Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Not all paper is made the same! So I have issues with grain direction- mainly remembering which way it needs to run (parallel to the spine, usually) and then keeping it straight which direction my paper is running! Well, I was "commissioned" to make a journal for someone in my family by someone in my family and so went out on a paper search. Up to this point, all my books have been made with paper given in class or "found" paper (aka left over from other projects). But I wanted this book to be special. Also, it's my first book that's not blank!
I went to Dakota Art Store to find paper. As soon as I walked in, I saw A4 and A3 paper (on sale!) and I wanted it. But, being the obsessive/compulsive shopper that I am, I searched the entire store for the papers on my list of "good for book arts" paper. Now, I was expecting to find parent sheets to cut down so I had figured out how how many parent sheets I needed to buy depending on what size parent sheet was found. I did not figure in A3/A4 paper. For those that don't know, Europeans use different paper sizes. Like the metric system, it's way more logical. They start out with a giant piece of paper (1m) that is called A0. Then they cut it in half. That's A1. Then they cut that in half. That's A2. Etc. Etc. Etc. Here's where grain thing kicks in: I was expecting grain long. Most computer paper is grain long (hotdog style). This paper was grain short (hamburger style). As I assumed/hoped it was grain long, the easiest thing to do would be cut the A4 in half to make A3 paper which would then be folded for my signatures. Clearly this couldn't work with grain short paper.
I made do (I'm making a 6x8 book, so cutting 12x8) and using the scraps for... well... unplanned books or half planned books. I cut about half the paper I wanted for the book to make sure printing on the size would work well, etc. and then used some of the scraps to test out the binding I wanted. SO GLAD I DID. I'm modifying a Gary Frost binding, but I haven't done one in about a year and my directions for it are somewhat vague. They're clear if you know what you're doing because it refreshes your memory, but I was taught visually and given the book for reference- I've never seen these directions before. I should have had a signature of two end papers on each end, I didn't need to sew on tapes (my favorite style of sewing), and book board is far too thick. I used too much glue on the paste paper cover (ok, that's not a failure, more unnecessary for this style) and too little on the spine. However, it looks better than I thought it would. I took another girl's leftover paste paper after my book arts class last term and to be honest, it's not really my style. I would probably never think to make that paste paper design myself, but it looks kind of sexy on this book. The book is 3.7x6 and would fit a 3x5 photo fairly well. I was thinking of selling it on etsy, but my lack of end papers to glue down makes it a lot less of a professional book than I would have liked. Also, as part of my modification, I covered the portion of the cover that is normally left "bare" but glued those pieces over the spine attachment and I'm unsure how well it will hold up. It's just not as polished as I would like.
However, I'm going to take all this into account and use more scraps to make another photo book (this time a bit longer so there's room for captions) before I do my grandma's. So maybe I'll have something to put up on etsy after all.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Felting gloves and binding books
I need to clean off my shelf to make my quick and dirty "light box" to put some pictures of my books. I need more shelves, my books have overrun my predefined space for them. Finished my felted gloves a while back but forgot about this blog. Same pattern as the ones I made for my dad but different size and colors.
However, as soon as I finish my nice warm gloves and finally put my nice, light-blocking, heat-saving curtains (made possibly my thoroughly exciting new cordless drill), there's a heatwave. It is officially 30 degrees warmer than it was last year at this time and I am not amused. I haven't seen snow yet this year and it's January. There has been snow in both locations I reside (college and parent's home) but I've been someplace else whenever the tender white flakes do fall.
Can't help but put a picture up of one of my more favorite bindings I did while TAing this term. It's not actually difficult, it's just more unusual to sew the top and bottommost "tapes" of this interlocking book and not have a kettle stitch. I'm eagerly planning my new few books now that I have a relatively easy term.
However, as soon as I finish my nice warm gloves and finally put my nice, light-blocking, heat-saving curtains (made possibly my thoroughly exciting new cordless drill), there's a heatwave. It is officially 30 degrees warmer than it was last year at this time and I am not amused. I haven't seen snow yet this year and it's January. There has been snow in both locations I reside (college and parent's home) but I've been someplace else whenever the tender white flakes do fall.
 |
| yes, this is the only picture I have. |
Can't help but put a picture up of one of my more favorite bindings I did while TAing this term. It's not actually difficult, it's just more unusual to sew the top and bottommost "tapes" of this interlocking book and not have a kettle stitch. I'm eagerly planning my new few books now that I have a relatively easy term.
 |
| oooo, binding.... |
Sunday, September 13, 2009
knitting needle case, apron, felted gloves
So.... Good to see I haven't forgotten how to procrastinate on this little thing.
knitting
Ok, this isn't technically knitting, but it sort of deals with it. First up, the knitting needle case. Mostly because it includes a picture of my sewing machine (I love that thing). I can't remember the pattern company, but it's a nice little pattern with several other knitting/crochet related stuff. I completed this around May. Maybe.
sewing
Next up, my apron. Bad picture of me. Ignore that part. Think of me wearing a dress and pearls. I've had several people comment that it could be a (somewhat scandalous) dress by itself. :-) I love the lines it gives me on the front, I always feel so darn domestic when I wear it. I don't want to get it dirty!
Bad news though, I washed it and one of the back ties got a bit detatched from the dress. It's a rough tear, I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to fix it.
(Note to self, pin long strings to apron next time you wash it!)
actual knitting
GLOVES. My dad has asked me for a good long while to knit him some nice gloves and a long while ago he bought me the needles, yarn, and book on how to felt. I finally finished his gloves and promptly made myself some as well (mine are a beautiful eggplant color, but not yet felted because I am a slacker). The first photo is of them unfelted, and the second shows the power of the washing machine. I intended to give these to him for Christmas last, but could NOT get the last skein of yarn I needed (and he talked me out of getting originally) when I came home. I found it the first week I was back in Bham. I felted his around Valentine's Day (because I only have access to a coin-op at my apartment) and finished my gloves by spring. I'll probably felt them in October when I come home for some drs appts. Hopefully it won't be too cold before then.
food
I made this lovely Italian loaf last February. It was the best loaf of bread I've ever made- just the right texture, flakey on top- mouthgasm just thinking about it.
Of course, it's from my fabulous New Best Recipe Cookbook.
knitting again
never quite gave an update on that phone cover, but I did turn it into a flash "how to" project for my New Media class last spring. I'm not a wiz at Flash and have very little interest at mastering the beast (I'm more of a book arts/print production person), but if you're interested, here's the link to my site. I basically ganked the images and what I had written on this site, stylized the photos, added a bit of motion, and called it good. Didn't both to go back and fix a few things after the critique, I didn't care enough.
http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/messinj2/dsgn354/howto/howto.swf
knitting
Ok, this isn't technically knitting, but it sort of deals with it. First up, the knitting needle case. Mostly because it includes a picture of my sewing machine (I love that thing). I can't remember the pattern company, but it's a nice little pattern with several other knitting/crochet related stuff. I completed this around May. Maybe.
 |
| all finished! |
 |
| holds (nearly) everything! |
sewing
Next up, my apron. Bad picture of me. Ignore that part. Think of me wearing a dress and pearls. I've had several people comment that it could be a (somewhat scandalous) dress by itself. :-) I love the lines it gives me on the front, I always feel so darn domestic when I wear it. I don't want to get it dirty!
Bad news though, I washed it and one of the back ties got a bit detatched from the dress. It's a rough tear, I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to fix it.
(Note to self, pin long strings to apron next time you wash it!)
actual knitting
GLOVES. My dad has asked me for a good long while to knit him some nice gloves and a long while ago he bought me the needles, yarn, and book on how to felt. I finally finished his gloves and promptly made myself some as well (mine are a beautiful eggplant color, but not yet felted because I am a slacker). The first photo is of them unfelted, and the second shows the power of the washing machine. I intended to give these to him for Christmas last, but could NOT get the last skein of yarn I needed (and he talked me out of getting originally) when I came home. I found it the first week I was back in Bham. I felted his around Valentine's Day (because I only have access to a coin-op at my apartment) and finished my gloves by spring. I'll probably felt them in October when I come home for some drs appts. Hopefully it won't be too cold before then.
 |
| pre-felting |
 |
| post-felting |
food
I made this lovely Italian loaf last February. It was the best loaf of bread I've ever made- just the right texture, flakey on top- mouthgasm just thinking about it.
Of course, it's from my fabulous New Best Recipe Cookbook.
 |
| deeeelicious! |
knitting again
never quite gave an update on that phone cover, but I did turn it into a flash "how to" project for my New Media class last spring. I'm not a wiz at Flash and have very little interest at mastering the beast (I'm more of a book arts/print production person), but if you're interested, here's the link to my site. I basically ganked the images and what I had written on this site, stylized the photos, added a bit of motion, and called it good. Didn't both to go back and fix a few things after the critique, I didn't care enough.
http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/messinj2/dsgn354/howto/howto.swf
Friday, April 3, 2009
I'm bad at posting to this thing, it feels so utilitarian. My LJ definitely has more draw for some reason. I have been taking pictures of some of my creations over the past year (really?! it's been nearly a year!?) with the intention to post them, but it just hasn't happened. I think i'll have to add sewing in to this knit/bake mix because since getting my sewing machine at Christmas, my projects and intended projects have related to one or the other. I made a delightful 50's style apron around my birthday and I intend to make a knitting needle and crochet hook keeper within the next couple of weeks. SO, let's do a massive update, shall we?
Oh and despite my last posts' intention, I have yet to get a picture of that string bag I made though I use it most every week when i go grocery shopping.
Oh and despite my last posts' intention, I have yet to get a picture of that string bag I made though I use it most every week when i go grocery shopping.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Cookies and biscotti
I have been baking, but got a bit too lazy to take pictures and then too busy to bake a few weeks.
so, a brief foody update and later i'll take some pictures of the string market bag i finished and put those up. Also, an update on that cell phone cover i crocheted later.
NE plus Ultra Cookies
from Martha Stewart's Cookie Book
A few weeks ago, my dad decided to pick up a new cookie book. I've made a couple out of there and this one got rave reviews. They are a slightly cakey cookie, but there is so much goodness in them (raisins, chocolate chips, and walnuts) that it's harder to tell. I intended to put coconut in the mix, but didn't remember til after I baked them. They hit the spot when you want a nice, big, chewy cookie
Cranberry-Walnut Biscotti
also from Martha Stewart's Cookie Book
It originally called for cherries and almonds, but we tend to have cranberries on hand 90% of the time and rarely cherries... and walnuts seemed to go better with the cranberries than almonds. These were liked much more than the spiced biscotti, (though those were pretty good), perhaps because they were a bit softer and more like a cookie. These came out a bit more cake-like, I think because of the butter content. I didn't follow the recipe's directions of simmering the berries in almond liquor, instead I followed a America's Test Kitchen tip: I soaked the cranberries in orange juice for about 15-20 minutes. They plump up and take a bit of the citrus flavor with them but not in an overwhelming way. I question the point of this a bit because biscotti has a bake all the moisture out of them, but it tasted good. They batter rose quite a bit from the baking soda (it was HUGE, much bigger than I expected) and seemed a bit like a buttery shortbread- but it's been forever since I've had shortbread, so don't take my word for it.
I made some of my favorite rosemary whole wheat bread the other day, but it got compromised. I had put it in my warmed oven to give it an ideal place to rise as dinner was being prepared, but then we unexpectedly decided to use the oven to warm some chips and my mom turned the oven on! I didn't realize for a bit and by the time i noticed, the yeast had denatured and wouldn't recover. It rose a tiny bit more, but it had a pretty decent "skin" of too warm/heated/ruined dough on top. The bread came out tasting fine, but only about half the rise as usual. It was a bit disappointing, because it was two loaves instead of one. This week I plan on making a apricot/walnut bread.
so, a brief foody update and later i'll take some pictures of the string market bag i finished and put those up. Also, an update on that cell phone cover i crocheted later.
NE plus Ultra Cookies
from Martha Stewart's Cookie Book
A few weeks ago, my dad decided to pick up a new cookie book. I've made a couple out of there and this one got rave reviews. They are a slightly cakey cookie, but there is so much goodness in them (raisins, chocolate chips, and walnuts) that it's harder to tell. I intended to put coconut in the mix, but didn't remember til after I baked them. They hit the spot when you want a nice, big, chewy cookie
Cranberry-Walnut Biscotti
also from Martha Stewart's Cookie Book
It originally called for cherries and almonds, but we tend to have cranberries on hand 90% of the time and rarely cherries... and walnuts seemed to go better with the cranberries than almonds. These were liked much more than the spiced biscotti, (though those were pretty good), perhaps because they were a bit softer and more like a cookie. These came out a bit more cake-like, I think because of the butter content. I didn't follow the recipe's directions of simmering the berries in almond liquor, instead I followed a America's Test Kitchen tip: I soaked the cranberries in orange juice for about 15-20 minutes. They plump up and take a bit of the citrus flavor with them but not in an overwhelming way. I question the point of this a bit because biscotti has a bake all the moisture out of them, but it tasted good. They batter rose quite a bit from the baking soda (it was HUGE, much bigger than I expected) and seemed a bit like a buttery shortbread- but it's been forever since I've had shortbread, so don't take my word for it.
I made some of my favorite rosemary whole wheat bread the other day, but it got compromised. I had put it in my warmed oven to give it an ideal place to rise as dinner was being prepared, but then we unexpectedly decided to use the oven to warm some chips and my mom turned the oven on! I didn't realize for a bit and by the time i noticed, the yeast had denatured and wouldn't recover. It rose a tiny bit more, but it had a pretty decent "skin" of too warm/heated/ruined dough on top. The bread came out tasting fine, but only about half the rise as usual. It was a bit disappointing, because it was two loaves instead of one. This week I plan on making a apricot/walnut bread.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bread, Biscotti, and Bagels
This week's attempts:
Buttermilk Oatmeal Sandwich Bread
a combination of variations in The New Best Recipe Cookbook from America's Test Kitchen
verdict: excellent. I highly approve. I wish I had a bread pan with a lid so I could get a more square shape.
Biscotti
The New Best Recipe Cookbook
verdict: quite good. Biscotti is supposed to have all the moisture baked out of them and therefore they have a quite long shelf life. However, having all the moisture baked out of them means they are super crunchy/dry. Remind me a bit of the texture of a dog biscuit... but would a dog biscuit taste so good when dunked in a convenient cup of tea? I don't think so. The tea (or coffee if one is so inclined) re-hydrated it perfectly to be more a melt in your mouth sort of thing.
Bagels
also from The New Best Recipe Cookbook
verdict: less than stellar. In fact, worst bagel ever: very chewy (like silly putty!), little taste, and the appearance was a little bit disgusting. I think I'm doing something wrong when making the dough. I can't get it smooth like the book says it should be and I kneaded extra (after two nights of failed attempts) this time! I didn't have a lot of hope for these after having so much trouble with the dough, but the pictures are kinda cool. I wish I'd taken a picture before they went in the oven.
Buttermilk Oatmeal Sandwich Bread
a combination of variations in The New Best Recipe Cookbook from America's Test Kitchen
verdict: excellent. I highly approve. I wish I had a bread pan with a lid so I could get a more square shape.
Biscotti
The New Best Recipe Cookbook
verdict: quite good. Biscotti is supposed to have all the moisture baked out of them and therefore they have a quite long shelf life. However, having all the moisture baked out of them means they are super crunchy/dry. Remind me a bit of the texture of a dog biscuit... but would a dog biscuit taste so good when dunked in a convenient cup of tea? I don't think so. The tea (or coffee if one is so inclined) re-hydrated it perfectly to be more a melt in your mouth sort of thing.
Bagels
also from The New Best Recipe Cookbook
verdict: less than stellar. In fact, worst bagel ever: very chewy (like silly putty!), little taste, and the appearance was a little bit disgusting. I think I'm doing something wrong when making the dough. I can't get it smooth like the book says it should be and I kneaded extra (after two nights of failed attempts) this time! I didn't have a lot of hope for these after having so much trouble with the dough, but the pictures are kinda cool. I wish I'd taken a picture before they went in the oven.
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