sold
Handmade book with my step-kid’s art on the cover
from 2008.
I can’t remember if this is Jai’s
or Justin’s drawing,
but I LOVE it
Wayback Wednesday

When I first started selling art online, I was making handmade books. I sold my first book in 2001 on eBay, and was forever bitten by the art selling bug. I still remember that feeling of exhilaration. I couldn’t believe someone was paying money for my creation. Whut???!!! 

I had quite a booming business, and many repeat customers. I sold over 500 handmade books on eBay. 

sold
Pink handmade folding book
2008

Sold
Handmade book with my step-son’s art (top) on the cover
2009

Sold
Alone – handmade book

sold
I can’t remember what this was made of, but it felt sorta like leather. 
I think I made it with handmade paper, tho.

sold
#waybackwednesday

For years, the only art I made was handmade books. If I painted, I painted in altered books, and art journals. Sometimes, I’d tear the pages out of my books, and sell them. Mostly I kept everything I painted for myself. It wasn’t until 2008 or 2009, when I bought my first box of canvas, and began painting. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Good thing because I didn’t start small. I think I ordered 20 16×20 inch canvas, and a big box of 12x12s, if I remember right. lol When I feel something is right, I feel it deep in my bones.

I sold all my book making equipment, and quit making books that year. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I started making them again. I don’t have any intention of selling handmade books again..maybe a rare one, here and there, like the one below. Otherwise, these babies are too labor-intensive, and not worth what little I make off them, unfortunately. I would rather give them away to friends and family than to sell them.    

Girl with pink hair wearing a pink kitty sweater handmade book.
This book was handmade from scratch. 
Not a store bought book.

The pages have been stained with coffee and/or tea to distress them, and make them appear older. The pages were then baked in the oven to dry. All the signatures have been hand cut, and hand-sewn. The cover was made with cardboard. 

Comes with a ribbon attached to hold your place,
and is a real labor of love.

Available here