linenlaid&felt logo design



I started working on some logo designs for linenlaid&felt this weekend, and I've come up with two different variations that I think are working pretty well so far. I recently updated the banner for my Etsy shop so it includes the square version, and it's also the new profile picture for my facebook fan page. The rectangular logo is now incorporated into the header for this blog.

What do you think about the logo designs so far? Do you like how there are two different versions that can be used in different instances, or is that confusing? Any general thoughts about the type, colors, etc? I'd love to get some feedback before I design and print business cards for myself.



Snip, snip!



I've always been a long-haired kind of girl. I even grew my hair out so I could donate 14 inches to Locks of Love during college. But ever since I saw these photos in the September issue of Real Simple magazine I've been considering a shorter style. I finally took the plunge this weekend, and this is certainly the shortest my hair has ever been. I was a little unsure about it at first, but I think it's growing on me.



In fact, my hair is even shorter than my husband's right now (although not for long; he's got a haircut scheduled for tomorrow). And he was kind enough to take these photos of me as we walked our dog in the park after work today. The fabric flower headband is from J.Crew, and I think it works nicely with the shorter hair.



The photo below is from our honeymoon in Portland, Oregon last summer. That haircut probably comes in second in terms of my shortest styles. I kept my hair long for our wedding so I could get an up-do, but I stopped by Rudy's Barber Shop on the very first day of our honeymoon to try something new.

Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla books



This weekend I finished a set of three custom books. I couldn't be more pleased with the way they turned out. My friend Diana asked me to make personalized journals that she will give as a gift to the parents of three little girls (the youngest of the sisters was just born this month!).

When Diana and I talked about the concept for the books, she knew she wanted the books to be feminine with a brown and pink color scheme. But neither of us were interested in making them too girly. We also wanted them to be similar, and to form a cohesive set, but did not want them to be identical. The Japanese blossom papers were a perfect fit. I was able to find similar blossom patterns with cream, pink, and brown backgrounds at Paper Source, as well as bookcloth in the same colors. The guards and endsheets were made from light pink paper that matched the book covers.



I cut a recessed area into the front cover of each book, where I attached a custom-designed nameplate with each girl's name. Each book has 160 pages, providing plenty of room for journaling, collaging, scrapbooking, and doodling. I used the Coptic binding to stitch these books together. Pink waxed linen thread in a shade darker than the papers on the spine makes for a subtle contrast while still maintaining the color scheme.



And a side note: When I look at these books, I can't help but think of Neapolitan ice cream. Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. Classic flavors, stunning color combination.



To read my posts about the books in progress, click here and here.

linenlaid&felt interview on the BEST blog


On Friday, I was the featured bookbinder on the BEST (Bookbinding Etsy Street Team) Blog. My interview (which you can read right here) touches on my formal artistic training, my study abroad experiences in Italy, some of my current work, and a little bit about my husband and our dog. I've included one of the questions from the interview below, along with some bonus photos of my handbound wedding invitations and my wedding guestbook.
Is there a book you've made that is especially important to you?

My favorite books that I've made are my wedding guestbook and my wedding invitations, which were actually little three-page handbound booklets, that I made for my July 2009 wedding.

The wedding was hosted in a 1930s Art Deco movie theater in Charleston, SC, where large murals adorn the walls. Those murals inspired my illustrations for the invitations. The first page served as the invitation to my wedding. The second page invited guests to the rehearsal dinner. The bottom portion of the third page could be detached along the perforation and was used as the reply postcard. The designs were printed on a pearlescent paper with a linen texture. I taught Tony how to stitch the Japanese stab binding, and together we made 200 of these little books.

I made my guestbook during a letterpress class that I took my last semester of college. I used a pressure printing technique to transfer a subtle lace pattern to each of the pages in different shades of blue and green. A more distinct lace pattern was used to decorate the first and last pages, on which I also printed our names and the colophon with handset type. I printed a lace pattern onto strips of darker green paper and then cut them out to make the decorative scalloped-edge guards.

If you're interested, you can see more photos from our wedding, including a photo slideshow, here.




Special thanks to fellow BEST member Hilke for putting together the interview on the BEST Blog. Read my entire interview here.

Books on craftgawker today




Another one of my books is featured on craftgawker today. It's my large Coptic-stitched journal with a bright floral patterned paper used for the covers. I bought this paper at Frontier, one of my favorite shops in downtown Athens, GA. This is only the second book I've made using the paper, even though I've had it for a few years. I've been saving it for something special, and this book is it. I think the detail shot of this book really shows how fun and vibrant the paper is, which isn't quite as evident when photos of the entire book are viewed on a computer screen. Although the print is small, it packs a powerful punch and is best enjoyed when the details can be appreciated. You can view my Etsy listing for this book here, or check out my craftgawker gallery here.

I was also excited to see a book by Erin Zamrzla (who I featured in a blog post yesterday) up on craftgawker today. It's a planner that she made for herself. The pages are sewn onto straps made from repurposed book spines, and the covers are made from chip board.

Artist Feature: erinzam



A few weeks ago, my husband and I picked out a few items from erinzam's Etsy shop. I came across her work earlier this year, and I've had some of her handmade books on my wish list ever since. When our order arrived, it certainly did not disappoint.

We ordered a Geek Book, which is made from a vintage computer card and green bar computer paper and it ties shut with a button and string closure. We were even able to choose the eyelet color used for the closure, and I think the orange looks great with the blue and gray cover. We also picked out a Long Stitch Mini Tag Book, a little book made from a manila inventory tag.



I also have to mention how fantastic the packaging was for these books. Everything was so well coordinated. The address labels and receipt (complete with hand-written thank you note) were well designed, and matched the blue bubble wrap that ensured the safe arrival of my order from California to Virgina. A variety of assorted colorful stamps added a personal touch to the envelope. And best of all, she included a pin featuring one of her illustrations that was cleverly attached to a little tag. I honestly felt like I was opening a gift when this package arrived. I think that extra handmade touch is one of the best parts about ordering items from Etsy.

I will hold on to her business card that she included. I can definitely see myself coming back to order from her shop in the future. I also really like her books with chalkboard and egg carton covers.


erinzam

Website: erinzam.com
Blog: erinzam.com/blog
Bookbinding Etsy Shop: erinzam.etsy.com
Painting Etsy Shop: studioerinzam.etsy.com
DIY Etsy Shop: droplet.etsy.com
Her husband's Etsy Shop: benben.etsy.com
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/erinzam

A working weekend


I've spent the majority of my weekend working on custom orders. I have a photo album and a wedding guest book in the works, but the one I've been focusing on is the series of three books that I first mentioned here. I still need to finish the covers and then sew them together (I'll be using the Coptic stitch), but they are almost complete. I'm really pleased with the way they're coming together so far; they might be my favorite books that I've made recently. Stay tuned later this week for photos of the final products.


Bookbinding Etsy Street Team


1. KarleighJae :: Leather lambskin journal
2. MyHandboundBooks :: Teal suede leather diary
3. anticovalore :: Mini book earrings with green leather
4. greenchairpress :: Walking: original artist book
I recently joined the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team, also known as BEST. The team is a community of Etsy sellers who make handbound books, and I'm excited to join these talented book artists. I'm especially looking forward to their upcoming collaborative book project and the next book swap in May.

You can view the team's blog right here (or by clicking the "Etsy Bookbinders" link on the left side of my blog). The blog is definitely worth checking out; it includes interviews with featured sellers, bookmaking tutorials, books from the book swaps, and more. BEST is also on facebook, and to find books made by BEST members you can search "bookbindingteam" on Etsy.

I've been browsing through all the Etsy shops of BEST members, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite books here. There is such a fantastic variety of styles and materials, and it's inspiring to see what others are making. And the four images below all show books made from found objects: game boards, cigar boxes, paint samples, and beer boxes all repurposed into book covers. Very cool!


5. BooksByStephen :: Upcycled Sorry game journal
6. odelae :: Vintage cigar box journals
7. Re:Paper :: Custom beer box books
8. itsalljustmenagerie :: Paint swatch mini journals

9. windyweatherbindery :: Book with yellow green diamonds
10. GHBooks :: Blank book with purple shimmering paisleys
11. buechertiger :: Green, gold, and black leather journal
12. PrairiePeasant :: Moonlight Snow accordion book

13. MaryJaneHenley :: Mesquite wood and rattlesnake book
14. WeeBindery :: Orange leather journal with jade button
15. parksideharmony :: Italian paper guest book
16. PurplebeanBindery :: Striped buttonhole blank journal

Iridescent and Golden Coptic Book on Craftgawker




I had another one of my books featured on craftgawker today! It's my Iridescent and Golden Coptic Book, which is one of my favorites that I've made lately. The blue bookcloth is iridescent and silky smooth, the pages are slightly textured and pearlescent, and the endsheets and guards are made from gold paper. You can view the Etsy listing for this book here, or visit my craftgawker gallery here.