From cover to cover, we've got you covered

I I've been making handmade artist's journals from polymer clay for years and love love love to make them. I usually hand bind the signatures using Coptic binding and decorate the spine with beads or fibres. I've taught a few people how to make them, but the task is a little daunting if you've never worked with polymer clay and are a novice at book binding...and you've only got three hours.

These are a few of the books I've made recently, and much as I'd like to share how to do them, they just can't be done in a three hour workshop.

So when I was approached to teach a workshop at Artsjunktion, we decided to do a workshop on making covers for sketchbooks using a purchased coil bound sketch pad.  

This is the ideal size sketch pad to cover. When finished it's not too bulky and the size lends itself well to working with polymer. If it's any larger, the covers tend to slump if you don't have an armature.  And if it's too small...well you don't have enough space to do your art, or sketches, or journaling or zentangles or...you get the drift.   Having a coil binding means the task of struggling with a Coptic binding is averted. 

This is a sample I made about a week ago, using alcohol inks and some innovative texturing materials to enhance the polymer. Of course, the choice of textures, design, colors and style has infinite possibilities.  Those issues will be dealt with at the workshop. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part in the workshop, it will be held at the artsjunktion facility in Winnipeg on Saturday, April 11th from 9 am to 12 noon. Here's a link to get more information about the workshop and a registration form: 

http://artsjunktion.mb.ca/upcoming-events/?ee=56

If that link doesn't work, just google the artsjunktion web page, click on workshops and check out "Journal Covers Using Polymer Clay"

Hope to see you there!