Tools and Tricks

We didn't get as much snow here in Maine as expected...but we did get big wind all day long. The bluebirds didn't seem to mind. They always get dried mealworms for breakfast...but this afternoon there were several around the feeder...so they got an afternoon snack. 

At one point I counted eight either on the feeder or in the tree right above.

I had blue and white outdoors....and lots of blue and white in the studio too. I'm assembling several joy journals at one time...and hope to have a few to put in the mail this week sometime. I see Anne tomorrow...and I can hand deliver hers. 

I thought I would share a few tools I love...and one little trick.

I like the look of a stitched pocket on the inside covers. 

But with all the continuous top stitching I do on the outside...it makes it tough to stitch it in without stitching the pocket closed. So my little trick is to stitch around three sides of the pocket and just glue it in. No one would ever know it's not stitched in! Oops...I guess now you know. 

I've had this corner punch for years and years...and once I start rounding corners...I can't stop. I missed a few in this lineup....but I did go back. Maybe I'll learn that I don't have to round ALL the corners....and find that right balance. I'm quite fond of the gelli ghost print...and I got to make a few more today! This little page has a pocket on the inside.

I don't think I could love this vintage clothespin more. I've had it in my printers drawer for years...but realized it would be a useful tool in the studio. 

My clips and clothespins don't have a very long reach...but this does. It's so useful for holding layers of pages together until I stitch and add the closure. 

I also use it to hold my watercolor journal open when I'm painting. Like I said...I couldn't love it more. 

Here it's holding my pages together as I start to stitch the binding. I do a very simple five hole pamphlet stitch. I used to punch all the holes ahead of time...but I've had trouble with pages shifting and then not lining up for stitching. So now I make the holes as I go. 

Using a marked guide....I make the middle hole with my awl...then pull my waxed thread through. The thread and the clothespin hold the pages in place while I make the next hole....etc. 

When I come up the last hole I go under the bottom thread and tie it off. 

Five hole pamphlet stitch guide found online....forgot where. Oops.