If you’re in or around Cologne and like to build your own bookpress come on over to Dingfabrik. Thorsten and me are giving a bookpress workshop this Sunday, January 23rd 2011. The bookpress we’ll make is based on the one Jos built me a couple of years ago and that I have been using ever since. You can find more infos on our Dingfabrik blog.

There will also be the first bookbinding workshop soon, more infos here.

On the fleamarket I recently discovered some beautifully patterned books – they all belong to a series called Insel-Bücherei (Island library). I bought a few old ones and Nicki surprised me with some lovely pink, red and purple ones that are still in excellent shape for my birthday.

Yesterday I had a visit from Manuel whose Paperbot workshop I missed and together we spent a nice afternoon turning a couple of these books into file folders.

… and finally – after many many adventures in crocheting, sewing and knitting – I’m in the mood for making file folders again. And I think I never showed you the drawer, since I cleaned it and ordered all my papers several months ago.

It’s been coming back slowly. Last week I picked up tons of cardboard I had cut at Buchbinderei Schäfer. Then Fabienne surprised me with this amazing handmarbled blue paper, when we made sushi together on sunday. And yesterday I happened to walk by Balloni to find some more beautiful paper. And tonight? My fingers are itching again…

Some very good friends got married this summer. I made them a photoalbum for their wedding photos. It made me think, that I really should take some photos with an analog camera again. Or at least have some of my many digital photos printed. And maybe make an album for myself…

When did you make your last photoalbum?

Walking through Kreuzberg I found this kids book with lovely illustrations by Caroly Reich in a thrift store. And I knew immediately what I wanted to use it for…

They are the first things I made since I got back from Berlin. And just like the little kid who must have owned the book, I also used to draw and write on everything around me when I was little…

We started the new year in the Netherlands and also had a wonderful (but much too short) afternoon in Amsterdam. On Reestraat I found a lovely little stationary shop called Cortina Paper with a nice selection of fine papers ideal for bookbinding – mostly italian Carta Varese and my favorite german “Buntpapiere” from Bindewerk.

Cortina Paper
Reestraat 22
1016 DN Amsterdam
Netherlands
On the Map

www.cortinapapier.nl

I made a very simple A4 journal as a birthday present for one of my best friends from college a while back, using black booklinen for the spine and natural brown kraftpaper for the covers.

I called it “book for boys” because I restrained (?) from using any of my patterned papers. Today I finished a second almost identical kraftpaper journal. I think I might add it to the shop tomorrow . It’s in the shop.

Liesan was wondering where to find grey elastics, I got it here.

In terms of crafting I’ve been rather lazy these last months. But I finally managed to finish the diy kit and list it in the shop. After loosing quiet some stuff including the print files due to a hard drive crash it took me some time to recreate the instructions.

But now it’s in the shop and I also added quiet a number of additional pattern and color options today:

If you want to see some finished memo pockets made from my diy kits, check out this blogpost on Dwaallicht’s blog (Thanx Liesan!) or these photos by Sandrine (Thanx so much dear!).

The kit will let you make a small memo pocket with 5 compartments measuring approx. 5.6″ by 4.0″ (14.2 x 10.3 cm). Besides an illustrated step-by-step instruction each kit includes:
- Decorative paper for the cover
- Matching Cardstock sheets for the pockets
- Cardboard covers
- Bookbinding glue
- Glueing template
- Matching ribbon

In addition all you’ll need is a cutter, a cutting mat and a paint brush. You can find the diy kit here in my etsy shop – I will hopefully also soon finish the german instructions and reactivate my little Dawanda shop.

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon the term and concept of Muji at the MoMA Online Store.

“The name “MUJI” is derived from the Japanese phrase “Mujirushi Ryohin,” meaning “No Brand Goods.” Over the last 20 years, they have developed a worldwide following with a guiding philosophy that emphasizes innovative and simple materials, processes, and packaging. The resulting products are streamlined, environmentally friendly, and beautiful in their simplicity.”

These beautiful desk and stationery products inspired me to make a “muji style memo pocket” – similar to the airmail memo pocket – using envelopes from brown recycling paper and leaving the cardboard uncovered.

I recently discovered this beautiful upcycled envelope book over at tulibri’s blog. This and the envelope accordion howto I posted a while back ago brought me to the idea of making a memo pocket book out of envelopes. Instead of upcycling (I’ll try that some other time), I chose to use these cute airmail envelopes I brought back from thailand.

I made 5 pockets by glueing the envelopes shut and then cutting them open on the side. Then I used two enevelopes that I cut completely open to use for the covers. They’re not quite as durable as the memo pockets I usually do, but I think they’re kind of cute and lots of fun to make – so I might make some more to sell at my etsy shop.