The Artists' BookMarket 2017
Our Talented Co-workers at the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
Kerry Douglas
On Saturday afternoon while most of the capital were watching the rugby Gail and I travelled straight past Murrayfield to The Fruitmarket Gallery to see all the lovely work on display last weekend at this years Artists' Bookmarket, Edinburgh.
Two of our very own bookbinders, Kerry Douglas and Gillian Stewart, were showcasing some of their own stunning prints and books among many other artists, designers and makers.
This was the first year I've been to the BookMarket but I hear it has been running for 7 years now and is sort of an annual mini artist book festival with people exhibiting and selling their work, along with talks and discussion groups, workshops and poetry readings.
There were around 40 stalls to peruse (and purchase from!) showing an interesting variety of not just book making but also book art, photography, poetry, writing, drawings, ceramic and glass work, printing and letterpress among other techniques.
Gillian Stewart
Although here in our bindery we pride ourselves on our quality of craftsmanship, it is not usual for us to be able to work as creatively as we saw the artists do at the BookMarket. The books and booklets we saw were little works of art in themselves and really inspiring to pick up and look through. Kerry and Gillian specialise in graphic design, illustration and printmaking, which combined with the skills they have learnt here at Downie Allison Downie, they use to create beautiful and thought provoking art - in book form!
I should have told you all about it sooner so that everyone could have gone to see the BookMarket - I do apologise! But please have a look at their amazing work and check out their websites. by clicking on any of the images in this post.
If you have an idea for an book project but don't know where to begin we can help it come to fruition We are always happy to listen to your thoughts and answer any questions we can. You could even come and do a class with us to learn the basics now you've seen what can be achieved!
Kerry looking after her and Gillian's stand at the Artists' Bookmarket
Kerry Douglas
Gillian Stewart
Kerry Douglas
Be my Valentine?
Love is in the Air!
Letterpress card - GreyMoggiePress on etsy.com
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not head over heels in love with Valentine's Day but if it's gonna be then at least let it be homemade!
Apart from my disagreement that there should be a special day appropriated to tell your loved one how much they mean to you - surely this should be a much more regular occurrence! I hate the pressure it puts on us to spend when Christmas has only just disappeared behind us. Showing love should be simple.
I reckon the choice in Valentines cards has got a lot better in recent years. I especially like funny ones - serious love can be light hearted!
But, there is no need to buy one if you can make your own! It was drummed into me in my early school days that nothing shows your true feelings like something handmade and I don't think you're ever too old for this not to be true. If you're not the best artist why not try cutting letters out of a newspaper for that lovely ransom note effect!
idea from whitegunpowder.com
Another sure fire winner is to say it with sweeties! Click this image for instructions how to make cute little pokes to put treats in.
Paper flowers last longer than the real thing too and there are many step-by-step guides to doing that online as well!
Or how about the purest of them all - write an old-fashioned love letter and show someone they deserve more than a text. Here's a beautiful example of a letter written by Johnny Cash to his wife June showing any little scrap of paper will do as long as the words come from the heart!
Happy Valentine's Day!
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Book Inspired DIY Christmas Decorations
Etsy - MaisyandAlice
We have been so so busy over the last few weeks it has felt like Christmas spirit has passed us by - but I can assure you we are feeling it now! Just a couple of big orders to finish and a few Christmas gifts waiting to be picked up by some of our lucky customers and we will be ready for our well deserved Christmas break!
So I thought I'd wish you all a great holiday with a few book inspired Christmas decorations to have a go making at home - a home made Christmas is one of the things I love best!
Gorgeous Garlands
This gorgeous garland caught my attention. It's a little different from the brightly coloured paper chains I used to make as a child but it is beautiful and the text definitely brings a much cosier quality to this string of hearts.
kaylaaimee.com
Literary Christmas trees
A wonderfully simple but effective idea! You can find a number of amazing examples of Christmas book art but these I reckon are definitely ones most folk could have a successful go at. They'd make quirky gifts or lovely centrepiece for your Christmas table!
You can find the tutorial to make these dinky book trees here.
Advent Stars
In my search for handmade Christmas decorations it is difficult to avoid the abundance of traditional Scandinavian ornaments. I thought I'd have a go at making a Swedish advent star using this tutorial. Usually made of straw, this version works brilliantly with pages from a discarded novel.
A little bit fiddly at first but surprisingly easy to make and understatedly pretty! It is perhaps a little to tasteful too sit alongside my neon pink tinsel but I am a huge fan of mix and match and at Christmas anything goes!