Thursday, January 30, 2014

Secrets of Vintage Leather Journals

 
As you'd expect, it starts with an idea.
Lusting after those amazing leather journals from Italy, that cost too much, I thought, why not try to make one for cheap.
 
 
Leather material and new leather coats in the stores are expensive. But, Goodwill, yard sales, places like that have beat-up leather cheap and even better during half-off day. So it starts with scouring around for some scrumptious leather in funky places. This is actually the most fun part of the process. Look for coats that have great pockets and straps. 
 
 
The next step is to cut the coat apart. For those who aren't blessed with claws, just use scissors.
Measure the size piece you need against the journal you're using, adjusting for the pocket or most interesting part of the jacket to land on the cover or the back.
 
 
I've pick out just some different size and type of plain journals on sale at the craft stores for now. We've learned that the Ultimate Glue is a great one to use. It's the right thickness, dries quick and adheres to some heavy layers.
 
 
Once it's glued, you stretch the leather over the book.
 
 
Embellish and glue down leather straps, buckles, whatever cool things that you've dug up in your junk journeys. This one I've actually cut up an old purse. However, coats provide the most and easiest materials to work with.
 

Seriously, do I need management behind my back? No.


Once all the stuff is glued down and  things separated with the wax paper, press down on them and let them dry. A heavy press is a nice thing to have as well, but a big old dictionary can work in a pinch. A nice tip: see the wet rag to the right of me, it helps to wipe off glue from my claws as I work.


Drying time will take a few hours, so take a long catnap.
 


Then, look over all your work, glue down any openings along the corners, trim anything that doesn't look right to you. It's suppose to be kind of raggedy, so just use your artistic judgment of how you'd like it to look.


Then you can ship them off to whoever lusts for them.
The truly inspired artistic cool people will want them.
 

Any Questions? I thought not.







Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Joy of Cooking Up Books

My husband does the taxes because he's the Master's degree in Economics guy. Impressive, yes, but he can't find the mayo and he reads only dude books like Clive Cussler.
My hand (and soul) cringes when asked to write Housewife as occupation on the form. To me that's something you just do like taking out the garbage, not something one aspires to be. Trying to tell my son that yes, I was an Editorial Production Manager once and an Advertising Designing, I didn't just make him dinner and clean the floor. On the other hand, I'm grateful that someone still wants me after all these years.

 Just mentioning this because it leads to my unconventional methods of being a Housewife.
For instance, wax paper is used to keep artwork from sticking together instead of whatever it's suppose to be used for (don't actually know).
And what exactly is the black metal thing? It is either a hamburger press or something to use for flooring? In either case, it also is put to use for flattening artwork.
 
 
I wash the car in the rain so I don't have to drag out the hose. It looks crazy to the neighbors but it is a very Green thing to do. Saves money, water and time. And, it actually works.
 
 
 
The last time I ironed it was to iron out a crinkled page in a book.
 
 
 
The Joy of Cooking book is happy to be used as a press to keep journals flat while the glue dries.

 
 
"You got a problem with that?" Zane Grey Graalman
 
 
So, is this what's for dinner?
No, I still manage to put something on the table for dinner since I have to eat anyway.
But, "We're running late tonight, honey, because I'm writing this Blog! Be there in a minute!"

 
Just recently, a friend saw my books, boxed them up and carted them off and put them in a store!
This makes my husband glad, for he's not typical either, he'd love for me to Not be a Housewife and make some money again.