

This awesome crocheted tree ornament was made by Casey over at plus3crochet.blogspot.com She has some really great projects going on her blog, definitely worth a look. Thanks Casey!

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