geraldine newfry

customizing a book, part two

i'm in the process of rebinding a book for a client who wanted more pages in tree of life.

the next step was to take apart the previously bound book. owie!

once the signatures and binding were removed, i lined up the new text block with the covers.  as you can see, my kutrimmer is a little off in its measurements.  the new signatures aren't exactly the same size.

i took the signatures back to the kutrimmer and trimmed them all so they would be even.  much better.

the next step was to mark the binding holes on the text block.  i carefully lined up the triangle with the binding holes in the cover, and marked with a sharp pencil.

once the text block was marked, i could begin piercing the holes with an awl.  i turned my piercing cradle upside down since i marked the text block on the outside.  i think most people mark their blocks on the inside and use the cradle as intended.  but marking from the outside gives a nicer wound to the paper.

after opening up the signatures for piercing, they look as if they've never been in the press.

i finished piercing the holes and put the whole text block back in the press overnight.

next up is the new binding.

customizing a book, part one

i recently got a request for a client for the tree of life.  she wanted to be able to write a journal entry for every day of her pregnancy.  isn't that cool?  her only issue was that the book came with 176 pages, and she needed more.

i was a little concerned that 300 pages would look out of proportion to the covers of the book.  then i realized that the book used cardstock pages for mixed media, but really she only needed to be able to write on them.  i made a mock up of the text block using 304 text pages, with some covers that i hadn't already bound.  the proportions looked good, so we decided to proceed.

i purchased some wausau royal linen for the text block.

the next step was to cut the paper to size.  but what this all over my kutrimmer?  polymer clay stuff.

after cleaning up a little i was able to begin cutting the pages.  i just love my kutrimmer.  i should really keep it free from debris.

here are the pages all cut to size.  i cut four at once, because that is how many pages i use in a signature.  i kept them separate to make the next step easier.

next was heading over to my bookbinding desk.  even worse than my kutrimmer!  i plan a studio clean up, but wanted to make this book first.  i think the clean up will take a while.

reasonably clean, and dusted.

the next step was to fold all the pages.  i used my teflon rib.  sometimes i use a teflon bone folder.  i think it just depends on my mood.

all folded and stacked together, it was time to put the pages into the press overnight.  i placed them between two clean boards to protect the pages and allow for even pressure.

after the pages come out of the press, i'll begin punching holes and binding.

cyber monday sale!

ok, it's really a long sale, but it starts today.  i'm offering free world wide shipping in my etsy shop.  that's right, anywhere on the planet for free!  the space station is excluded.  i have a number of books, awls and pens for sale right now.  the sale will continue through december 15.  the more you buy, the more i'll be able to spend on handmade gifts for my christmas buddies.  :)

i really try to buy handmade for the holidays.  this year i am making some gifts myself, and also giving contributions to charities in the names of my christmas buddies.  i recommend kiva and heifer.

try to support independent artists this season.  you get a unique gift and help the self-employed.  start here.

finished awls, x-actos and pens!

the tools are finally up on etsy!

i already showed you the canework and the sanding.  the buffing is the last stage.

here is my fancy foredom buffer.  i spent about 3 hours buffing 20 tools.  the buffing really makes a difference in how the tool finally has a lovely matte sheen.  i have the box behind the buffer to catch all the dust and a tool if it flies out of my hands.  notice the mask and safety glasses on top of the box.  safety first!  on the left are unbuffed tools, and on the right are the tools that i've finished.  i was almost half way done at this point.

now they're all complete.  here's the entire group.  i have some awls paired with x-actos and pens and awls and pens on their own.

i'm running a special for my internet friends.  20% refund for anything in the shop from now until june 12.  you just have to put in a message to the seller stating where we communicate.  you could write blog, twitter, facebook or lj.  if you know me in real life, or from a variety of places, put in where you saw the special mentioned first.  that's it!  now go shop!

fall pens

i feel better but just realized that i drank a cup of black coffee.  i didn't even notice the missing half and half until i was halfway done.  hmmm.

here are some more pens for etsy.  i figure they're book related because you can write in my blank journals with them.  right?  a lot of people cover pens in polymer clay but i've heard many times that these are the best people have ever seen.  i really spend a great deal of time making them smooth, sanding and buffing away.  these are also good for people who have trouble with their hands, because they are a bit thicker than your normal pen.  i've sold some to people with spinal cord injuries and other hand disorders.  professionally speaking (as a physical therapist), they really help.

i'll leave you with the etsy description, but it's pretty much the same as yesterday.  how much can you say about a pen??  i'm off to find coffee WITH half and half!

These fall colored pens were formed around a Papermate FlexGrip Ultra armature.  Colored canes of polymer clay create the surface design.  The pens are lovingly sanded and buffed on a jeweler’s wheel for a smooth shine.  They are refillable; simply unscrew the metal tip and replace the ink barrel with that of another FlexGrip Ultra pen.  Pens are currently filled with black ink.

Use these to distinguish yourself at home or in the office.  No one will mistake this pen for their own.  If they absolutely love it, these make great gifts for teachers, coworkers and friends.  Treat yourself and them to a smooth, colorful writing experience.

handmade pens

i just realized that i meant to post this yesterday and got distracted.

i made these last week after a request for pens.  then i got distracted again (see a theme here?) when paypal seemed not to have mailed the invoice.  last night i finished sanding and buffing them, and one is on its way to a new home this morning.

i really hate the sanding part.  but it makes all the difference in the world to how they look and feel.  i don't mind buffing so much.  i had actually made about 15 more of these, but had an oven accident and the chambers closed up.  i think i may make those into awls.

these are copper mokume gane.  the polymer clay covers a papermate flexigrip ultra pen.  at the end of each pen is a metal barrel which can be unscrewed to replace the ink cartridge.  i sell these for $10, which is a great price point for people who can't afford a book.  i usually make them in all sorts of colors, but create them in batches of the same sort of pattern.  one of my clients bought a whole variety of them recently, so i only have these new copper ones on hand.  time to hit the polymer desk!

Drill Bits for Creative Inspirations students

DrillBits, originally uploaded by sweetmadness.

i had intended for students in my "Beloved" class to create polymer handles for their drill bits.  i realized, though, that there was just not enough time.  i made handles for all of the students to send to them in their kits.  i still have to work a bit on my revisions to the handouts, and then they should be ready to go.