2017 #11 Books: Japanese Stab Binding {by Wendy Mallas}

2017 Topic 11: Books - mini, maxi, book-binding.

Wendy is always putting amazing pictures on social media of the numerous books she makes. She has such a range of expertise in this area, so it is only fitting she kicks off this new topic! Creating your own book is a truly satisfying thing to do, I really hope this topic rubs off and you give it a go too!

Hi everyone, it's Wendy here again today, and I'd like to share a gorgeous bookbinding stitch with you.

I love to hand-stitch books and I find the Japanese Stab-Binding methods to be some of the most decorative. They look much more complicated than they are and are, in fact, much quicker to do than the more traditional coptic stitch. I chose a variation of Tortoise stitch.

I made this for my daughter who is about to buy a house needing more than a little tender loving care. I wanted a beaten up, worn look to echo the house. She can keep photos of the renovation process in it.

With a sandwich of Fresco Acrylic Squid Ink, Crackle Glaze and Stone, I pretty much followed all of the tutorials on the Paperartsy YouTube channel. After the Crackle Glaze, I sponged the final layer of Stone paint onto the front cover as I wanted finer cracks that sponging creates so I could stamp over the smaller cracks.

Then I brushed a thick layer of paint onto the back cover which creates much larger cracks. Look at those amazing cracks! It's like magic!

I heat embossed the spine in copper with a small stamp from the wonderful Hot Picks stamp set HP1601.

I'd carefully covered the spine to protect it and almost finished stamping the rest of the front cover, when I must have started daydreaming or something! I stamped the word 'Home' upside down. Eek!

Most things are easily fixed. Some light dabbing over the evidence with Stone Fresco Acrylic and nobody will ever know about my senior moment. Attach your painted and stamped card to mount board or chipboard to create sturdy hard covers. Time to die cut some letters to cover up the blunder completely...

...and finish the job properly with Distress Stain in Vintage Photo and a layer of Ranger Crackle Accents. 

Time for the actual binding. It's a good idea to keep the covers and pages in place with clips while the holes are punched and stitched. I bound my book with 1mm leather cord.

I love the effect I got on the door. I stamped it with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide and covered it in clear embossing powder then heat-set it. Because the Oxides are a sort of hybrid between pigment and dye, they stay wet for long enough to emboss with them.

Each stitch section (or station) looks like a little house, doesn't it?

All that was left was to enhance the embellishments. I used Derwent Inktense pencils around the letters and door to help them pop a little.

I found this type of stitching to be the easiest so far. Just remember to wrap around the spine with each stitch, returning to the same hole, before moving onto the next. This type of book is perfect for a coffee table. It would make a fantastic photograph album and a really special gift. I'd advise anyone to test their chosen stitches on scrap card first. You really won't believe how quickly you finish it. Also, I love the effect of Distress Oxides combined with clear embossing powder. I'll definitely be doing more of that. I hope everyone is keeping busy making books. I'd love to know what type of books you've all been making.

Love and peace,

Wendy x

Blog: https://wendymallas.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyMallasIllustration
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wendywitwoo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendywitwoo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/wendymallas

Wow that was fascinating Wendy! I am sure your daughter will LOVE this book to keep a record of the renovation!! Brilliant idea. Love that stitching too! ~Leandra

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