Thanks for the instruction! BTW, I LOVE the room with all the windows. If I had that, I would just move my bed in there and live in it. It's SO wonderful to have a space where you feel like you're outdoors, but don't have to deal with bad weather.
Gorgeous!!! Years ago I made my own paper with imbedded flowers from my garden. My husband made paper presses for me. You have so inspired me. Thank you 💕
Finding so many of your helpful videos! A tip on for easy deckled edge: first, I fold backwards and forward. Second..take something like your sponge applicator, wet, but not soaking, run it gently down the fold. Just gently pull apart. I use this on my western and Xuan paper..in fact, I do it just to create the deckled edges. My Xuan paper comes in rolls, usually 1.5Mx3-5M. I dread cutting day-but having already cut paper that is a pain to keep down flat-especially if it has been rolled up for a long time-you can’t really tape it, even with Washi tape. I HAVE, and sometimes it’s fine, but especially my “glass” and “cicada wing” paper is SO thin and delicate, (and, because it’s handmade, always has spots that are even thinner); as the names suggest, it’s mostly translucent. I’ve torn it trying to roll it back up and put some back into the tube. You CAN patch it on the back side and if you do it right, especially adding a bit of alum to the glue water, you can’t tell once it’s painted and mounted. I have a few though that I just keep for myself. 😂 My first attempt at a large night sky wash with a large moon and bunny in the middle…I asked my tutor if 6 “patches” on one painting was a record. My daughter and best friend think it’s one of my best pieces and I’m being too self-critical, that you can’t tell they are patches, it just “adds depth, character and texture”. Maybe I am too self-critical and need to go back to a therapist..to ME it looks like a 5yr old had a bad decoupage day. 🤷🏼♀️😂 Anyways, right now I have more sketchbooks than I really need, including 3 accordion books with Xuan. But, they are all raw paper..in fact I can’t find ANY with the delicate sized. My best friend discovered the hard way that even with the thicker raw Xuan, you HAVE to put a piece of the thick felt we always put under calligraphy or paintings..it’s just a part of traditional painting. But your videos gave me an idea. I should be getting a big roll of new felt this week…barring customs confiscating it (like they did an ink stick) or destroying it, (like they did my off-white paint chips one of my tutors handmade from abalone shells, white coral and real crushed Pearl. I received it, it was my christmas gift and he put it in a vial with a detailed painting-on the inside of the glass, wrapped in mulberry silk, in a hand embroidered silk bag, in a small hand carved wooden box.. he had given it to another student to mail from Hong Kong, from an art school there where they could pre-inspect and verify there was nothing in it not allowed in the mail system. All 3 boxes inside had the inspection report, that it was an art “supply” and fragile. A month later my local carrier knocked and said he thought there might be a problem (again) with my package from China. It was bad..I cried..I kind of wish they had just confiscated it. The silk was gone, the box was needlessly busted along the edge rather than just unlatching it the silk bag was there, but stained with the dark pink reagent they use for illicit substances and instead of just taking a sample of the paint chips out to test-they put it directly into the vial, destroying both the painting and paint chips. And…of course, I have no recourse. I know this because a good friend of my late Son’s, a Tibetan Monk, sent me and my girls handmade silver urn necklaces to honor my son and the years of volunteer work he had done. They had teeny tiny prayer rolls inside of them that he had done. All 3 were confiscated, not even sent back to the monastery. 😔. We were told they were on the “sanctions list”. They weren’t. They insisted to my local senator that they just ASSumed they were sanctioned, and threw them away. Pure silver with inlayed gold, lapis, opal, emerald and Diamond? Methinks there’s some pleasantly surprised customs agents wives or girlfriends….nevermind. So, why continue to get things from China? MOST things are getting through. Many things, I don’t even know until they arrive…today, I got this really neat stool, it folds up to fit in a carrying bag and even fits in my purse. My Dr Kitty Leela got a new cat grass planter..it’s hard to explain, but she can’t pull them out by the roots or Tip it to spill dirt…she already has a water fountain that this attaches to. A few weeks ago that same professor sent me 24kt gold ink in a sealed glass decorative jar..it doesn’t appear that it was even opened. 🤷🏼♀️. He’s going to try and send another vial of the white paint chips with a friend of my Son’s who is coming here in May. Weiwei has a 2-day layover in Taipei to visit another friend and they are going to try and get it certified outside the mainland again and HOPEFULLY they’ll allow him to bring it. I had another question on another video…but, after thinking about it..I think I’ll use my gold ink instead of my gold leaf. It’s a western style painting for my younger daughter who is a critical care nurse practitioner. The gold is for a “heart”-as in anatomically correct heart, and connecting vessels-although the rest of the painting is largely abstract, signifying blood, water, oxygen, bone..pages from an old medical text, tree, flower, sunshine…yes, it’s mixed media; one of those strange ideas you get stuck in your head…that “sounded” much easier than it turned out to be 😂 ..the lotus and “tree of life” are on Xuan paper, decoupaged onto a large canvas I put watercolor medium on…in spots. Bottom line is I think gold leaf might be too much AND, like your beautiful painting, there’s a LOT of detailed edges, cut-outs in the middle…I think I’ll be safer painting with ink. And quicker/easier. Getting back to a point I started and never finished-IF I get my felt this week, I’m thinking of making my friend a RING Style “sketch” book with 4 different papers and a perfectly cut piece of felt she can take out and put in… in Gongbi, or detailed traditional paintings, you always start with an ink outline. I’d like to put western hot press, inexpensive sketch paper, semi-sized and sized..with those reinforcement ring things around the holes….in a large binder that I’ll decorate.. And Dr Kitty Leela has informed me I’ve typed long enough and I’m getting yelled at, slapped in the face (gentle & always followed by a kiss 🥰😸), and the paw in the mouth = it’s urgent…dinner time. 😂. She’s not “normal”. If you’re on twttr, her neglected acct I’m locked out of for some reason, has a pinned post on how she saved my life, became a local celebrity, and was awarded her MD by my former colleagues at the hospital. (They don’t let old legally blind docs who (are supposed to) use a wheelchair practice here…or drive 🤷🏼♀️. Ahhh well, I can play with my paint. 😁). It’s at kitty_Leela. She’s part Maine Coon, a giant ball of long orange fur. I rescued her; she has saved ME more than once. 🥰
Hi Elaine, I feel like I know you 😊 and Dr Kitty. I will look her up. I cannot imagine how annoying it is to get things confiscated. I hope your plan for the book works!
WOW!!! Absolutely stunning and practical on so many levels. Plus making your own book with paper and cover of choice is so satisfying. I'm blown away. This is my next project! I've recently been buying sheets of watercolour paper from Jackson's because it's much kinder on my shallow pockets, but I still like watercolour sketchbooks for Urban Sketching. May not be buying more Stillman & Birn in my future after this. This is a game-changer. I think I'm going to become a Sketchbook making fiend 😁 A gazillian 👍's up! Gosh, I'm loving your channel, Liz. Thanks for sharing ❤
What a fantastic demonstration, Liz! I am definitely going to have a go at this - I have a lot of 300lb Arches Rough paper, which I love, and now you've given this step-by step, I can give it a go with confidence. Thank you very much!
I’ve just made a little sketch book I covered it with wallpaper and it looks fabulous. He easiest way yet, I’m done with fussy, sewn in home made books now I’ve discovered this. Thank you. X
Just got into book binding, and I've really enjoyed your video. Now, I can make exactly what I want instead of being unsatisfied with what's available at the shops.
Wow, what a clear, detailed instructional video on a rare topic - I have several good watercolor papers but the sketchbooks found online are either too expensive, or doesn’t meet my needs, that I was wondering why not make my own notebook. Thanks for making such a detailed video.
so pleased it was helpful. have you seen the one on a concertina sketchbook? they are probably my favourite: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DOZsPbNhpbY.html
I too am chuffed with that - first class demo/tutorial/encouragement -- wonderful - thank you very much. I love the no sewing and no cardboard faff with hinges! Terrific! I will now complete similar which I have been holding off.
I followed your instructions and I love my book! For the covers, I made a collage with vintage images , glued with matte medium and sealed with matte mod podge, it looks so pretty! I made it smaller so I can put it in my purse. The paper is not the best, is canson XL, but is ok, is just for me! Thank you for this tutorial!
Thank you again for this tutorial, Liz!! I just made my first tiny (3 1/2" x 4 1/4") sketchbook using this binding technique, and I love it!! I had all the materials already and only needed a new bottle of glue. I'm pleased that I got to use some old mid-weight paper and am delighted with the results. I'm trying it out before I make some for gifts or use some nice wc & printmaking papers (also very old) that I have lying around. It's been more satisfying than buying professional sketchbooks. Will see how it holds up to use. I might tryout an acid-free bookbinding glue which might be slightly better than Elmer's GlueAll, which is working so far. I did reinforce the spine with a thin strip of old cotton sheeting, and added a decorative piece of hand painted paper to identify the spine, so I wouldn't try to open the book from the wrong side and possibly damage it. Really pretty easy, attractive, useful, and satisfying!! ❤
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise! Your sketchbook turned out so beautifully! I love the paper with the dried flowers. I got some mat board yesterday, and I have some extra-large sheets of watercolor paper I purchased years ago that I will trim for making my own sketchbook. I might attach a ribbon bookmark to the spine. You make an excellent teacher, explaining steps clearly and at a steady pace. I look forward to watching your other videos. 😉
Thanks Liz, I'm excited to try this technique! I've just found quite a few WHSmith watercolour pads that I bought years ago and had forgotten about, they will be perfect for making some sketchbooks to play around in.
This is a wonderful tutorial, thank you for sharing! The flower cover is quite lovely and the toned paper on the binding makes the book feel quaint and antique-like. It’s beautiful! 💕
Thank you so much! I have just finished it using as an art journal and it is battered but hasn't fallen to pieces. I will do a flick through in a few weeks.
Thanks Liz! I’m still learning watercolor so if I don’t like what I painted as a whole I will take the parts I like and bind them similarly with book glue. I like your finishing process so I think I’ll try that next time.
One year in the future here I am learning how to make a simple beautiful book! Nice video 😊 I really like the tape on the bound edge such a good idea! ❤
Hi Liz! I’m on your site for the first time. I live near Portland Oregon. I worked as a nurse for over 35 years and am now not able to work as a nurse due to health issues but Art and various craft has always been my hobby (and fishing whenever I can go). I really enjoyed your video on making sketch books. I watched your video on accordion type folded sketchbooks just before this one . I very much enjoy your teaching style. A definite thumbs up for you! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 one thing I think I might do is use two extra sheets of a lightly colored paper that matches some color on the cover and use those for the end sheets to glue to the covers because good quality watercolor paper is so expensive I would feel bad about glueing one side down and not being able to use it. I love the natural edges of the paper you used in this sketchbook.
What a beautiful book! You do such a fabulous job explaining each step. Thank you for sharing! Burning question: How is the spine holding up about a year later?
@@LizChadertonArt I asked for a paper press for Christmas. It looks like the easiest way to keep pages in place while gluing. Plus there are lots of other uses for it. I’m so glad I came across your channel, now I can subscribe!
@@LizChadertonArt Thank you! I know I don’t; you gave us some good alternatives. But, the press is very economical, and I liked the idea of being able to clamp it into place, and not having to worry so much about accidentally moving some pages out of place while gluing.
@@LizChadertonArt I had so much fun making my own watercolor book that I made another with stitched coptic binding, which was fun to learn. Thanks for the inspiration! ❤
Liz this is such a stunning series, thank you! Here in our part of the world sketch books cost a arm and a leg. I managed to find a company that sells sheets loose instead of in packs of 10, making this a much more cost effective option. PS I painted the racoon (3 times ) 😉and he came out as one of my best so far! Thank you! Can't wait til Sunday's...
I made a couple from your last demo and definitely going to make a couple from this. It's great as you can make to the size you want and much cheaper than buying one. Thanks Liz as always 🙂
You’re so inspiring….I also like the size, …….i want to try it ..but i’m too frugal to take my good watercolour paper…ahhah but i will make my 1st sketchbook with my 140lbs paper….loved your video and thanks for sharing…from Ontario, Canada
Makes sense to try it with other paper first. If you like it, do a comparison of the shop price to the homemade price with your favourite paper and you will be convinced!
Thx for sharing this Liz. I think I found ur video at the perfect time 😊. I am bit reluctant to waste first and last paper 😂 but I guess I can use different cheap paper for that. I prefer that nifty binding you did with 3 treads. Did you cover that in a different video? Or have I missed it? I think I should watch this video again 😊
is this the one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dk_Jah4CChc.html ?
2 года назад
great video Liz, thanks for showing. I'm definitely going to try that too and I'm already looking forward to my first smug sketchbook in the size I want...
I’m really enjoying this mini-series - thank you! I love the idea of using handmade paper for these special journals. Would you mind sharing the brand and weight of paper you used please?
I think that would depend on the weave of your fabric. If it is loose weave you could back it with iron-on interfacing. That’s just a thought as I haven’t ever covered a book with cloth
Excellent video, thank you. Can I just ask please what size sheets of paper you used and the size do the covers, which appear slightly larger than the pages!
hi there. you can make this sketch book any size you fancy. I like the cover to be bigger than the pages,so it protects the edges. But I also try to minimise the number of cuts, so not to waste or make extra work…. The pages are 11x8 inches 28x19.5 cm and the cover is 11.75x8.25 ins 30x21 cm.
without watching the film again, I can’t remember what I said. It is a nipping press, was that it? or a book press, or even a flower press… but any heavy weight will work.
Once I have the book made and in use, will it be possible to add things to the pages? Like small bits & bobs to embellish the art? I'm worried it may put too much stress on the spine but, as an artist, it's hard to leave things plain. LOL!! It's not a deal breaker, as I LOVE this design. Just a thought. Thanks so much ❤
I used mine as an art journal and stuck in loads! The paper covering the spine gave out, but not one paper fell out. I was surprised as I really abused it. You can see for yourself here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QLEZSH9-lL8.html
I used this book as an art journal and it held up well. The decorative paper on the spine split, but the binding didn’t. How well will depend on the weight of your paper, what glue you use and how rough you are…. sewing is stronger, but I want to show you could make your own book without learning fancy stitching
Thank you! I've been searching around for instructions for making a sketchbook just like this! Just wondering what the size of your paper was when you began (inches please). Thanks again!
Wonderful tutorial thank you. Can you please let me know the name of the press you used please. Or link. I have listened several times but unable to work out what you said due to background noise. Thank you ☺️
Let me check..... it's a nipping press. My husband got this one for me off Etsy a few years back so I don't have a link, I'm afraid. You could make your own or if youre lucky find an antique one.... This one is like a giant flower press
Hello, have just come across this video and was wondering two years on how well the glue held up to pages being turned over maybe many times. Did any pages become unstuck over time?
@@LizChadertonArt Thanks, Liz. Will try and find some cloth tape or similar and then have a go at making one. I did go through a period of making my own sketchbooks using Coptic stitching but found that the sketchbook making was starting to take over from my watercolouring practice so stopped, but your idea of a glued version has inspired me to start again - thank you.
@@marigoldwood8494 I know that feeling! If you look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QLEZSH9-lL8.html I used the book for journal ly and it took a lot of weight and abuse….
Would Elmer’s all purpose glue work for the PVA glue? It claims to be acid free and apparently it’s a PVA glue. I researched and people said it is acid free but not flexible like true book binding glue.
I think it should be fine. It is PVA. THE danger is it might crack over time and a page might come loose, so it will be a good reason to use your sketch book sooner rather than later
Are you in the US? I think you call mount board, matte board, so you can usually get off cuts from a framer. Grey board is the board on the back of sketch books. I buy mine online or recycle old hardback book covers or old sketch books.
