Tuesday, March 29, 2011

special books

In the age of rampant electronic development, handmade books seem so contemplative, tactile, and necessary. I love handmade books and book artists (you know who you are; velma, lindsey, julia, and jean just to name a few). I have several lovingly created journals. They sit in a stack on my desk and I often leaf through them and touch their covers. None of them have been used by me. My scribbles and doodles doesn't seem worthy of their beauty. I am simply afraid to mess them up...


My fabric covered moleskine books were born from this fear. Somehow it seems less precious to write in a journal that can be replaced. I love making these covers, especially the eco dyed ones. Each of them becomes a small piece of art that can come along in my purse.

But now I am dreaming of making other books, more like the one we made in India's class this summer (pictured above). A book with surprises hidden among its pages; a pressed leaf, a charcoal rubbing, fabric pages, and small pockets. Maybe even a scribble or two...

21 comments:

  1. i love my fabric covered journal.. and i so agree with you ..just the act of writing is so soothing to me~

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  2. I always have a hard time starting journals. Once I get passed that I'm ok. These covers are very beautiful!

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  3. Wunderschön - ich liebe Blätter!

    Liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz
    Brigitte

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  4. Your fabric covered journals are beautiful. I love art books too and am sure you will do a great job with those you are dreaming of making. Looking forward to seeing the results.

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  5. I am thrilled to find you! I found you through a comment you made over on Kathryn's blog. Your work is gorgeous. I will be looking around your blog etc.

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  6. Such beautiful clear crisp covers. And I love your handmade ecodyed book - the one I made in my India class is still one of my most favourite things

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  7. I am totally in love with your journals! They are so beautiful! Books and journals are such a passion of mine and just like you I have a pile of unused ones. Consider me a new fan! I´m Swedish (living on Öland)and found you through a Norwegian blogger, who found her way to my blog. Isn´t it wonderful how we can all find and connect with each other, sharing inspiration and creativity regardless of where we happen to live! I´m a textile artist too. I needlefelt animals among other things. I also like to help spread the word on whatever great handmade stuff I find online so if you don´t mind I´ll let people know about your blog in a future posting? Lovely to find you!
    /Lina in Sweden (Minette&Minou)

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  8. I also have a fear of writing in journals and spoiling them, your covers are beautiful and also your hand made ones.

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  9. There's something so special about handmade books.
    Sometimes I would wish to create a book, where a "story" develops on it's own inside the book while I'm creating and connecting the pages. You know, so you would have the good work and the surprise all in one.

    I like the ones you've created very much!

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  10. so beautiful. i am like you, i LOVE beautiful journals, but cannot get myself so far to start using them, they just so special :)
    have a wonderful day!

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  11. Your handmade books look delightful Lotta!

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  12. drooling over the beauty of these~~

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  13. Lotta these are beautiful! I agree completely about not being able to use a journal but simply to keep them and enjoy their covers and perfectly pristine pages.

    These covers are the perfect solution. That way every notebook can be beautiful and special.

    As always I'm wowed by your work :)

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  14. stunning designs, beautiful site. Glad to find you through 13threads blog.

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  15. Stunning designs. Lovely site.

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  16. I love these books of yours so much! The one I bought from you is supposed to be a present for a friend but I still haven't posted it because I want to keep it! I'm very selfish! I also wanted to post about it on my blog, but that will have to wait till my poor friend has received it. I don't want to ruin the surprise for her. I might have to buy another one for me x x

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  17. I also have a fascination with sketch books, also find myself heading for plain black ones so I don't feel I am ruining a beautiful object....these ones you have found are divine!

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  18. Hi Lotta,

    I found you blog from a link on India Flint's blog. I want to thank you for posting this particular post, even though I'm reading it several months later. First, because you helped me find Jean on Etsy and we are talking about a custom Dos-a-Dos journal. But also because you posted a picture of your book made in India Flint's workshop. I am taking her workshop soon and I can hardly wait I am so excited! So to get a wee glimpse of the possibilities... thank you! :-)

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I always love to hear from you! I read every word and cherish every thought, even if I am not always able to reply back. Thank you for visiting.

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