Wednesday, February 25, 2009

New listings on Etsy

Ok, there's only one new one at the moment, but I'll be updating the shop over the next couple of days so I thought I'd give a preview here.

A couple of weeks ago a picked up a set of fat quarters from the Portsmouth Fabric Company. Fat quarters are pieces of fabric measuring 18 inches by 22 inches, usually sold as a set of coordinating fabrics marketed towards quilters. I think they're called "fat quarters" because usually a quarter yard of fabric would measure 9 inches by 44 inches, which is less useful, ate least to a quilter. Anyone, I saw a set at the store that was all black, white and yellow fabrics (the set was named "Taxi"), a combination I've really been digging lately, so I bought it to use as book covers. Here are the ones I've finished so far.

From Box of Light

This is the one I just listed on Etsy. All the books I've made so far use recycled cardboard for the covers and are hand-bound with coptic stitch.

From Box of Light

A better look at the binding. I really want to experiment with this stitch (in terms of the placement of the holes in the cover) and I want to work with some other bindings - bookbinding is this whole other world I just don't feel like I have the time to explore. One thing at a time I guess.

From Box of Light

I'm still working at photographing these books, and products in general. I made a makeshift lightbox but it was pretty rickety, and the cat destroyed it. I also don't have a tripod or the patience to deal with all that stuff. Natural light is nice but not entirely convenient and also too strong/directional. Something else to work on.

From Box of Light


From Box of Light

This one if my favorite of this series so far, I really love this fabric and think the minimal use of yellow is really effective.

I haven't posted those last two on Etsy yet, but I will at some point today. I also have neckwarmer/cowl I need to photograph and of course, many more things to make. I have more ideas than ever, to the point where I'm feeling overwhelmed and a little paralyzed. I'm definitely a perfectionist, which sometimes makes it difficult to just do something, without overthinking. It's funny because my main medium used to be clay, which is probably the most challenging medium to a perfectionist - something can go wrong at every stage of the process, and no matter how well you think you know the clay, glazes, kiln, things are a little different every time. I used to be pretty good a letting things go when something unexpected happened, I need to get back into that wabi-sabi mindset.

3 comments:

Lyn said...

I love the photos actually! The books look really well made too. I know what you mean when you have lots of ideas, you seem to not be able to do anything at all!
Love
Lyn
xxx

jackie said...

The black and white with yellow looks lovely, and so neat.

Chocolate and Steel said...

you are one busy lady. I love those books. The fabrics are beautiful and your stitching is great.