My good friend Lesley Whalley is teaching an amazing Metal Journal at The Rubber Chicken in Gaithersburg, MD this weekend. If you've never taken one of Lesley's classes, you're in for quite a treat. She scheduled the class last minute, so the spots just opened this week. You can call the store at 301-963-4302 to enroll. I know her classes fill quickly and she keeps her class size small.
Tuition: $120 for an 8.5" x 11" book or $88 for an 8" x 5".
Dates: Either Saturday, January 12th or Sunday, January 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Description:
Can't imagine a book without nice neat aligned page edges, exquisite faultless appearance? This may not be the class for you, this is about quick, bold, irregular but durable bookbinding and an emphasis on a fun time decorating the front of your journal. The journal is constructed using high quality steel, leather, linen thread and gorgeous Fabriano paper that loves watercolors and lots of layers of paint and journaling.
The picture is of my own much loved journal which has gently rusted and shows interesting wear and tear from its travels with me. I used various pieces of roadside found metals. I love to use found objects but your journal must reflect your own taste. This is a great time to use those things you have in stashed in a treasure trove wondering what you were going to do with them. Metal can also be stamped with your favorite rubber stamp using Staz On ink. Also papers can be glued on, this gives a very cool worn look over time, its hard to see but they are there in the background of my own journal.
Techniques learned will include drilling and handling metal, basic caveperson type bookbinding, making and using rivets, all sorts of ways of attaching strange things using glue, eyelets, nuts and bolts, handling power drills, Dremels, hammers, pliers, saws etc. There are many ways to attach the things you love to your journal cover, if your comfortable with it please bring along some small washers, bolts, rivets, eyelets, I will have some too, We will do riveting, using tiny 1/16th eyelets, available at Rubber Chicken, and make our own rivets, using wire.
Please be aware that with time constraints that more complex and time consuming journal covers may not be finished in class, but, you will leave with the knowledge and skills to finish your beloved journal at home.
If this appeals to you but you are afraid of power tools - then this is a great class for you. If you have a Dremel sitting unused please bring it along with its accessories and we will use it, we will use cordless drills and drill bits a lot. If you can bring your own, then we will have less time waiting for mine to be shared.
I provide the book covers, paper for pages, leather for binding, waxed linen thread, wire, some rivets and bolts etc. Glues, work surface and lots of tools to use.
I am very excited about this class, making my own has been one of the greatest steps in my own creativity and growth as an artist, and I cannot wait to share the deep satisfaction of this project. I know you will have questions so feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me through my blog at chocolatechopsticks.blogspot.com I look forward to bashing some metal with you this weekend, Lesley
NEEDED FOR CLASS - Basics kit with xcto knife with new blade, SAFETY GLASSES are essential!!!!, Japanese screw punch with 1mm size punch. ( I will have one), Large household type hammer, 12" steel ruler, nail punch/set (dimples the metal before drilling a hole), fine and regular Sharpie, Eyelet punch and setter with some longer eyelets (Cropadile's are great), work gloves and apron are nice but not essential.
BRING IF YOU HAVE THEM - large household type pliers for gripping things, small craft type pliers, cordless power drill and selection of bits ( or Dremel and accessories), Interesting pieces of metal, wood, game pieces etc for embelishements, Eyelets, rivets, short nuts and bolts, small anvil or metal block, Any large metal file (good basic is known as a Bastard file), Any tools you would like to know how to use.. Metal ABC stamps all sizes, foamy type sanding block or sandpaper tins snips
IDEAS for EMBELLISHMENTS - wire or chain, electrical wire etc, padlocks. metal measuring tape, old metal rulers, washers, handles, brackets etc., empty metal cans with painted designs on them to cut up rusty metal, clean metal, copper mesh, mica, wood, twigs, photos, metal slide covers, photoframes, those crafty type rusty metal shapes etc. Wooden shapes painted, old barn wood, paper, paint, staz on ink and rubber stamp images, coloured craft wire, game pieces, fountain pens, small metal tins like Altoids, watch faces, clock parts, small childhood toys, photos, clip art, wallpaper etc. The list is endless, bring what you love, we will make it work!
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