Rebound Watercolor Sketchbook

Monday, May 21, 2007 at 7:23 PM




I had the most wonderful and productive day. I arose this morning to a cool day with a light rain falling. I have been toying with the idea of making my own watercolor sketchbook after looking over some of the reloaded books like: Shirley's Paper and Threads, Jan's In my Spare Time, and Martha's Trumpetvine Travels on their blogs.



Fortunately I have done some bookbinding and already have all the supplies in my studio. I just needed a book to re-love. So I headed downtown Riverside to the only used book store I know and found 2 great books. One of Degas (which I couldn't bear to take apart) and the other 'Art Centers of the World: New York' I came home and quickly got to work.



I kept all the color plates in the book and incorporated them into the 11 signatures. I used arches 90# hot and cold press and 140# cold press for my signatures. I loved he end papers in the book which is a map of New York and location of all it's museums. I found the sewing to be relaxing as I listened to a new audio book "Albert Einstein."



After the photos for this blog entry the book is resting under several heavy nursing and art books to dry for a few days. I can't wait to start using it. If I love it I will have to make another for my trip to Europe next fall.



Oh, as a side note: While downtown I treated myself to a nice authentic Mexican meal at my favorite: The Tamale Factory and then went out in the light drizzle to sketch one of my favorite boutiques with my new mechanical pencil !


Good day, just plain good!

8 comments

  1. Unknown Says:

    this is lovely. and inspiring. thanks for sharing. make sure you show us the new art that you create within those pages!
    lshannon

  2. E-J Says:

    That does sound like a creative and fulfilling day!

    Great job on the sketchbook. I'm not sure I would have the courage to take a book apart, but the end result must be so rewarding.

  3. That's inspiring! Good idea, and you appear to have done a neat job. Can't wait to look inside it.

  4. Anonymous Says:

    Marta,
    I LOVE it! What a beautiful book! I can't wait to see the pages after you start filling them up!

  5. Jan Allsopp Says:

    Looks great! I'm glad you enjoyed making it so much. I loved making mine. But be careful! I now have a huge stack of books that "I will make into sketchbooks one day"! It's addictive.

  6. Sandy Says:

    Cool Marta, you have been very hard on yourself lately so maybe a fresh book will give you a fresh start, you are too talented to waste time!!

  7. Anonymous Says:

    What a great project! I like that you used more than one kind of paper in the book. And nice little sketch there too.

    (Also love the slideshow - I'll have to try that myself!)

  8. Emma Pod Says:

    I love this idea. Thanks for sharing the info on how to do it. It's such a great idea to get an interesting used book for the cover!

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