For me, even the simplest of subjects is good enough to sketch. This is a reel of book binding thread that I bought on line a while back. I started my sketchbook making with a double-thread of ordinary cotton, moved on to more heavy duty cotton and after finally running out of that, I bought this. There is enough thread on this reel to last me the rest of my life!
Wed-19-Mar-2025
I have been meaning to post these sketches ever since I conducted a small workshop (with #UskQuezonCity) on binding your own sketchbook, way back in December 2023! I have posted a few of these sketches before, but here are all of them along with notes on what you need and how to do it. I have been binding my own sketchbooks since 2019, motivated by the high cost of sketchbooks with good quality paper (and even a few expensive ones with poor quality paper!). I have learnt how to do this by following the videos of @SeaLemonDIY on YouTube. If you prefer video tutorials she has plenty of great ones.
Fri-7-Feb-2025
I am getting ready to bind my next sketchbook. I wasn’t sure what to sketch today so here is a quick sketch of some of my bookbinding tools.
Mon31-Aug-2020
I have missed a few days of sketching because I have been making new sketchbooks. This time I am trying Canson 200gsm watercolour paper. Here is some of the kit I use to make them.
Fri-14-June-2019
This is my first sketch in a new sketchbook – one I made myself! I use up sketchbooks so quickly and they are so expensive (if you want good heavy paper, which I do) I thought I’d give book binding a try. I followed some guidance on YouTube (mostly from #sealemon) and it was surprisingly easy. I used a “kettle stitch” to do the binding, some old corrugated cardboard and felt-like material for the cover and bought some pre-cut sheets of Frabriano 200 gsm watercolour paper (another surprise was how inexpensive this was). I used these g-clamps to press the book between some old bits of wood and voila! No more buying sketchbooks for me!
Thu-7-Mar-2019