Left: Pile of bookcloth and paper scraps. Click on image to view an enlargement.
THE DRAWING IS CLOSED.
In the process of binding 20 journals last Friday to Sunday I went through my storage of smaller bits and pieces of fabric and handpainted decorative paper. I wanted to use things up and also not spend money buying more fabric etc.
The flurry of activity resulted in even smaller scraps of material that are just not suited to the size of book I make. (While my very small journals [3.5 x 4.5 inches] have always sold really well I find that they take as much time to make as the larger ones and I've discontinued making them; there's no point in saving these materials for small books I no longer make.) I also find that, while all this stuff is great for collage, I just have to clear it all out every so often. Normally I'd put it in my teaching bin of collage materials, but I'm not scheduled to teach a collage-related class in 2012 so there isn't any need.
My friend Ricë has been writing about her recent adventures clearing out supplies and giving them away. A couple years ago I gave a packet of scraps away so it struck me that it might be a good idea to do it again.
The bookcloth is 9 x 12 inches (that's the largest piece) or much smaller and narrower. These would be perfect for people making smaller clothbound books or for doing spines only on a variety of sizes of book, or just to have as swatches the next time you go to the store and want to ask your vendor what to stock. And of course the really small pieces would be great as tactile additions to a collage.
The paper pieces range in size from 11 x 15 inches to small, small strips. Many pieces could be used for decorative paper when making cases for hardbound books (not for endsheets, they are too thick for that) but their greatest suitability would be for collage.
I used to make paper and bookcloth jewelry (I can't find any photos of them right at the moment, so I'll see if I can hunt some up) and you might enjoy doing that as well. Some of the decorative paper scraps make cool pendants when cropped and mounted.
If you live in the U.S. and you're a binder who makes small books, likes collage, or likes odd things to make jewelry out of, and would like this packet just put a comment in the comment box (be sure that the comment has a link to your email so I can contact you directly). I'll do a drawing tomorrow night with names of everyone who writes in. Then I'll contact you for your postal address if your name is drawn.
THE DRAWING IS CLOSED (FRIDAY 9:30 a.m.) I closed the comments section so that others wouldn't sign up. My schedule changed for the day and if I do the drawing now I can get to the post office today—and clear off my table. There are already over 20 people in the drawing so chances to win were diminishing too. Thanks to everyone for offering to give these pieces a new home and new life.
Please note there are no explanations with any of this material, no notes on techniques, no identification of the papers. You'll just be on your own there. To document all these bits would be beyond time intensive. Most of the papers will have light pencil lines on the back, indicating the grain direction, which will be helpful for your immediate use of the material. (I always mark large sheets with long lines running with the grain direction before I cut pieces out of a sheet—that way when I get down to smaller scraps I want to use I don't have to guess, or waste portions testing.)
THE DRAWING IS CLOSED. The comments section is closed to end entries. Heidi won the drawing and the package of scraps will be going out to her.
