Sunday, December 14, 2008

Journals on Etsy

I've been making journals lately to put on Etsy and to take with me on my upcoming trip to Italy. Tired of purchasing journals, and drooling over the art papers in our local art shops as well as online, I took several classes a while ago and learned how to stitch coptic journals myself. This one I finished and pressed flat a few days ago.

It is spine reinforced with renewable Lokta fiber paper. The textblock is 70 pound white drawing paper and the interior covers are Lokta paper covered with natural Amate bark. It is a coptic style book that opens flat, bound with russet colored waxed linen thread.


Look for this beauty in my little etsy shop tomorrow.

The days are dwindling
down both until Christmas and our departure for Rome. I am freaking out with all there is left to be done for preparations for both events. We are traveling to visit my parents and their little dog on Christmas Eve day and then to stay a few days. I'm looking forward to it very much. My mom and dad always go all out with Christmas decorations, many of them have been in my family for generations. I love to look at all of them every year.

Speaking of our departure, I am soliciting ideas from anyone anywhere who has been to Rome and or Florence, as these are the two principle cities we will be staying in. We have all the tourist destinations in mind to visit for art viewing but I am sure there may be out of the way or tucked into the tiny corners shops someone may advise me on to visit for leather goods, paper for book making, and antique jewelry or trinket shopping. Also any fabulous cafe, please let me know your favorites so we can try them out. I know there are a few readers of my blog living in Italy, so give me a shout out either on comments or email. Many thanks!!

It's now 6:47 a.m. and I am still not tired. My thoughts race and my list of things to do doesn't seem to be getting any shorter. My dog got us up at 4 a.m. to go out this morning, followed by the cat at 5 a.m., wanting a bite of wet food to eat. After all that I couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to get a very early start to the day.

And I have a start date for my job-- January 15. A little later than I figured, but at least it's there. Two days after we return from Italy. I wonder what shape I will be in? Hmmm..

3 comments:

Gberger said...

How exciting it all sounds!
I haven't been to Rome in over 30 years, but we were in Florence a decade ago. There is a museum called the Barghello which we enjoyed; much less crowded than the Academia. We hired a guide from a local school (Accademia del Giglio) who spoke English and knew the museum, and that enhanced our enjoyment.
Restaurants we liked were Acqua Al Due in the Via Della Vigna Vecchia & Ristaurante Dino on Via Ghibellina. I hope they are still there! Merry Christmas, Bon Voyage & God bless you.

Swestie said...

Beautiful sketch book... send me the address when you get it up... I can't remember what your etsy site is called!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Jennifer, one thing I did on a trip to Ireland might give you some ideas. I took a small journal (that fit in my jacket pocket) and carried it around everywhere with pencils and kneaded eraser in my fanny pack, along with a couple of glue sticks. I saved everything along the way -- receipts, bus tickets, subway stubs, hotel menus -- and stuck them into the book with the glue stick and a few notes with the pencil. I love that little journal now! Hope this gives you some ideas, enjoy Italia!