Parkside Harmony

Thursday, Binding Small Journals

2012-02-16T15:12:00.001-08:00

Small batch of small journals.

All bound up and ready to list.

Wednesday- New Books!

2012-02-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Large Wedding Book

Medium Sketchbook

Tuesday

2012-02-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

This morning I sold a book that I thought was already made. Not only was it NOT in inventory, I had not even a tiny scrap of the paper left. It's a very usual event when that happens! As you can see, I stock a lot of paper!

I was able to organize my paper, which was actually pretty cool. I now have it all organized in a master mix of books to be made.

Knowing how much we all love paper, I thought I'd share a few photos from my stash...

Or hoard, whatever.

This table changes pretty frequently. Next up, completing gluing stacks for Large Sketchbooks and Small Journals. Tucked in the center back, wrapped covered 5" boards waiting for text blocks. And no, I didn't cut 5" text blocks in the 45 text blocks I made yesterday!

All the paper, neatly tucked away.

These are the new books for Etsy. The paper organization surprise cut into my work period this morning. These little guys will have to wait until tomorrow for binding. And they may not actually get listed until Thursday!

I'm off to drop this little stack off at the post office. I am officially caught up and on schedule with Etsy orders! Hooray!

Monday

2012-02-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is what my work station started out like today.

Here is a quick little peek at the eco beer box and lego box books made with Stonehenge scraps. They are such fun little books and I can't wait to make some more!

Cut boxes. I will (hopefully) be making some larger ones too, if time allows.

The bulk of my day was spent cutting the 100 sheets of Stonehenge paper in this photo. The stack on the left was cut into Medium Wedding Books and the stack on the right into Large Wedding Books.

The good news is, I am *almost* all caught up with Etsy orders. The even better news is,

*** NEW BOOKS IN THE SHOP TOMORROW ***

I have a faithful assistant. I actually have two faithful assistants, but this one kept wanting to sleep exactly where I needed to stand... solution, move a bed in. It worked. Although, I then started to get mopey eyes from my other assistant. Let's just say there are now 2 beds in here.

I wont say too much more about the light in the studio- you get it. LOTS of natural light that just makes it a joy to work with these beautiful papers.

My assistant is exhausted from watching me cut 100 sheets of paper into 45 text blocks. Whew, that's hard work! I also managed to get 9 books bound today!!!! It just amazes me how much work I can get done in one day vs. how arduous it is sometimes to just get one book done!

Studio Refresh

2012-02-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

I managed to get this space moved around a bit.

It's so nice to work in here now! There is so much natural light, I love it.

I moved my press up to eye level. My husband designed and built this press for me. He rocks.

He built me this shelf too. It's a bit unorganized, but it's workable.

Can you spy Katie's little long stitch book on the shelf?

I've been quiet lately, but I'm hard at work right now. I have 2 shows in March and I'm gearing up for Wedding Season. New books coming to Etsy soon!

2012 Studio Love

2012-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was my first official full work day in the studio. This year, I really want to focus on production capacity and creating an inspiring work space.

For years I had a really nice view out of this window, complete with a butterfly garden!

I'm going to add "flower garden" and "wash windows" to the studio beautification list.

I hate to admit it, but I really have been working in this space for the last quarter of 2011 with this giant mess surrounding me! That bright colored pile is the art area for the kids. Ask me how much art they've done there? Yeah, that's right. NONE.

Let's just add "art studio" to the office redesign (separate room, still counts).

Fellow bookbinders, do you save all these long scraps too? Maybe they will find their way into tags, or super small books. For now, they're in a box!

I like to think of this as my "Before" picture. Hopefully sometime in 2012, this space will be worthy of my Pinterest Board for inspiring studio spaces! I really feel very fortunate to have this space to use as a studio. This year I will figure out how to make it pretty and functional.

And finally, back to making books. I have a wholesale order of 25 small journals that needs to ship by this Friday. Surprisingly, these text blocks are coming together quite quickly.

These are my newest size: The Tall Skinny Journal

It feels so much better to have my work table looking like this again!

Back to Binding!!

Happy 2012.

First Quilt Top 2012

2012-01-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

This year I came up with a plan so that I can finally complete some personal projects:

Parkside Harmony Studio production will be Mon-Fri.

No book making on Sat. and Sun. unless they are proto types for new styles

To start the year off right, I spent this weekend piecing together the top of this quilt from summer 2011.

The blocks were all completed, I just needed to sew them into rows, add the white strips and viola. A quilt top!!

One more row to go to, then I need to add white border strips around the whole thing.

Since it is Monday, I have to put this away until next weekend. I am really happy that I have figured out a way to include sewing into my life again. Next weekend I should be able to complete the top and start thinking about the back. My goal is to have this completed by the end of January.

For this quilt, I used the Lemon Squares Quilt Pattern and added the white strips between all the blocks to help make the top bigger.

New Books

2011-12-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

8" Square, with Dividers to add photographs of all your best catches!

5" Square, Perfect for Sketching or jotting new lyrics!

Small Journal, Fits nicely in your purse or backback!

Extra Large Sketchbook, Great gift for the artist or writer!

Yeti Head

2011-12-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

Click here to Purchase this Yeti Head

This is the Yeti Head! They are so AWESOME! I wish I could have bought one. They have a really nice weight and a great softness. How have I lived for 36 years without a YETI HEAD?

Renegade Craft Fair

2011-12-08T05:30:00.001-08:00

http://www.renegadecraft.com/holiday-la

THIS WEEKEND, PARKSIDE HARMONY WILL BE ON LOCATION AT THE RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR IN LOS ANGELES!

Whooot. Whoooot. SUPER excited! Please stop in and say "Hi" if you are in the area!!

Crafeteria 2011

2011-12-04T17:14:00.001-08:00

I took these super quick photos right before Crafeteria started.

It was an absolutely gorgeous cold night and the shoppers were wearing the cutest boots, socks, scarves and hats! I was right under the flood lights this year so I barely needed any other lighting for my booth.

It's tough to get a good photo of the booth with this lighting, but you get the idea.

All my usual helpers were busy Friday night, which left me with only two helpers.

Leo is 10- He's a great big help when it comes to loading and unloading the car!
This event is put on by Frances and Smeeks- Frances is an amazing boutique and Smeeks is an old fashioned candy store. The boys really spent most of the night at Smeeks!

William is almost 12- he's great with just about everything and took real ownership of setting up the books for display. He is also a great help with set up, break down, and all those car trips!
He bought an electric shock pack of gum from Smeeks. I thought, it can't hurt that bad, it's just a child's toy.... "OUCH"- it really hurts! My fingers may be a bit sensitive though from weeks of binding books.

Here's what the booth looked like most of the night. The booth behind me also uses Stonehenge paper and gave me some great advice on where to order it wholesale! Fantastic!!

It really was a great night!

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported independent artists and crafters!!

I have a tiny break before my last show of 2011- like 5 days.

Show Inventory

2011-11-17T06:16:00.001-08:00

This is what I have made so far...

My next show is one 8' Table, so I'm trying to get as many books as I can in a small space without it looking too crowded. The show after that is 2 days in a 10' x 10' booth.

I'm starting to work on "overflow" which is books that don't fit on this table now.

Those will be the books that I use for show #2.

I have 2 weeks until Crafeteria and 3 weeks until Renegade Craft Fair.

I feel pretty good, like I'm on track to have a variety of books made. However, I usually start to panic a couple days prior.

It's the fine line between having too much stuff and not having enough.

I try to make as many books as I can until I can't make any more.

I will have a lot of books left over, and that's okay.

It's nice to have a healthy stock of books as a base going into the next show.

What I'm really looking forward to...

December 13th! That's when all my holiday show are over!!!!

Then it's party time!

And by Party time, I mean I'll be working on personal projects...

and finishing the top for this quilt:

Studio Space

2011-11-14T19:15:00.001-08:00

This is what my workspace looked like this weekend.

I completed Text Blocks for 40 books.

Mostly for Small Journals and Wedding Books.

I also glued boards for Wedding Books and Large Sketchbooks.

What I have not been able to do is clean my studio!

I have a growing stack of papers next to my primary work area.

These are most likely going to be made into scrap packs for Spring Shows.

I love my towers of fabric reminding me from the corner that I have other things I want do.

Like finish my quilt from this summer!

My space has expanded into the space off the kitchen. This space has been used for many things. Now it is Parkside Harmony overflow and the space that houses our newest family member.

The computer moved into the third bedroom, which was my studio space this past spring. I took the summer off and let my kids have this space. When I finally reclaimed the space, it was totally uninspiring. So my oldest son and I took the carpet out and repainted half a wall.

Suddenly, this space is workable.

I am working on my booth displays for holiday shows.

I am adding content to my site on IndieMade.

And, I am raising a puppy. Thank goodness that our puppy has a nanny! Our 5 year Golden is doing a great job training Orion. I now have 2 Golden Retrievers sleeping at my feet while I work.

The one variable in my process that is constant, BINDING. I cannot figure out how to bind the books any faster. My production capacity is limited to what I can actually sew together.

If you see my booth, or any booth of handmade books, stop to marvel at the process.

It is complicated and complex.

Bookbinders make books because they honestly love to make books.

I know I love to make books!

Homespun Craft Show

2011-11-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

This is my booth from the Homespun Craft Show in Gilbert last weekend. We were set up in the photography gallery and it was such a beautiful space! The day was cold (for here) and rainy so the indoor location was perfect! I live about 4 minutes from where this show was held. It was the closest to home that I have ever displayed my work. Lots of my friends stopped by to say Hi! That was definitely the best part~ it was pretty slow traffic wise so I actually got to talk to the other vendors. I have always been kind of scared to do events close to home, but not anymore. It really was the best time and the most fun I've had at my booth so far!!

This basket I picked up at Target for $10 and it is perfect for smaller books!

Today I broke my binding record of 11 books bound in one day~ all of these are now bound and ready to be tagged for the next show.

I'm starting to get set up for the next two shows. They are back to back~ one in Phoenix on Dec. 2nd and then the Renegade Craft Fair in Los Angeles the following weekend. I will have to work at my regular job a lot the week before I leave so that I can have the four days off for LA. I'm a bit nervous about having enough product made for 2 shows. I have just over 3 weeks left. I'll be a book binding machine until then. I hope the kids like macaroni and cheese. Haha.

30+ Books Ready To Bind

2011-11-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

The sun is just peeking up here.

I snapped a few photos of what I have left to do before Sat.

Clearly, I have A LOT of books to bind.

Last Spring my record was 11 books bound in one day.

Let's see if I can break my own record.

The Homespun Craft Show in downtown Gilbert on Sat. Nov. 5th is a local event with 20 vendors. I will have only this table. I am really happy with the way it's shaping up. It's going to look fantastic with the rest of the books I'll be binding. I am starting to get just a bit panicked about filling that 10x10 space at Renegade Craft Show in Los Angeles December 10-11!

Indie Made

2011-10-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

Parkside Harmony is moving...

All Journals, Sketchbooks and Wedding Guest Books will be available here for the lowest price *anywhere*.

Check it out.

http://parksideharmony.indiemade.com/store

Welcome Home!

2011-10-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had our house painted- we decided to go against the grain in our neighborhood and instead of "Beige", we chose White! Crazy, I know!!

To appease the artists in us, we painted our front door (and soon to be our back door) this most amazing shade of Blue!

I am just in love with this shade of blue!!

Wrapped Covered Boards

2011-10-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

Newly glued boards for Large Journals.

I love wrapped, covered boards!

Production Mode

2011-10-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to order my book board pre-cut.

I was able to build these 3 giant gluing stacks this morning.

First Batch of MINI Books!

Large Journals!

And Extra Large Sketchbooks.

Squeezed back here are the 5" Books and Medium Wedding Books.

Looks like Christmas!

Each size of book board came individually wrapped in little brown packages.

Seriously, I cannot wait to order more pre-cut book board!!

I have listed the first batch of books from the Fall/ Holiday 2011 Collection.

Use coupon code: "HolidayPreSale" and receive 20% your total purchase! Now through Nov. 3rd.

Holiday 2011 Collection- First Peek

2011-10-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Grace for these fantastic photos!

Back to Work

2011-09-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

I've slowly started to get back into production after a long summer off from book making.

With a couple big shows coming up before the end of the year,

and a good spring show,

I'll be pretty busy this fall.

Here's a little peek at what's going on in the studio.

Pics of me!

2011-09-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Look what I found on my husband's phone- actual pictures of me in my booth at Sweet Pea!

And, at the Queen Bee Market!

Thanks Billy!!! :D

Labor Day 2011

2011-09-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

A little fishing...

Swimming...

And early morning Kayaking.

Perfect.

Back to work

2011-08-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

I feel so energized and inspired after taking the summer off and after having such a great time at my first 3 day show this summer. So, I immediately ordered 100 giant sheets of paper when I got home.

They arrived in 5 BOXES just like the one above.

I cannot tell you how much cardboard there is in the packaging.

I finally got to cutting yesterday. All that cardboard and tape means that the paper was in perfect condition when I opened it. No smashed corners. No wrinkles!

I was a little unsure how, where, what, why, when- to cut, store, etc. this paper. Once I got it open, I decided to just cut up all 20 sheets. It took the whole morning (from 8 to 12), but I managed to cut, tear, fold and press text blocks for 18 books!

Sweet Pea Booth 2011

2011-08-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here we are, all ready to set up at space #3 at the Sweet Pea Festival of the arts

held at Lindley Park in Bozeman, Montana.

When you drive 1100 miles to a craft show- and combine it with a family vacation complete with a full size Golden Retriever, you are pretty happy to bring the minimal amount of things.

I love how my husband is demonstrating the foot stool/ tool box.

It really was a lot of work to do this show- from making 300 items to designing the booth layout, to traveling... but it was totally worth every bit.

I couldn't have been any happier with the way my booth turned out. That's my little spot where I sat for 3 days chatting with the nicest people. The weather was fantastic, with just the slightest bit of rain and the perfect amount of sunshine.

My pennant flag banner was a huge hit! If I do this show next summer, I will definitely make a few of these to sell. People loved them.

I learned a lot.

Sold a lot.

And had a terrific time- as did my family. Which included my husband, 2 kids, my mom, my mother and father in- law, and our golden retriever! Quite the pack!

The best part of this show was being in the booth. I was able to move books around all day and keep everything looking full and fresh even as people were coming in and out and handling the books.

The table cloths I picked up on clearance at Target the day before we left for Montana. I didn't get a chance to see how they looked until it was literally- too late. Thank goodness they looked great and blended everything together really well.

This is a fun little table that I changed around quite a bit.

This was the first 3 day event that I have done. I would definitely do another art show like this one!

Moving forward, I will be making small batches of books regularly throughout the fall, winter, and spring to stock up for summer festivals. I will take on a limited number of custom orders as well, however I will not be taking any custom orders in the summer. It was so fantastic to have the summer off from making books. I was able to really relax and focus on my family. I am happy to be back in the studio though, and I do have a few new books in the works! ;)

The remaining books from this spring/ summer inventory can be found in my Etsy Shop.