September - Making my own Sketchbooks

 Vail, AZ

September, 2024

Tired of not having watercolor paper in my everyday sketchbook!

After a couple years, and 12 small sketchbooks with lightweight sketching paper, I decided to look for small, watercolor sketchbooks.  I found a lot of really nice small sketchbooks, but none really fit the footprint I was looking for.  

So, when the first video in this year's Sketchbook Revival was on bookbinding, I decided to make my own sketchbook.  I bought some 100% cotton Saunders Waterford 90# paper.  I figured that the 90# paper would fold down a little better than 140# paper that I normally use in paintings and sketchbooks.

I did a practice book and then fell down the rabbit hole.  I completed 10 little sketchbooks (5.5"x 4' Portrait).  Hand-stitched, glued, hand-made covers, and complete with little pockets in the back.  Given my usual sketching practice, these should last about a year.  

So, here they are!

The top one has a different binding type, most are using kettle stitches at the head and tail with a french link stitch in the middle.  Most of the covers were made from some leftover card stock that I had printed designs on with gelli printing using acrylic paints and various stencils and stamps.

Closed, they are 5.5" tall and 4" wide - small enough to fit in a pocket or tuck into a day bag.  Opened, I can sketch across the binding for a 5.5" x 8" sketch.

The sketchbook front and back covers were folded and glued after stitching so the card stock was a bit stiffer.  On one of the sketchbooks with a plain cover, I decided to glue a Gila Woodpecker feather that I had found on a walk into the front cover.  I thought it would be just a little secret thing.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the feather showed quite clearly through the opaque cover when there was light behind it.  Very cool!  So, then I had to press some wildflowers and glue them into another cover.

 

With all the sketchbook making, I did very little painting.

Only 1 painting, and I'm not altogether pleased with it.  I did have fun playing with the textures of this old Palo Verde Tree.