{an obvious choice}

#reverb12 today asks "What new skills or talents have you learned or discovered this year?"

This year has taught me so many things, but the new skill that absolutely captured my heart was/is book-binding.

You can see all my book-binding adventures over here on Flickr.

{readers digest guide to places of the world}

A colleague commissioned me to make her one of my handmade books.  She was happy to leave all the details to me, including book selection.

The day after she asked me I found the 'Guide to Places of the World' at my favourite op-shop.

My colleague is an intrepid traveler and has spent most of her working life in the performing arts sector, including a long stint with the circus.  The first day I met her she was telling me a little about herself and she said "when I grew up I actually did join the circus".

The original book was a great size.  About 8 x 11 inches with it's spine firmly intact, which is important for these stitched spine books.  I knew that she was planning to keep it as a visual journal so I used all blank white pages. I rounded off the page corners for a nice extra effect.  And I love the multiple closures.  I've got all kinds of ideas bobbing around in my head for closures.  This multiple closure makes me think of a coat.  My colleague doesn't know anything about the book bag.  I just decided to do that as a special touch.

I'll be giving her package to her when I get to work this morning.  I can't wait!

{i'm going to venice!!!!!!!!!}

{image via Dispatch from LA}

I was telling a colleague on Wednesday that I so desperately want a holiday.  A real holiday.  An adventure.  To somewhere amazing and exotic and full of different sights, sounds and experiences.

I want it with a passion.

And it ain't going to happen.

Not anytime soon anyway.

But I can have a vicarious holiday that ticks all the boxes plus some.

Mary Ann Moss has just released her newest online class Ticket to Venice.  Part book-binding, part journaling, all whilst accompanying her virtually on an upcoming trip to Venice. Totes awesome!

I've booked my ticket and I can't wait.

All the deets are here.  Let me know if you book your trip as well.  I'd love to have some traveling companions.

{we're off}

The bags are packed, including our spiffy new journal bags.  Ms L and I are off to Sydney for an adventure.

See you in a week or so.

For your own Blogtoberfest adventure get on over to Kat's place.

{booked}

If you follow me on Instagram {I'm @tinniegirl over there of course} then you'll already know that I've been obsessed with making books lately.  I'm really enjoying learning a new skill and indulging a different creative outlet.  It's one of the rewards of letting go of my business - I have more time for play.  And I love it.

Here's a few pics of my adventures with book binding.

I've also taken to a bit of guerrilla sewing action and made a pouch for one of them.  It's been a long time since me and the sewing machine have seen eye-to-eye, but I'm having lots of fun with it too.  Especially this fly by the seat of my pants, no rules kind of sewing.  I like it!!!

If you're interested in a fun course on book-making I've been taking Mary Ann Moss's Full Tilt Boogie.  I've taken one of her e-courses before and I definitely think she is one of the best online teachers around.  There's also no time limit on the course - once you sign up you can take your time working through the course material.  It's great.  It's always been one of my biggest disappointments with many of the e-courses I've taken - having to rush through content, trying to keep up with a ridiculous posting schedule and a limited time frame for completing the course.  Who wants to be harried and stressed when you're supposed to be having creative fun.  Anyway, Mary Ann has an awesome blog.  Totally worth checking out.

Speaking of awesome, momentum is gathering over at I Saw You Dancing in preparation for Blogtoberfest.  If you haven't caught the news, I'm taking a year off hosting and Kat is stepping up to the plate.  I'm so excited.  I know she's going to rock it.

Speaking of more awesome, have you seen the Blogtoberfest button that CurlyPops designed.  Love, love, love.  That chick blows me away with her talents.  Pop over here to grab your button and sign up.

Don't Overthink It

I had a few hours to play with this morning and so I got busy making.  I had an idea a while back to make a guest book for the opening night of the exhibition.  

When I was thinking about the cover I just grabbed a whole lot of scraps that have been lying around in the studio for ages.  "Don't overthink it" I told myself.  Just enjoy the process.

There's a few other things that I'm applying that approach to today.

The red dots sitting in the pile of things to take with me this evening.

The party outfit, sitting ready to wear, to a place that I usually wear my track pants to.

The thought of being on show for all the world to see.

It's all a bit surreal really, and buzzy, and scary, and ...  Like I said "Don't overthink it, just enjoy the process"

Hope to see you tonight.

More Creative Spaces here.