Handmade Books

It's interesting, how I came to learn how to make books. I was taking an oil painting class for fun when I found out I was pregnant with my first babe. I withdrew from the class, in a effort to not cause birth defects to the baby-to-be, but the school, not thrilled about giving me a refund for the class, suggested I pick a different class instead. I chose bookmaking because it was the only one that worked with my schedule. To my surprise, I loved every minute of it.

Over the years, my bookmaking phases have come and gone, but whenever I do get up the gumption to make a few, they are always for giving. They make such great gifts because they are easily customized to the age/gender/preferences of the recipient. This year, I am making a bunch of small sketch books for the kids on my holiday list (like the green and brown book). There may be a few for the grownups, too, because I love that floral paper and have the urge to use it. It makes me think of Florence, though I have never been there.

Last year, I made a few as gifts (pictured below). One was bound full of musical notation paper for "A," the other is a very precious portfolio of artwork worth sharing in its own post (coming soon). 

I had originally planned on doing a handmade book tutorial, but after remembering just how many steps are involved, I decided otherwise. Here are a few links for you instead:

Make your own Moleskine-like book

Make a ribbon binding book

Make your own journal

Make an accordion book

Bind with a Japanese binding (which is pictured in the books I made)

How to make a sketch book

A great list of resources (books and online) here 

Connections

The blogging world has opened up many windows of opportunity for me, and not only for my jewelry. I have found a world of connections with fellow artists and bloggers—all whom share parts of their lives quite generously. In the past few weeks, the depth of those connections have revealed themselves in interesting ways.

I have been reading voraciously lately, steadily working through the stack of books on my nightstand. A few weeks ago, I was reading Day After Night, by Anita Diamant. As I read the line, "Now get me a syringe, won't you dear? she said, taking a small orange out of her string bag," I immediately felt a sense of deep-rooted history and cross-cultural kinship. What a beautiful coincidence that I have been participating in string-a-long 2010, making string bags along with women from all over. My reading of that book also corresponded with Susie's trip to Israel, which she blogged about while there. Her photos and stories from her visit are amazing, and helped me to create vivid pictures in my mind as I read the story of the detainee camp, Atlit.

Last night, while reading Beloved, by Toni Morrison, I stopped short when I read this line, "It's when you bump into a rememory that belongs to somebody else." Rememory! Comes delightfully close to my daughter's word remembery (of Remembery Capsule fame). I love knowing that people have melded words together to make a perfect definition for generations.

So much is intertwined. Time and distance dissolve. The lines between my life, family, and friends is blurred by connections with folks from other areas and even countries via the world wide web. Suddenly it is clear— the planet is quite small and time has not changed the fundamentals of humanity much at all.

Brainstorming and Bookmarks

I've been brainstorming ideas for my business lately—how I can generate more sales, how I can improve my brand, and how I can market my pieces better. I decided I was going to offer some more functional pieces in addition to my jewelry—to expand my lines in the hope of expanding, well, sales! But what to do? There are always money clips and barrettes/hairpins, which I would like to make but I'm not sure, since there seem to be so many on the market. Then I remembered I had seen metal bookmarks once. I remember loving them and thinking I would absolutely use one if I had one. So I set off to make some bookmarks of my very own design. This is what I came up with:

Made from fat silver wire, it was hammered flat so it fits snugly into a book without hurting the binding. In typical AG Ambroult fashion, they were hammered and otherwise abused, then oxidized for a rustic feel.

The hook fits over the binding, keeping your place secure. Slip it in your book and pick right up where you left off.

There are many readers in my life, so it's good to know I have the gift of a bookmark ready and waiting for when an occasion arises.

The heart bookmark is currently listed in my shop.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

It's a great time of year. Spring is upon us and the seed catalogs are showing up in the mailbox. It's a time of anticipation and hope for gardeners, and the time of year I turn to my favorite books for renewed inspiration, insight, and advice. So now seems like the right time to share my favorite reads on sowing, growing and attempting to live more sustainably.

I have so many "favorite" books on this topic, but one, in particular, stands out:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
This is what the book's official website says about it :
"Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, this book tells the story of how our family was changed by one year of deliberately eating food produced in the place where we live."
...and I'd like to add that it is packed full of fascinating tidbits about gardening, delightful reflections on family, and insightful observations on politics.

If you like that book, you'll like these ones as well:
This Organic Life by Joan Gussow
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Blog Debut

The first blog post!

This is a good time to let you know what AGA Elemental is all about:
my influences
my interests
my jewelry

Or, to be specific: nature, metal, all things handmade and local, fashion, sustainable living, books, the craft world, gardening, design, creative inspirations and last but not least, trying to make a living through my craft

Please join me as I explore this vast world of crafts and the Internet in an effort to nurture an awareness of handmade crafts, inspire people, promote my own work and the outstanding work of others, and become entrenched in this community of bloggers and crafters and tweeters and...