Bookcase Tour - The Art of Resin Jewelry

The book that began an obsession for me, The Art of Resin Jewelry by Sherri Haab.

When I first started playing with resin as something more than just a coating, I was living in Japan.  There certainly wasn't any access to English-language classes I could take over there, so it was something I had to teach myself through books.  This book was a great introduction and I continue to go back to it as a reference book when I'm trying something new.

Just look at these scrumptious colours.  It was the colours that first drew me to resin, something about the way it looks when the light hits a piece...

The book starts by going through the basics including; types of resin, safety, colouring, finishing and also some jewellery making basics. 

It then continues with a number of projects using different techniques.  This sweet pressed flower bracelet uses resin as a clear coating.

It was this next picture that sealed the deal for me when I was trying to choose online a book to buy.  I had the idea of embedding vintage kimono fabric into resin, and here was a project that included just that.

This next project uses pre-made candy moulds with hand painting to make these sweet little pins.  With Easter coming up soon, it might be a great time to keep an eye out of chocolate moulds....

One of the really fun things about playing with resin is adding things to it.  This glitter gem bead necklace is so fun.

The book also goes through how to make your own moulds using both liquid silicone and moulding putting.

Each time I flick through this book, I'm inspired by a new idea, something else I want to try.  

The Art of Resin Jewelry by Sherri Haab 

ISBN 0-8230-0344-2

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Printing By Hand

I just love fabrics and paper that have been hand printed.  Like anything handmade, there is something magical about it.  It's as if there is still a breath, an essence of the artist's energy that's been infused into it.

This lovely lady was kind enough to lend me Printing By Hand by Lena Corwin a while back and I jumped at the chance when it was looking for a new home.

Before we look inside the pages, I have to show you one thing I really love about the book - the way it has been bound.  It's done with a spiral so the pages sit nice and flat while you're working on a project, and then it's in a hard cover so that spine is easy to read on the bookshelf and it stands up all nice and straight.  I really wish more craft books were bound this way.

The book is divided into four chapters.  

Chapter One, Getting Ready to Print, covers what to print on, designs, printing methods and inks.

Chapter Two, Stamping, uses custom rubber stamps, foam and carved rubber blocks.  There are two projects for each type.

This stationery is so sweet.  It would be a lovely way to get back into snail mailing.

And this Japanese inspired Furoshiki would be perfect for the upcoming gift giving season.  A lot less paper to be thrown out that's for sure.

She shows you a simple way to tie the wrap.  You can see a lot more wrapping ideas here. The instructions in the book are clear and beautifully photographed.

Chapter Three, Stenciling, shows you how to use freezer paper, contact paper and mylar to create your custom designs.

This chair cushion cover is really stylish...

... and I have some old furniture for the little one that I want to do up... something like this would be gorgeous for her room!

And if only the landlords would let me do something like this with our walls...

The last chapter is all about screen printing.  For its six projects it uses paper stencils, drawing fluid and screen filler and photographic emulsion.

For a while now I've been looking for a new doona cover but haven't found one I like.  I'm not ready to dive into quilting yet, so a project like this would be great.

While Lena guides you though and encourages you to create your own designs, she also very kindly provides patterns all neatly folded in an envelope adhered inside the back cover.

And let's just take a final look at that beautiful and practical binding...

Printing By Hand by Lena Corwin: ISBN978-1584796725

If you're wondering about the beautiful fabrics in the first photo, the red crane fabric is by Auntie Cookie and the blue clouds are by Red Reed Studio.

If the book has whet your appetite for something more and you're in Brisbane, both Thea and Sami and Red Reed Studios have great classes on offer.

The Bookcase Tour Giveaway - 20s Kimonos

I haven't been terribly consistent in my Bookcase Tour Tuesday posts.  I'd like to change that, and am asking for your help.  I'd love to know what you'd like to see, but more about that in a moment... first, some book eye candy... the book I'm giving away...

20's Kimono: 100 Royalty Free JPEG Files  

"The patterns used on kimono in the Taisho era (1912-1926) were composed, generous, bright and vivid.... when the tides of change were at work altering many aspects of Japanese society, the Taisho experienced an intermingling of the old and the new.  A brilliant popular culture blossomed in the resulting creative chaos." (from the book's introduction)

I  love the fabric designs that came out of Japan during this era.  There is a heavy Art Deco and Art Nouveau influence and you can almost feel the excitement of a culture opening its doors to the world outside.

There is a real sense of fun and humour to the bold patterns of this time.

Funnily enough, I have a pair of pajama bottoms that have this red print on them.

This period is filled with vibrant and colourful designs.

This book comes with a CD (PC and Mac compatible) with 100 magnificent designs from this era. 

Now lean in very closely while I whisper... I don't want the Man to hear... I'm giving away a copy of this book because... I loved it so much I accidentally bought two copies!


The giveaway is open all, I'll post it anywhere.  I'll draw and announce the winner on Tuesday October 12th (my time) in that day's Bookcase Tour post.  To enter, please take a few moments to answer my survey (link below) to help me decide what books to show you from my rather loaded bookcase.


Click here to take survey

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Kokoro no Te

Another library version of Bookcase Tour today.

Kokoro no Te by Kumiko Sudo.

This is a book that I've wanted to browse through for quite a while now, so snapped it up when I saw it at the library. It's filled with lots of little projects, lots of pretty little brooches, purses and pouches. All is handsewn, there's not a machine in sight.

If you look at even just the cover, there's probably no guessing why I'm so drawn to this publication - the fabric! The photos for each project are just scrumptious!

I probably wouldn't actually make that many projects from this book, but I'd use it more for inspiration, as an eye candy piece.

The three pieces I am tempted to try are the windmills...

The thimbles (which would look just adorable as rings as well)...

... and the juggling balls, not that I can juggle mind you, but they would just look pretty scattered around.

I'll be stalking my library now to see if I can get my hands on Kumiko Sudo's Omiyage book.

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Handmade Melbourne

A library borrowed version of Bookcase Tour today.

With it now less than three weeks until I go to Melbourne, this book, Handmade Melbourne, has been getting a great workout.

The book features, as the cover page will tell you, "Beautiful things from 80 creative people". The range of what these people make range is from footwear, clothing, jewellery to bags and artwork. It's filled with lots of inspiring eye candy.

But, what I loved most about this book, especially at this point in time, was that it had each artisan list a few of their favourite inspiring Melbourne haunts. I have been madly jotting many of them down for places to visit while I'm there.

Mind you, I'll only have a couple of free days either side of working so that list is going to need some serious culling.

Are you a Melbourite or a well-versant when it comes to Melbourne? Any places you'd recommend this Brisbane girl to add to her must-see list?

And.... I don't believe I've divulged why I'm south-bound soon... well... if you're heading to the Life Instyle show, please drop by and say hello. My wares and I will be at booth 222a!

Bookcase Tour (on the occasional) Tuesday - Creative Time and Space

Hands up those of you who'd like more hours in the day to dedicate to your creative pursuits. And how about more room to really spread out in to do them? Hmmm... looking through my magic mirror I can see a lot of hands there, some people with both hands up waving madly.

Can we ever really have enough time and space for our creativeness? I'm certain I'm not the only one whose crafty to-do list grows by the week to the point of it being a monster that I could only finish in this lifetime if there were five of me. I know I'm not the only person who despite having a workroom of my own still feels the need to spread fabric, paper and jars of beads all over the house.

I'm not sure if it was a hint or a way to silence my occasional complaints about the lack of both, but last Christmas The Man gave me the book Creative Time and Space.

Sadly, the book doesn't reveal a magical way to add an extra 5 hours to every day or how to add an additional room or three to your house free of charge. It does have a few time saving hints - nothing new, but rather reminders, or if like me you feel you need it, permissions. One that I really took to heart was; "I never spent precious nap time cleaning the house because that was ideal, uninterrupted creative time" (types she as the bub is in the next room having her mid-morning nap). The housework still needs to get done, but I do what I can while the bub is awake and with me, and for other larger cleaning chores, we tweaked the household budget and have hired a cleaner to come in every two weeks.

Mostly though, this book is more about a mindset. It's about a way of thinking about adding more creativity, or rather creative thinking into your everyday life. It's about making more room in your head for creativeness. A lot of is told through the voice and examples of other artists, things that do and don't work for them. Their work is used in the pages as well as inspiration and for something pretty to look at while you ponder what you've read.

On this subject, there has also been an interesting discussion going on over on Scoutie Girl, firstly here and then here and then in response, by Three By Sea.

Have you found something that works for you? A great way to infuse as much as you can to those precious hours we have?

Bookcase Tour Tuesday - Organizing Your Craft Space

Before I begin, I should be honest, this book doesn't actually belong on my bookcase. It doesn't actually belong to me. It was very kindly lent to me a while back by the ever-so-generous TinnieGirl. It's high time that I return it.

While this book has quite a bit of text, I must say I didn't read much of it. For me, I enjoyed the book for the visuals, the peeks inside other people's creative spaces and how they keep it all ordered.

The book is arranged in chapters of types of crafting and suggests how to arrange your space best for each. Included are; Stained Glass and Mosaics, Rubber Stamping and Stenciling, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafts, Beading, Yarn Crafts and Needlework and Quilting.

Unfortunately, it didn't have a chapter on what I need most, a person who suffers from a serious case of crafting schizophrenia and needs to organise supplies and areas to make bags, jewellery, cards, do some digital design work, as well as arranging stock for two online stores and markets with preferably an area for a playpen for the little one as well. When someone publishes that book - I'll be first in line to buy it!

Other than that, I have really enjoyed the book, revisiting its pages many times to pick out some of the little ideas. While not necessarily original, I love the look of magnetic tins on a metal plate, jars filled with colourful notions and a ladder to display some of my favourite magazines. Mmmm.. now if I can just finish organising my space, maybe I'll get some crafting done...

1. A Good Reminder, 2. Yummy Jars and Buttons, 3. Another Good Reminder, 4. Love the Collage with the Stamp on the Jar, 5. More Yummy Button-Filled Jars, 6. Closet Organizers, 7. I've Been Meaning to Do Some Tins Like This, 8. Things to Consider, 9. I Want a Magazine Ladder!

For more peeks into other people's spaces, Etsy Open Studios is a good start.

If you'd like to join in, please do at any time. Add your link to your actual BTT post on Mister Linky below. I have a button made, if you'd like to add it to your blog, drop me a line and I'll send the code to you.

Bookcase Tour Tuesday (meets My Place and Yours - What are you Reading)

I love books. I love to read books. I love to collect books. I love to touch and smell books. But mostly I love how books can transport you to another place and inspire.

And so, inspired, I am going to go through my ever-growing collection of books, to revisit them and on Tuesdays to share some of them with you.

Today's book is one of my recent additions, a very special and totally unexpected surprise that landed in my post box one day. It was all wrapped with a touching letter, some beautiful fabric and a gorgeous kanzashi flower. Thank you so much Marla!

Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter is gorgeously photographed and packed with great projects for a sewer with even the most basic of skills or one pressed for time. The lines of the designs are timeless, often allowing the choice of fabric to determine the look. It's broken into four chapters; Fashion, Play, Home and Going Out.

The book is spiral bound so it's easy to keep open at your chosen page (I do love a spiral bound craft book!) and the patterns, printed on nice crisp paper and stencils for printing project on card, are all conveniently encased in an envelope pouch inside the front cover.

I haven't had a chance to make anything from it yet, but below are some of the first I want to get stuck into; Bloomers, Stencils (how cute is that bird on the bum!), Rattle, Soft Letters and a Tag Blanket.

As well as collecting my own books, when I visit someone's home, I love to sneak a peek at their bookshelves, delve if allowed, into their collection. So I'm wondering, will you join me in a Bookcase Tour? Maybe show and old favourite, a long forgotten or a well used volume. Give us a review, quote a page or even just give us a tease peek, anything you like. If anyone is interested let me know and I'll set up a button and a Linky to start next week.

Until then, happy reading.

Funnily enough, I just went to check out joining the My Place and Yours meme, now with a new home, and this week is about what you're reading! Right now, all my reading is craft books, something that I can flick through in the moments that the little one will allow me. And this is the latest one on my reading list.