Book binding is a skill I have been perfecting for over ten years now. I remember my first class so vividly. A small dim lit, cozy studio nestled in the forrest just outside of Santa Cruz, CA. Taught by the amazingly talented fiber artist, Jody Alexander (www.jalexbooks.com). She led us through the process of meticulously folding, cutting, sewing, repeat. After a few concentrated hours it was time to add the cover and sewn embellishments. My cover paper had a lumpy hand made surface in a creamy pink, white and tan. It reminded me of oatmeal. I folded the cover over the signatures and sewed a wheat stalk of waxy thread, pink, white, and green. Here in my hands were 80 perfect cream colored pages. Tightly woven in the shape of a book. Hand torn edges. Reddish brown waxed string. The only thing I ever wrote in this book to this very day is "CCF 2004," 1/8 inch tall lettering with a black Sharpie on the inside of the back cover.

“Click the photo to see the process...”

I have made many books in a similar style since then using an array of waxy threads, hand made papers, buttons, yarn, and found images for decoration. They are a wonderful convenient size, about 4.5 X 5.5 inches and half inch thick. I have one as a Salsa Journal, Home Made Recipe Book, School Journal, Business contacts and inventory, daily sketch book, ideas... wow, looks like I have kept quite a few for myself! haha!