Boney Maroney

My mom always used to sing that song to me when I was a kid -

"I know a gal named Boney Maroney,
she's as skinny as a stick of macaroni,
But I love her, and she loves me,
Oh how happy we will be!"

It explains a lot about how my mind has been warped toward a love of corny jokes and puns, and also provides a tenuous link to a post about my new teflon bone folder from Paper Source. When I first began using it, I wasn't sure about it. I tend to use my bone folder for everything from folding, to smoothing paper, to flattening brads - and for some of these jobs, it's just too soft. Well, it's really just too soft for flattening brads - but it works like a dream for folding paper, and smoothing down freshly glued covers and endpapers. The main selling point is that it never leaves a shiny mark - on anything.

Having different bonefolders for different tasks is cool though - one of my bookbinding teachers had a whole arsenal of bonefolders. He even would carve them into different shapes for different tasks. He was a bit of an expert in bookbinding tools, and gave me a great tip - soak your bonefolders in oil to clean and refresh them. It really works well.

In conclusion - I would recommend adding a teflon bone folder to your bookbinding arsenal. No more shine marks!

Textile Type

I just discovered that there is a textile font on Word 2003. Great for anyone who knits or sews and wants to print up little tags, or for nerds like me who like to know you have a little black sheep at your disposal - just in case.

Gnomes make me happy...

I'm not sure if it was Amelie, but I've been digging gnomes lately. So, when I saw this shirt made by Shona at lala dex press - I had to have it! It arrived the other night and I am so pleased, the shirt is even nicer than anticipated- the colours are so vibrant and the fabric is so lovely and soft. And that gnome print - so cute! I've mentioned Shona's work here before, and said that I liked her "sparkle monkey" design, and sweet Shona remembered and included this package of cards...
All of Shona's designs are hand-cut lino prints. I really love lino prints - especially things like the little marks around the monkey's tail - so much life and character. The package also included a gnome postcard that I've proudly posted on my inspiration board. Thanks Shona! I'm looking forward to many happy days wearing my gnome shirt....

More Studio Dreaminess...

Speaking of dreamy studios, check out fabric designer Heather Bailey's studio...sigh...

Studio Dreams

I mentioned a while back that I've been outgrowing my little studio. Unfortunately, this situation has not yet been addressed, but the time it's taking for my live-in carpenter to get started is giving me lots of opportunity to research my options. The main thing I need is a place to store my large sheets of paper. I can't afford fancy flat files, so I want to make my own, as pictured above. This image is from HGTV, and appeared on the show "Divine Design." I am thinking (hoping) that this will be a fairly simple project - I would even like to have two paper storage areas on either end that support a work desk. I also love the idea of an island, like the one in the corner of this picture, where I could cut my paper and have lots of storage cubbies below. I can't wait to get started, but it will probably be at least a month or so before the work begins. In the meantime, I'll be doing lots more research. Any suggestions/ideas would be welcome!

Delightful!

I found a new hat yesterday. I really like it. This photo is a bit blurry - that's sort of on purpose, I hate having my photo taken. I took about a zillion of me in my hat, and this is the only one that sort of didn't make me retch. Anyhow, I digress - I love this little hat, and it came with a small bird pin attached to the side. Someone at work told me that I look like a young Diane Keaton wearing it, so naturally - I don't want to take it off! I saw Annie Hall for the first time over the weekend and loved it, and also loved Diane Keaton as Annie. Her funky menswear look was so cute!

Also in the realm of delightful things, I got an email yesterday saying that I've been made a delightful blog! I've added the button in my sidebar, so you can go there and check out my entry (which is really lame), and also discover lots of cool blogs. Speaking of the sidebar, I've added tons of links to other blogs I read - which are all very cool, so you should check them out.

I've had a busy couple days finishing and packing books for an order, so I'm giving myself the night off to veg on the couch and watch Babel. I try to watch all the movies nominated for best film Oscar before the awards, and I missed that one at the cinema. Hope you have a nice night planned too!

Going Green

This may be old news, but I still want to share it. There is a company called greendimes, and for around ten cents a day, they will stop junk mail coming to your house and plant a tree to replace those killed by said junk mail. The service has been in the states for a while and will be available in Canada in March. We get so much junk mail here that isn't even opened, but put immediately in the recycling bin, so I'm looking forward to signing up. Also, I've got to win back some karma points for all the paper I use making my books.

For more on this green theme, check out the latest issue of domino - all about eco living and decorating, and not one bit hippy-ish in the least.

Cheerio!

Happy Kitty Bunny Pony

One of my favorite blogs, Print and Pattern, is doing an excellent series on pattern related books this week. Featured today was this book - Happy Kitty Bunny Pony. You have to love a book with a title like that! And, you have to love a blog like Print and Pattern that takes the most gorgeous prints, sometimes from unexpected sources, and brings them to us everyday. It's a wonderful resource, and it's reassuring to know that there's someone out there who's also obsessed with patterns!

Routine

Lately, I've been getting into a bit of a routine. I come home from work, have a shower, put on my trackies, eat dinner and then do at least an hour of work on my books. I like to listen to an episode of This American Life or Wiretap while I'm working. I overdosed a bit on work while preparing for Christmas, but now I find myself looking forward to coming home and doing my little routine. It's nice to be able to work slowly and methodically, without any pressures. Tonight, I folded and trimmed a bunch of accordions, and made a few books that are now happily squishing (sorry to use such a technical term) under weights. Happy and content, I'm now off to make a cup of tea and curl up on the sofa with my knitting. I just have to get better at working blogging into my daily routine!

This has nothing to do with my routine, but I just heard something really funny. A little Irish girl called Becky making a prank phone call to a wrecking company asking them to blow up her school. Listen here.

Host Hunt, anyone?

I've been reading all over the web about Top Design - that sounds like one cool show. Unfortunately, we will not be able to see this excellent program in my part of the world for about a zillion years! Fortunately, I've stumbled on CBC's Fashion File Host Hunt, and I've really been enjoying it. All the people above are competing to host CBC's Fashion File, and have to complete a number of challenges. This week, they had to look at models wearing outfits and identify the designer. Next week looks really cool - they have to do a fashion shoot using only items from Value Village. It's all really great - and 100% Canadian! So, be patriotic - join me in watching Fashion File Host Hunt, eh? (I know, that's so corny - but watch it anyway and support our national public broadcaster).

New from Paper Source

I did a biggish Paper Source order the other night. I was out of loads of flat paper, and also decided to treat myself to a teflon bone folder and a fancy paste brush from Germany. I was happy to see that they also had a number of new Japanese papers - pictured here - which of course, I could not resist. They also have a new paper colour - curry. Yum.

I have to hand it to Paper Source - they always have papers in the most trendy fashion colours and their customer service is really excellent. I wish we had a place like this locally, but I'm sure if I could walk into their shop and see everything, I would be even more tempted. Now, I just can't wait to turn these lovely papers into books!

Country Living - Women Entreprenuers Issue

I picked up the Country Living - Women Entrepreneurs issue today. It's really good, and chock full of inspiring ideas and resources for those who are running their own creative business, or aspire to do so. There are tips on setting up a craft room using found objects and repurposed items from the hardware store.

There are also images from Amy Butler's amazing studio, some of her bags are pictured above, and there are views inside the homes and businesses of creative women. My favorite story in the issue is about a potter called Joan Platt (sorry, can't find a website) who started her craft around age 40. She works in a gorgeous country studio, creating beautifully imperfect plates and bowls in shades of green and yellow. It's stories like these that keep me going when I'm questioning why I'm working so hard on my "hobby."

Anyhow, if you need an inspirational boost, you should check it out. All images above are from the Country Living site, which showcased last year's issue - which is also worth checking out, if you can still get your hands on it.

An Open Book

I've been working on editing and cropping photos for my website over the last few days. I find this work exhausting - I don't know how graphic designers cope! But, they are trained professionals and I am just fumbling around. I'd like to share a few of my favorite images from the shoot - the theme is "an open book..."

Red origami book - these always remind me of the Sydney Opera house when they're open like this...

Accordion book, featuring photos from our wedding...

Blank accordion book, waiting to be filled. Now, only about 100 more photos to edit. At this rate, I will launch the site in 2009! So, it's back to work...

Craft Booth Design for Bookbinders

There is a great post today over on the Rag & Bone blog all about setting up their display booth at the New York International Gift Fair. Rag & Bone are a bindery on Rhode Island, and their blog is a great resource for anyone interested in bookbinding and paper arts. Anyhow, this post goes into great detail about how they designed their booth - it's very beautiful, and they have some amazing ideas on attracting customers and positioning other items with your products. It really puts the double happiness booth, pictured above, to shame. I may have to put some of their ideas to work for my next show.

An Unintended Break

I took an unintended blogging break this week. I'm not sure exactly what happened - things just seemed to get away from me, and suddenly, it's around a week since I last posted. It's been a good week - I celebrated my 35th birthday (!) yesterday by having a relaxing day, being waited on hand and foot, and then going out to dinner. I had Friday off work, and treated myself to a facial, massage and haircut - I've never had such a self-indulgent day, so it was really nice. I love my new haircut - it's really just a trim, but I love having my hair cut, it always feels so fresh and new.

Of course, I got lovely presents. My dad and stepmom came over for a visit with a giant basket filled with cheese, wine, grapes and a baguette - they know me so well! Martin gave me a book I've been wanting to read called "The Custodian of Paradise" by Wayne Johnston. It's a follow up to one of my favorite books "The Colony of Unrequited Dreams" and features my favorite character from that book, so I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Today, it's back to work, cleaning the house, trying to get my new website up and running, some reading and perhaps, knitting a bit on the scarf pictured above that I'm making for Martin. Just a lovely, puttery (not sure if that's a word), relaxing Sunday in my little house, looking at the snow falling outside.