Envelope Journal

EvelopebookHere is a little journal I made a few months ago.  It uses envelopes as the pages, which make a handy place to put in little drawings, postcards, paint chips, clippings, and other things that inspire, to go along with your journaling.  This one I happen to use for collecting info. on our never-ending list of remodeling and repair projects for our new home.  And also I keep a fun list of 100 Things I'd like to do in My Life Time.  The pockets are nice for adding little momentos when items are checked off the list. 

Book Instructions:

20-30 of any size new envelopes

A sheet of nice thick paper - I used Rives BFK (my favorite paper in the whole world)  Cardstock would also work.

scrapbook paper and vellum for the cover

twine and a little bead if you have one laying around

hole punch Enve3Envelopebook2_3

1.  Punch 3 holes in each envelope.  (click on the first pic. to see the details)

2.  Cut your cover paper to wrap around the front and back of your book.  (See the second picture.)  If your envelopes are 4 x 6, then your cover paper should be 5 x 13, add on an inch to make sure it covers it nicely.  Fold your cover paper in  half and punch three holes along the folded side.         

3.  Decorate your cover as you'd like.

4.  Tie your pages together with twine, add a little bead on the top tie.  (that's the circle on the cover)  Your binding should be loose to accommodate turning the pages and the bulk of what you'll add to the envelopes later.

New Year

2005_4Okay, I'm not real big on traditonal resolutions.  But I do like goals and road maps and having a plan for the next year.  This year I'm giving myself the gift of time to enjoy my life.  My goal is simply to slow down and take the world in for a while.  I'll be working on things, but I won't be beating myself up this year for not accomplishing everything on my to-do lists.

In my new found playfulness, I made a little booklet with things I'd like to work on this year.  I am a bookmaking nut.  I love making books in any and all forms, so there will be lots of those finding there way into my blog. 

2005b_2 Illustration Goals:

Send samples every 3 months.  Something I have not been very good about doing.

Finish my two dummy books that I have shelved and send them out.  (I'm really good at making things, not so good at getting them out in the mail!)

Sell prints online and in shops around town.

2005a_3

Beady Dreams:

Do weekly bead auctions on justbeads.com

Work on more one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, finding more shops and galleries to sell them in.  Can't wait to use all the beads my Mom gave me for Christmas!

Send out 1 bead article a month - again, not so good about mailing things out.