Howdy Everyone,
Thank you for visiting or reading this post via your email.
I am working on a brand new blog post series.
In my previous post, I shared the following info with you.
I'd like to share it again, in case you missed it, and also to remind myself.
NEW BLOG SERIES PLAN
Here are my intentions for this blog post series here at OrangeSpiralArts.
- I want to help promote and share the awesome blank page journals created at Rag and Bone Bindery.
- I want to inspire you to open up a blank journal to express yourself creatively.
- I want to share ideas for having fun and playing with blank books and journals.
- I want to offer a giveaway for a $75 gift certificate for Rag and Bone Bindery.
So here we are with post number two.
I am happy to share some information about the Large Journal by Rag & Bone Bindery. I also will be sharing the link for you to enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag & Bone Bindery at the end of this post!!
Let the fun begin!
The journal I am using is the Large Journal Paprika. The large journal measures 8.25 inches x 10.25 inches. It contains 144 bright white, acid free pages. I absolutely love the paper in the Rag & Bone journals. It has a smooth surface. It's sturdy and pliable. I will demonstrate this quality when I share my first two pages later in this post.
First, let's go over some of the special qualities of the Large Blank Page Journal by Rag and Bone Bindery.
FABRIC COVER
If you know me and my art at all, you know I love pattern and prints.
I have a workshop in 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color called Draw, Paint, and Print Artful Color Patterns. (See the sidebar of my site or click the above link for more info). People had so much fun with this class, and there are tons of additional workshops by teachers from around the world when you purchase 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color. The Rag & Bone Bindery blank page journals would be perfect to use for 21 Secrets, too!
The reason I started talking about pattern is because of the fabric on the cover of the above journal. Those over at Rag & Bone Bindery attend fashion fabric shows, then have the fabrics converted into bookcloth. Isn't that awesome?!! No wonder why they have such unique cover designs. The fabric is made by fabric designers!
Here's some inside information straight from Jason Thompson, co-owner of Rag and Bone Bindery:
"FABRIC COVERS:
We choose the fabrics by attending fabric shows and visiting with fabric reps. We purchase fashion fabrics and have them converted into bookcloth for us, a custom process we utilize for all of our fabric covers - cottons, silks and linens. We have worked with the same fabric distributors, but we vary up the designers we work with. In the past we’ve used fabrics from Riley Blake, Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry, Kaffe Fassett and many others. When choosing fabrics for book covers, we have to consider availability, exclusivity, cost, and uniquely the size and direction of the pattern, which dictates the number of books per yard. Once converted, we cut down the yardage to manageable widths for production in the bindery."
INSIDE PAGES
Awesome paper, awesome fabric covers, and each book is handbound. Here's what the inside stitching looks like.
I asked Jason Thompson what he had to say about the paper in the journals.
"PAPER PAGES:
The pages of all of our journals are a 65lb vellum finish paper which is acid-free and archival. We chose it after testing books myself - many many years ago! We still use the same paper we designed for Journals back in the 90’s. I chose it because it’s thick, but pliable, and it has a good ‘tooth’ which takes pen, pencil and a light wash very well. A little bit of history - we still employ the same person to ‘cut’ and sew our journals (cutting gives journal pages a deckled edge) since 1996. Ann is employee number one, my first ‘official’ hire, and she still works for us, cutting all of our album paper and our journal pages." -Jason Thompson
I love reading this little bit of history. Thanks for sharing, Jason!
BRIANA'S FIRST PAGE SPREAD IN THE LARGE BLANK PAGE JOURNAL
I decided to do some paint scraping with a Catalyst tool and acrylic paint.
The process was quite soothing, and also kept me curious, as I played with the paint scrapes layering on top of one another.
I often can't have orange without pink in my art, so I decided to add some pink paint, too.
Then I felt inspired to test the paper a bit, by adding some stitching.
I used an awl to poke some holes.
As you can see, the paper had no trouble handling this process.
I added lime green embroidery floss.
And stitched an X pattern.
I had so much fun, I decided to challenge myself with a spiral on the right-hand page.
I drew the spiral in pencil, then poked my stitching holes.
Here's the front side of the completed spiral.
And here's the back side, which also looks pretty cool.
I am very pleased with the paper in the Large Journal by Rag and Bone Bindery.
Thanks for taking a peek at my process. It was very calming and meditative. Stitching takes time, but that's the point. (Have you heard of the #slowstitching hashtag over on Instagram? There's a lot of beauty happening there.)
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
So, are you ready to enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag and Bone Bindery?
I am so excited for you!!!
All you need to do is follow this link. Fill in the info and hit submit! The giveaway will be open until the end of Monday, July 16th, 2018. I will announce the winner on my www.OrangeSpiralArts.com site a few days after that. You may wish to sign up to receive Orange Spiral Arts blog posts by email. On the sidebar of my site, look for "Art Inspiration in Your Inbox" and hit Subscribe. Or, simply mark your calendar to come back and check in. Good luck!
SUMMARY
Rag and Bone Bindery journals have great paper, designer fabric covers, and are handbound by dedicated staff.
If you'd like to have the chance to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag and Bone Bindery, go here.
Happy Creating!
Sending Love and Blessings out to you now!
-Briana of Orange Spiral Arts
