Back to the Conservatory

I know, I know, if you follow this blog you are thinking 'she went to the Conservatory of Flowers again?!' Well, yes, of course I did. Obviously, I love it there and I find it interesting how there is always something new to discover. I also try to challenge myself to make new/different photos each time I go to develop and push myself in this aspect of my art. Plus, I have several project ideas floating around in my note book and my head that would put these images to use. Until those ideas develop more, here is a new suite of images from my latest trip to the Conservatory of Flowers, all taken using the Hipstamatic app with the Bruno lens and Gotland film. The color pop is a result of levels adjusting and color balancing in Photoshop.  

A Bit of Freelance

Because I am someone that likes, or maybe 'needs' is the correct word, to be busy, when things slow down between work, teaching, and the little business, I've been known to pick up a bit of freelance work. In addition to a couple of custom French linkstitch bindings, I've had the pleasure to also bind a couple final projects for local art students. 
{all content, design, layout, etc. is solely the property of, and copyright belongs to, the artist listed in the caption of the image it explains. Binding work was that of the author of this blog, Nina Eve Zeininger.}

Japanese stab stitch binding for senior review of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) graduate Melissa Co.

Two French linkstitch journals made upon request for a client.

Spreads from a Japanese stab stitch binding for senior review of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) graduate Jessica Metcalf.

A Bookish Update

I know, I know, it's been a terribly long time since there has been anything new up on this blog. Apologies! Among other things, I was changing jobs, trying to get a promotion (which worked!), focusing on expanding my teaching, and just making lots and lots of things. I am now in the process of (slowly) editing the photos of many of those things I made and did and found so expect more frequent posts. This first one is just a quick collection of a few of the books that I made in the past year.   

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal sewn on tapes with covers made from upcycled panels of an Angry Orchard 6-pack container. {Now on my website}

A few handmade journals for a client, wrapped up and ready to be delivered. 

 Three cased-in, flat backed, sewn on tapes, blank journals. Half bound with book cloth and patterned handmade paper. {Now on my website}

Exposed French linkstitch sewing in progress 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal with tipped on hard covers. Mock half bound with book cloth and marbled paper. 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal with tipped on hard covers wrapped in patterned handmade paper. {Now on my website} 

 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journals with patterned card stock covers. 

 Perfect bound notepads from offcuts of larger projects. Decorated with giraffe embossing. 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal with patterned card stock covers.  

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal with tipped on hard covers wrapped in patterned paper. {Now on my website} 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal with patterned card stock covers.  {Now on my website}

Materials for laminating upcycled 6-pack container packaging. 

Exposed-spine French linkstitch journal sewn on tapes with covers made from panels of an Angry Orchard 6-pack container. 

Flora Zine

I have always been drawn to plants and flowers. I am sure there are a million reasons why, from my childhood love of climbing trees to read books among the branches, to my high school education at an agricultural school. 
While wandering through the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers (yet again) I began scheming a new small photo book/zine idea incorporating quotes and writing about plants, flowers, and growing with my photographs. The idea has a long way to go but here I'm doing a bit of exploring.  

I like it better here where I can just sit quietly and smell the flowers. -Ferdinand the Bull

Bloom where you're planted. -Mary Engelbreit

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. -Abraham Lincoln

Every flower must grow through dirt. -Laurie Jean Sennott

Normality is a paved road: it's comfortable to walk but no flowers grow on it. -Vincent Van Gogh

A weed is but an unloved flower. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. -Henri Matisse

Flowers and plants are silent presences; they nourish every sense except the ear. -May Sarton

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. -Audrey Hepburn