The latest Weekly Geeks prompt is to talk about what other hobbies we are passionate about. Well, you know I’m all about making books. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy other hobbies, actually that’s sometimes my problem because I love taking classes to learn new things but in the past couple of years bookbinding has really been my main creative outlet.
I won’t show you any new books this time but instead I thought I’d invite you to see a glimpse of my workspace. Here is where books are made:
I have a lot of natural light that comes through the window so I love that. As we live in an apartment I don’t really want to decorate too much but I had to put up my beautiful calendar from Tanabata and a poster of BookForum.
Normally, the paper cutter is not on my table but I wanted to show that to you because this thing saves me so much time. From right to left… The first thing is the cassette holder rack. I’m so glad I hung on to that because I now use it to hold my ink pads for when I do rubber stamping. On top of that I have some spray bottles, paint bottles and a variety of glues… glitter glue, glue for fabric, etc. But, the bottles on the table are the best glue ever – PVA, specifically for bookbinders as it is archival.
You can’t tell in the picture but behind the paper cutter I have a book cradle for when I need to punch the sewing holes in the paper. On top of it are books in progress and one of my journals to record my bookmaking. Next to it, I know you can’t tell but I have a bunch of decorative paper, beads and embroidery floss ready for my next batch of books. The next few days I’ll be spending a lot of time at my table.
Moving over you see box with lots of little drawers. That’s where I keep needles, buttons, stickers, eyelets, anything else. Next to it are a bunch of empty yoghurt cups & lids. Why you ask? Those are perfect to use for when I want to thin out some PVA with water and if any is left over after a project I just use a lid and save the rest for later.
Finally there’s a spin tray which holds my bone folders, scissors, knife, X-acto knife, pens, awls, etc.
In case you are wondering what else is in the room? Well next to me is my husband’s art table where he draws or does his calligraphy and then a wall of bookshelves filled with art and design books. Behind our tables are yet two more tables where we do our cutting, lay out papers, press books, etc. See why we really need a studio? Ha.
Anyway, I know the picture isn’t the best but I hope you enjoyed the little tour!
Wow, I enjoyed reading this, Iliana!
Thanks for sharing with us! Now I’ve a gist of how/where you work on those lovely books. 🙂
What a gorgeous work space!!
It was really fun to see and hear about your creative work space. Thanks for sharing. And I’m honoured you put my calendar up in there. 🙂
Very interesting, thanks for sharing your space with us!
I sure enjoyed it, thanks for the tour! 🙂 I think your actually making books is amazing, very cool passion!
I did enjoy the tour 😀 Thanks Iliana.
So fun! Thanks for sharing this. I love seeing your book-making space. 🙂
Glad you guys are enjoying the tour! 🙂 Maybe next time I’ll show you some of my other bins and areas where I keep yet more supplies! I’m drowning in paper & thread 🙂
Thanks for showing us your space. Your books are really neat! It’s so much fun to get a glimpse of a creative person’s space.
Have a Happy Day!
Very cool! You’re extremely tidy and I love your workspace. Nice and bright with that window.
Really nice place…
Thank you for sharing your workspace. I think the natural light would be wonderful!!
Very organized!
I love how you lay out your area!
May you have many years of book binding!
Your books are beautiful and I’ve enjoyed seeing where they’re made. I belong to several Flickr groups where people showcase their craft/sewing rooms. I love to peek into creative spaces.
very nice work space! it does look like you have some great natural light coming in. its always interesting seeing artists creative space.
thanks for the tour 🙂 my creative space is my couch…lol…I like to crochet while I watch tv.
Thanks for the tour of your bookish room. I was invited to post a picture of mine, better clean up first! 🙂
What a great space for your art activities. I love that you can both work together in the same room!
So cool to show us your workspace. Thanks!
That’s an amazing space! I always find these glimpses into an artist’s life and work amazing. Thanks for posting it!
Love seeing where people work, and your work space looks wonderful!
Thanks guys! I love seeing pics of other creatives too so I know what you mean. I just can’t wait until we finally have a house so we can really decorate and hang stuff on the walls. I have so many tools and things in bins and I’d love to have shelves for those.
Thanks for sharing your workspace! I’m currently setting up one of my own for work and study, and I’ve taken great inspiration from the sense of order exhibited by your space.
This is so great and a wonderful glimpse into your creative world of book binding. Your are is looking very organized! I love that you have natural light to work with.
With alternative processes, I am going to have to hand cut my own paper so I have to get a few supplies like a bone folder. 😉
Thanks for the tour. Do you and your husband inhabit the room at different times our are you both there sometimes? Do you work quietly together or chat?
Jennifer – Have fun setting up your workspace – I have so many ideas for when we have a real place – one that’s ours 🙂
Christine – Ooh, if you can get a teflon bone folder – it’s wonderful. I don’t have one but have used one. Check out Paper Source!
Stefanie – Typically I work in the daytime (as I am unemployed right now) and he gets the studio in the evenings. Every once in a while we do work together like on the weekends but we usually just have music going on and no talking 🙂 If our room was bigger then we’d probably work together more but because it’s small and we both use up a lot of space to lay out paper and press books and such, it’s hard for us to be working at the same time. One day though, I hope we have that studio! 🙂
That’s a big workspace, Iliana. Love how neat it is too.
I can just picture you working in your workspace, Iliana. And what a great use of the cassette rack! Thank you for the tour.
What an intersting post. I love your work space and it looks so organized.
What a lovely corner! I wish I had a space to set up my stitching things, but when I am finished, almost everything has to go back into bins! You even get a window–very nice! I hope you get a good view, too!
I’d love to have such an organized work space! Right now, I have yarn in various spots around the bedroom and a bag of unfinished knitting projects under my desk and piles of unused notebooks scattered on the top. Thanks for sharing the pic!