Here is my flag book. this might be one of my favorite books. I think what I like most about this book is the movement it has. Just like.. waves of little flags. ^.^ The flags are attached to opposite sides of the accordion fold.

Okay I don’t drink coffee, but our latest project was to create a book out of “found” objects. Which means, I could make the book out of anything. So I saved my lunch bags for the week, and saved a cup from one of my chai’s, and whipped up a book monday evening as fast as I could.

The cup opens up after removing the.. holder thingy… And five scroll “pages” are rolled up inside, with their tops decorated with white crepe paper to look like latte. On each page is a poem about coffee which I found here (credit is of course given.) they are attached to coffee stirrers and fastened to the back of the cup.

I think it’s cute.

You know what that means (at least anybody who goes to school knows what that means): STRESS.

Especially when you’re somewhat of a procrastinator. Well I managed to crank out this book. The theme of my book is a secret journal. None of the letters and journal entries are addressed, and there is no titling on the pages or envelopes.. Which means i can throw away all my secrets in case someone wants to look at my book.

It has a secret piano hinge. A bamboo rod holds it together, and when you pull the rod out, it opens into an accordion which will reveal something more, such as an image, or the end of a story, etc. The pages are actually envelopes that are stitched into place, and folded up into themselves to make the pockets. The flaps are held down through a slit. The cover is made out of “leather like” burgundy brown thick paper, and the hinge is made out of fancy silk paper, which reminds me a lot like fabric. The accordion is also made of the same fancy silk paper, and the envelopes are “indian batik” in ivory. They look aged.

Originally I wanted to add some metal accents and it was supposed to be a metal rod that holds the book closed, however being a procrastinator, I didn’t have time. I wanted to use leather as well, to give it an old journal feel. Again, I’m a procrastinator and none of that was accomplished. I didn’t even get some of the materials I had to order until the monday before it was due in San Francisco. (I live across the country from San Francisco.)

This is my next book. It’s a 5 stitch pamphlet. We were supposed use 5 random words for content and inspiration. Since I’m bad at being random…. Instead I painted pictures, then decided what the pictures were and drew them in.

I think it’s cute. It’s all leftover paper from my printmaking class ages ago.

My Fine Arts class for this semester is… Bookmaking! Hurray!! I made my first three books last night. Last night. They were due… Last night. Okay yeah they were rush jobs. I’d been planning them for several days, but I cranked these babies out in roughly 3 hours.

I really shouldn’t do that. In fact, because I rushed, there are flaws. But you know, it’s better than having nothing. I will definitely be spending more time on my bookmaking than I did last night. (I know the pictures can be fuzzy.)

My books are 8-page “one page wonders”. They are approximately 2 3/4 in wide x 4 in high. I think. At least they were when I did my one and only measurement of them at the beginning of the project. After that I just eyeballed everything. I know… I’m terrible.

I designed them to be pocket-sized portfolios of my work. One for Paintings, one for Prints, and one for Drawings. Images on regular text weight paper (for paintings and drawings), and the print designs I actually printed onto vellum, which gives them a bit of translucense.. sy. Then I adhered all images to the pages of the book (made of white cardstock and considerably thicker than I would have really wanted), then I made a book cover out of black cardstock with a slight woven-y criss-crossy pattern to it to appear like the plastic casing you frequently find on real portfolios.

Unfortunately, I didn’t create the closure how I really wanted. (it’s got double-stick tape holding it down in that picture) I was going to thread a small piece of wine colored ribbon from both the front and the flap, and tie it together in a bow. I also wanted to write “Paintings” etc., on the covers of each, but the stamp I bought just isn’t big enough so I might have to buy some stamping supplies to do it nicely. (Or not. I’m putting enough money into it as it is!!)

I admitted to all my cheats!! lol What’s wrong with me?? But I like the idea of pocket-sized portfolios so much, that I may recreate them only spend 4x as much time on them. (Plus it was fun making them.)