Hello Everyone
Previously I was posting over on Windows Live Spaces but there just wasn’t the versatitily that WordPress allows, so here I am. Over the next few weeks I hope to be able to tweek things to get them looking the way I want and learn how everything works here and then we can get some tutorials and other fun stuff on here.
Rather than a blank page in case it takes me a few days to get this going here is the sort of thing you can expect to see on this blog in the coming months
The Virtual Crafting Challenge; Monthly challenges to encourage you to use the crafting stash you have in new ways, or try a craft you haven’t tried before. There will be links to point you in the direction of tutorials and suppliers available throughout the web.
Tutorials; I am one of those people that has to share. If I have found a new technique or can show you how to make someting then I will post a step by step tutorial.
Bookbinding; Well I am new to this but I adore making hand bound books. This section will be mainly a show and tell type of gallery rather than too many tutorials but as my experience grows… who knows.
Links; I spend far too much time online and as a result I have collected a lot of crafting links, where ever possible if I use a product on the blog I will link to the manufacturer of it, so you will be able to source the item from your own country.
Videos; Well we do have a camera so maybe one day I will try make some video’s for You Tube but anything in this section is likely to be a link to a great new video I have found and wanted to share.
Reviews; If I have tried an amazing crafting product and have any comments on it I will use the blog as a way of letting you know how good or not it is. Bare in mind that the reviews will just be my personal opinion of a product.
(Repeats) Since this platform is so much more versatile I hope to re-publish some of my earlier posts from MySpace on here. For loyal visitors migrating with me from the old blog I shall try and mix these in with new things rather than putting too many together.
For me crafting really is ‘All About the Journey’ this has become a bit of a motto for me, as I enjoy the process of learning new techniques and seeing how to incorporate them into my projects. So if you are new and looking for inspiration I hope you will find something useful here, and if you have been crafting for some time try my Virtual Crafting Challenge as a way to take your crafting to new exciting places.
Best wishes and thanks for reading
Billie xxx
PS; Now we have the option do leave me a comment
Hi Billie, it’s looking great. Can’t wait to see it grow and I know the journey will be a good one.
Hugs
Hurrah – welcome to your new blog. I do like the layout and the picture. Looking forward to sharing your crafting with you. Lol Lynn x
Well done Billie look forward to reading your posts.
Sue x
Hello, hope to see your new blog soon !
Can’t wait to see the new blog – good luck with it
Billie, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I have a question about the bookbinding tutorial, if I may? I think it is in video 1/6. You used a sewing template. Where one would get such a template? i did a search for bookbinding sewing template but nothing really came up! many thanks. Laurence from California.
Hi Laurence
I am afraid that the tutorials on You Tube were not made by me, I was simply listing them as really useful videos to watch for anyone intersted in the subject.
However, a template is nouthing more than a cardboard pattern created by yourself to suit the project you are doing. The template will be different for different sizes of book and for different sewing patterns. If you made an A4 sized book the holes would be spaced differently to the template for a smaller book.
Do check out the TJ Bookarts Forum link from the side panel of the blog, they have lots of links to online tutorials and members from all around the world. I joined in March and they are really welcoming to newbies. If you want a good reference book of sewn binding then try http://www.keithsmithbooks.com his first book shows you how to measure and make templates for sewn bindings. His books are also available on http://www.amazon.co.uk
If you are stuck on a particular project come back to me on here and I’ll see if I can help you out.
Thanks for reading, best wishes
Billie
Hi Billie,
thanks for the prompt reply and all the suggestions you made!
I did buy the some books from Keith Smith quite a while ago but have not dared to try anything yet.
I will definitely check the TJ Bookarts Forum! Thanks for offering your help
Hi Laurence
Check out the book I have reviewed on 21 May 2008. It is much easier to understand than Keiths books if you have no prior experience of book binding. There are more pictures of finished books as well as step by steps that quote sizes. There are several styles of books described in there so you can try some out and see what you like.
I struggled with the first part of Keith’s book 1 and nearly gave up. Once you get to the book instructions it does get much clearer
If you get stuck just leave me a comment somewhere and I’ll try and help you.
Glad you posted your question, when I looked at the links it did leave it open for confusion as to who made the videos. I have now added ‘Made by…’ and the author of the video on the description part.
Here is a link to the web site link of the guy who made those videos you asked about.
http://www.papierdesign.de/bookbinding.htm
Another one to check out is this http://www.bookbindingguy.com/home.asp
TJ Book Arts have reviewed it here
http://www.tjbookarts.com/?p=585
Best wishes and thanks for you comments
Billie