Since I’ve been working retail, and don’t get weekends off, its still a little weird for me in comparison to when I was teaching and when I did other things. I almost always had weekends off then. So, I’m still not used to having random days off int eh middle of the week, it still feels weird. So today I was off from the DayJob and I’m feeling wheezy d tired, so I took a long nap. Upon waking was still wheezy and tired. That being said I didn’t get much done in the studio. I’m prepared to press on through it for the evening. I have several projects going, the red edge journal, the secret compartment journal and several 400 page 6×9 journals.

What I did get done was listing these 2 journals on etsy:

The details are as follows: 200 pages of Southworth 24lb 25% cotton paper in a aid texture and an ivory color. On is a linked long stitch in black Irish linen thread and the other is an alternating long stitch in red Irish linen thread. Either one is $27.99 pus shipping on my etsy shop here:
ComfortableShoesStudio

At this point I’ve decided to try to create these videos in roughly chronological order. The moleskines I first uploaded are recent. This journal was created after the Maine vacation journal, started while I was in transition to Maine, moving my belongings to my new place after I spent several very difficult months with my life in complete transition. This is essentially my last month in Mass in 2001, probably February March.

I think that while the art in this journal is not my best, it has the most feeling.

Technically-wise this is one of my first multiple signature books and is mechanically terrible. It’sbound with a double thickness of dental floss, on a covered cardboard that’s covered with a metallic gift bag. The cord is a heavy cotton cord stripped from a pair of shorts. The paper is canson mein tents in bone or a similar color. I used mainly ink, watercolor crayons and collage. Shortly after making this journal I learned to make structurally sound books

This journal was made by me and it was the first multi signature journal that I made. It is a truly horrible structure and I’m surprised that it survives and has survived my former evil dog and the may moves since it was created and used.

IT chronicals the best vacaton that I’ve ever taken, the most relaxing vacation ever and thonly vacation C and I have ever taken that we still talk about. 7 days in Maine, on a lake, with no running water or electricity.

This sketchbook was created over the course of 2 years while working at a day program. It’s cheap paper- standard 20lb printer paper drawn on with crayon, pen, watercolor and ink. Mostly crayon. Have I mentioned that I really love crayon? It has a certain feel that I love for drawing, plus one can lay on layer after layer of color.

Anyway, many of the people pictured are dead. Sad but true. I’ve also lost touch with many of them. Also sad but true. THis is a sketchbook that makes me sad when I look at it. One of the guys I sketched had all of the money that his very rich father left him stole from him from his able bodied siblings and lawyers. Another was in Fernald State. I won’t talk about the atrocities that occurred there, but it’s sad. While the art contained in this sketchbook varies from bad to wonderful I feel that more than in any other body of work, these little sketches truly capture these people and the terribly difficult lives they endured.

I made hundreds of these drawings over the course of 2 years. I know that several of the residences had them framed and several pinned them to bedroom walls. So:

So my head is spinning with all of the things I worked on in the studio last night and as such i had a a hard time heading for bed last night! I wanted to keep on working in the studio and keep that artistic mindedness going. With that being said one of the most exciting things I worked on was imprinting my moleskine with my 20pt century Gothic type, oh it’s cool very very cool.

The moleskine in the picture above was imprinted with type and hammer blows. I figured if I could put it into the vise I could use it as a sort of press and get even slow pressure, which seems to be important when pressing items like this. It’s also a tone more controllable than hammer blows- I tighten the screw and so I can put exactly the right amount of pressure on the type as I want.

Needless to say I played around with my 2 finished moles that are in the videos below and really came up with a way to make it work. SO now my next objective is to make a type holder.

Here is the second video on you tube of my moleskine.

I just signed up for a youtube account and took a video of my first moleskine. You cansee it here:

I like it when I have a full day off with a day before that I get out a little early, I feel like I get lot done in the studio. Like I did last night and this morning. I managed to get 4 of the giant stack of journals finished. I’ve listed 3 oneBay and 1 will be on etsy.

SO these 3 are on ebay:


They are either linked or alternating long stitching with 24lb 25% cotton paper and deer or sheep hide. Message me for more information or pictures.

THis is on etsy:
It’s also a linked long stitch that is alitle more complex than the othrs I have on ebay. All the same specs and a very cool piece of leather for the cover. Have I mentioned that I lust after thi leather? It’s so cool, soft but rough.

Here’s what I’ve been working on the last few days. A giant stack of journals. I think there are 11 or so here. I’ve also cut covers for a half dozen 400 page 6x9inch journals and 5 hedgehogs. I was super productive in the studio. (BTW the Raspberry UFO in the left is a very tasty beer and I highly recomend it.)
Here are 8 of the above covers all trimmed and ready for their spines to be cut.
Here are all the spines cut and ready for sewing.
The journal on the left here with red edges is a special order. Sort of experimental or me. He asked for red edges on the paper and it was/is possible with a little extra work, think it’s worth the time for a very special look to the journals. I used Higgins waterproof ink which I purchased at a new art supply store here in town NEver Say Never Ink. Check them out, the prices, what few I checked out appeared reasonable and the guy behind the counter seemed nice. Also had I known their website has a coupon for 15% off the price of anything in the store except for gallery work. Anyway, I’ll head back in for other inks as I rely like the technique.

I just picked up waterproof red ink for a project. I’m interested in seeing how it all works out. Hopefully well!

The DayJob has been a time sink lately and as such I’ve had to spend a lot more time on it than Wish to. Also I’ve been sinking a lot of time into the website. Here’s to hoping it pays off and works out for me!

Anyhow, my plan is to spend much of my day in the studio, working on various projects. I’ll let everyone know how the ink works out.