Making an art Journal 101 session 3

20. Here I'm using a scrap piece of paper the length of the book 9" and coming in 1" on both ends because I know I need more stitches in the middle where all the smaller scrap piece of page are. I then take the paper strip and fold it in after so I know where my middle is.

21. I decided where I would like the binding stitches to be and draw a line. I marked my cover boards with pen. The strip of paper will be my guide also for the inside of the signature so I can poke holes and it all lines up.

22. My Flex Shaft drill..or like dremel tool and I drill holes..You can use an Awl or a hand drill make sure the line up and you got you cover set up as of insides to inside and the cover facing like it would if you see the front and back..

23. Here the signature in the wooden cradle pocked in place and guide strip of paper with my marks for the hole are there..I use a small awl and poke through.

24. Preparing to start the Coptic stitch...best to watch on You tube or get a book kind of hard for me to show you here.. There is such a vast collection of information out there on Video to show you how...really knowledge is at our finger tips.

25. I'm using artificial Sinew but best to use Wax book thread but I ran out...like I said this book came together on a whim.. "had a moment and went at it"

26. Just showing a bit of progress of the signatures going together and I used the paper clips to help me hold in alignment as I've got a good selection of found papers going on here.

27. The book binded and ready for some page preparing. I managed to add the handle back into there from a white paper bag.. don't know what I'll do.

28.  I have deli sheet under the page as so not to muck it up and get it stuck together before it dries. I'm spreading  thin layer of Gesso over the pages as I know there thinner then I want them to be. So starting with the many layers that will go into each journal spread...don't know when I'll get back to this but it's made I want to try another form of long stitching on a different journal but for now I'm happy I jump on this yesterday afternoon... Now off to a book club this morning and feeling good that I started on one of this years goals or good intentions. Many more to work at.. Living the dream yesterday fully as everyone was gone, young adults working and husband out on a motorcycle ride...what could be better then some sound of nature and creating going on with the hands.