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December 16, 2013
In a quandry? Here are some ideas for stocking fillers, special presents and everything inbetween.
Don't forget to order by midnight on Thursday the 19th for Christmas delivery. I'd be happy to send orders directly to your gift recipients - just include their name, address and any gift message when you check out.
STOCKING FILLERS: Mini Journals £10
Bound in the same lovely, tactile goatskin as my larger books, they're the perfect little luxe gift. In pretty pink, to manly monochrome and all shades inbetween they're small but useful notebooks to slip into bags, pockets - and Christmas stockings, of course!
Paperback Notebooks £10 set of 2
Florals and graphics are paired with handmade Nepalese batik-dyed paper in these sweet notebooks.
FOR ADVENTURERS: Travel Journal £99
If someone you know is planning an extended trip overseas, this is just the thing. With a Mark Twain quotation on the front page, and special entry sections for date, location and in case of emergency details, this Travel Journal will be their faithfull companion.
FOR COUPLES: Wedding Guest Books £70 and £99
For love birds planning a wedding, these Guest Books will be a treasured gift. Bound in white goatskin for guests to leave their good wishes and advice, the couple can also include photographs from their big day. Bespoke options also available for made to order.
FOR ARTISTS: Leather Journal / Sketchbook £39, £70 & £99
The Longstitch with Linkstitch binding styles allows these sketchbooks to lie flat on a table, they take inclusions such as mixed media and collage, and with various secure closing methods, they're a safe place to plan larger pieces. Three sizes.
Sketchbook Set: Accordion Fold £15 set of 3; £10 set of 2
Something a little less ordinary for people who love to draw, collage and story-tell. These paperback notebooks open to reveal an expandable page.
FOR SCRAPBOOKERS: Memory Book £119
This book bound in fine goatskin is a luxurious option for those who love to scrapbook their holidays, event planning, make a record of the year or compile a photograph album. A5 landscape size with heavyweight paper and spacers in the spine.
FOR WRITERS & BLOGGERS: Hardback Journals £25
These hardback journals are the perfect size to tuck into a bag, take on a trip and jot down notes on inspirations, dreams and plans.
All of these books are in stock and ready to ship. For all that's good to go in time for Christmas, click here.
If you're reading this a little later than the 19th and are in a last minute fix, email me and we'll see what Father Christmas and the Elves can sort out for you!
As ever, bespoke options are available for all leather Journals, Sketchbooks, Wedding Guest Books and Memory Books. These are made to order, so please allow a few weeks and get in touch if you're planning a special gift for the New Year or Spring by email: info@boundbyhand.co.uk or call me: +44 (0) 7748 759 371
Happy Christmas!
Susan
December 16, 2013
Some are pretty, some are pretty minimal, none of these new paperback notebooks and sketchbook sets will break the bank. Explore the single and the double Pamphlet Stitch and the Accordion Fold...
Paperback Notebooks: £10 set of 2 in Pink, Blue or Orange.
I've paired floral and graphic prints with batik Nepalese Lokta paper to bind these sweet and slim notebooks.
Accordion Fold Sketchbook: £15 set of 3 in Sand; £10 set of 2 in Earth
Originally designed for an exhibition this summer, these sketchbooks are an inventive way to make and display your work. They're a very simple, clean design bound in the simple pamphlet stitch, but the pages are the accordion fold format - use it just like a regular book or open to its fullest extent for an unusual, expansive way to write, draw, collage, story-tell or make graphic novels.
Notebook Set: Double Pamphlet: £20 set of 3 in Earth or Cereal.
A single sheet of strong cover paper with a 'w' fold in the centre allows 2 signatures to be bound into one notebook in this Double Pamphlet style.
I'll be making more paperbacks in the new year and look forward to sharing more simple yet slightly unusual binding styles with you. I plan to start delivering adult workshops in book arts and bookbinding later in 2014, so if you'd like to learn how to make books like this, that you can then use to make your own art with, do sign up to my newsletter.
Susan
December 12, 2013
Are you subscribed to my newsletter? It's a great way to keep up to date with new products, special offers and how to grab a freebie! I've just sent the latest international one with a reminder of last order dates for Christmas - I'm organised, so you don't have to be.
Happy holidays!
Susan
November 25, 2013
Calling all adventurers! I'm pleased to present the Travel Journal. Each opens with an inspiring travel themed quotation, from Oscar Wilde to Mark Twain, Tolkien to T S Eliot. The pages each have a space to record the date and location, and at the back of the book you'll find an In Case Of Emergency section to record your personal, medical and legal information.
Buy ready to ship in Dark Slate Blue and Tan with the Mark Twain quotation:
Alternatively use my Bespoke Service to choose your colours and quotation, and you could ask me to print a dedication page, too, if you like.
They're bound in goatskin leather in the Longstitch with Linkstitch style, a binding in use since the 15th century that's renowed for its durability and flexibility. There are 192 pages of cartridge paper which will take all pens and pencils, dry-medium artwork and which will take glued inclusions such as ticket stubs, postcards, photographs and so on.
So whether you or your gift recipient are about to take a GAP year, are recently retired and plan to make the most of your free time, or are about to set off on your annual leave, take one of these Travel Journals with you - it will be your faithful companion.
November 25, 2013
Come along to St Mark's church hall in Talbot Village this Saturday to start your Christmas shopping at a Charity Christmas Art & Craft Fair.
I'm joining in with the festivities selling my work and possibly demonstrating bookbinding if table space allows. It would be great to see you there, please make sure you come and say hello!
It's organised by a graduate of the Arts University Bournemouth in aid of Spreading Health, a charity which works in partnership with rural communities in developing countries who want to improve health care provision in their villages.
You can find directions here. See you there!
Susan
November 11, 2013
October saw me working on a special project for a fly fishing syndicate whose beat is a beautiful Dorset chalk stream called the River Allen.
My brief was to make a journal small enough to fit into fishing vests and tackle boxes, so members could easily log their catches, fly patterns, water, date, conditions etc, either on the riverbank or once home.
I decided on A7 size - it fits into the palm of your hand but there's enough room to write down important details. The Longstitch with Linkstitch style means the book will lie flat in your hand or on a hard surface, so there will be no fighting with the binding in an effort to write right up to the edges.
The journal had to be easily and quickly accessible even with cold fingers - so I opted for a quick-close fixing comprising a leather strap stiffened with stitching, and a Sam Browne stud. The added benefit of this is it doubles as a pen or pencil holder.
What makes this fishing journal particularly special is the title page. Designed for the project by Stone Design, it's an illustration of a fishing line and fly, with the beat and syndicate's names. Stone Design presented several great concepts and together we settled on this one for it's elegance and simplicity.
Here in the UK we have 90% of the world's chalk streams and much work is put into protecting and enhancing their health. So as well as enjoying their fly fishing, the syndicate works hard to maintain the health of the water and riverbank, clearing invasive non-native plant species and protecting the the banks from erosion. The Allen is particularly special as it has the strongest population in Dorset of the native but rare white clawed crayfish.
It was a joy to work with Stone Design on this project, and I hope the syndicate and the River Allen go from strength to strength.
Susan
P.S As always - if you'd like to commission a similar project, do get in touch!
November 05, 2013
If you love hand bound, chances are you like handmade goods in general and making things yourself. Have you checked out Homemade With Love magazine? Their Christmas edition is full of great ideas of things to make and do for the holiday season, including how-to projects for those inclined and handmade gift ideas for those with a little too much on their plate to start making their own.
I'm chuffed to see my Monochrome Mini Journals featured as a stocking filler idea, alongside other gorgeous Christmas gift ideas from a variety of my fellow independent designer-makers.
Check out more Monochrome gift options, prices at £10, £39 and £99 for all budgets.
My thanks to the team at Homemade With Love magazine, especially the Editor, Anna Simmonds who is also the talent behind the Crafting Fingers blog. It's her first issue of Homemade With Love and I think she's made a grand job of it. Congratulations and season's greetings for a very happy Christmas!
Susan
(Image copyright Homemade With Love magazine)
October 28, 2013
Did you catch my autumn newsletter? You can read it and subscribe to future issues here.
The Dorset countryside is full of those beautiful russet, brown and gold tones that I love. The studio dogs are running about in the wind, getting spooked and distinctly mischievous by all the falling leaves, and on the weekends I'm picking sloes and making gin. Here are some new books fit for the season:
Oak & Terracotta Journal / Sketchbook £70 ready to ship
Just the right size to slip into a bag, this journal would be a great companion for those who like to tramp through the countryside making sketches, plans and keeping a journal. Section dividers in muted tones of orange, camel, stone and brown carry the colourway throughout the book.
Chocolate & Tan Journal / Sketchbook £70 ready to ship
This A6 book retains the goatskin's natural raw edge for an extra dose of individuality. The pages are divided into 8 sections by camel and brown lightly textured paper - good for noting and sketching lots of different projects.
Berry Mini Journals £10 each ready to ship
I've been turning the sloe gin bottles for 3 weeks now and they've reached this exact colour!
And now Hallowe'en is nearly upon us, here's a new Monochrome Journal with natural raw edge that looks distinctly spooky to me:
Monochrome Journal / Sketchbook £99 ready to ship
In sleek and glossy black goatskin with white accents, a classic combination that never goes out of style.
And a pair of Mini Journals that would be great to add to party bags:
Hallowe'en Mini Journals £10 each ready to ship.
In Orange and Black - it had to be done! - these are bound in the same gorgeous glossy goatskin as my larger books and make a great addition to party bags or place settings at the dining table. A great little gift that won't break the bank.
As always, if you see something you'd like but would like it a little more to your taste - a different thread colour, a personalised frontspage - then please get in touch with me: info@boundbyhand.co.uk.
September 17, 2013
Here's a collection of Sapphire jewels perfect for September birthdays and back-to-uni gifts.
Mini Journals £10
Memory Book £119 Blue & Orange
Leather Journal £70 Blue & Yellow
The Mini Journal and Leather Journal are ready to ship worldwide, the Memory Book is made to order with my Bespoke Service - you choose your size and format, thread colour and frontspage text. Email Susan if you'd like to discuss your requirements: info@boundbyhand.co.uk.
September 12, 2013
I make my work as simple and striking as possible and a recent commission for a bride in black leather with white accents couldn't have embodied that spirit more. That commission inspired more work in monochrome, exploring new binding styles including the Accordion and Double Gatefold, as well as theLongstitch with Linkstitch style you're familiar with.
Journal / Sketchbook: White & Black £39 ships worldwide
Journal / Sketchbook: Monochrome £99 with natural raw edge. Ships worldwide.
Miniature paperback sketchbooks currently exhibiting in 'By The Book' at Hawthorn Contemporary Craft Gallery. POA please email info@boundbyhand.co.uk
Accordion binding:
Double Gatefold binding:
September 11, 2013
The red / pink colour clash trend continues to be smoking hot for clothes and accessories. Fashionistas in the know - Emma Watson, she who can do no sartorial wrong - have been rocking the trend and here's my take on it:
Journal / Sketchbook: Red & Pink £99 ships worldwide
Mini Journals: Red/Pink £10 each ships worldwide
Linen Threads: Country Red, Baby Pink, Hot Pink
If you'd love your own on-trend Wedding Guest Book, Memory Book, Journal or Sketchbook please get in touch to discuss your ideas: info@boundbyhand.co.uk or call 07748 759 371
Or shop more red right now!
Susan
September 04, 2013
Whether you'd a number of Christmas gifts for your clients, or items for your brand's launch party goody bag, Mini Journals are the ideal choice, as featured in Country Living magazine, Hello! online and the Sunday Telegraph.
If you need them in a hurry I can supply Mini Journals in a variety of colours from my stock. View examples here.
If you've got a longer lead time, here's what I can do for you:
1. Blind debossing with your brand's logo - my trusted tool manufacturer will make a metal tool to your artwork.
2. Colour combinations in your brand's colours - take a look at the 22 colours (plus white) from the range of goatskin I use for all my work - the look, feel and even smell of this leather is superlative.
3. Bespoke printed pages to your artwork.
Please email me, Susan Green, to discuss your requirements and request a quote: info@boundbyhand.co.uk. Please include your required quantity, deadline and delivery location - I ship worldwide.
Technical specifications:
Book height x width: 76 x 56 mm
Flat page height x width: 74 x 105 mm
Flat page size with 3mm bleed height x width: 80 x 111 mm
Print artwork specifications: high-resolution CMYK with bleed and trim marks