Blogging advice

Okay whilst reading another Artist's blog, I found the following information:
  " In order to have a successful blog, you should blog as many times as you eat through out the day."
 I see may problems with this. 1) I am a "Man of Size", who likes to eat... a lot. 2) Who has this much time to write all of this, and who has the time to read it all?

  So I am posing a couple of questions to you:
     1) How many times a week to you sit down and read through your chosen blogs?
     2) What type of things would you like to see on my blog? More tutorials? General observations? Interesting Links?

   Thanks!
     ~Eric

Folder Review

 I can't believe I am doing a review of paper folders. This is a tool that is sooooo basic and soooo unremarkable, yet soooo important to any kind of paper crafts. One would not think that there would be a whole lot of variation on the old tried and true Bone folder... but alas... there is.
   The basic paper folder is made from animal bone. Usually the leg of a cow is used, but They can be made from virtually any sturdy smooth bones. 

   I have drooled over hand carved folders made from Horn and exotic woods. Despite the fact that I would love one of these, I know when I broke it opening my Coke Zero I would have to cry.

Oooooooooo so pretty....

  So I brought it home and low and behold it does not leave marks on dark paper. It worked amazingly! Also, because of the slight flex of the Teflon, you are able to get a sharper fold.  I was shopping the other day and cam across a new type of paper folder....Teflon! I am sure they are not really a new technology, but being the tool whore that I am I HAD to have one. Picking it up I noticed a major difference..... It's slightly flexible. The material is much less hard then Bone. I read online that Teflon folders will not leave a shinny burnish mark on darker papers. Well seeing home I use mostly colored and a whole lot of black paper, I was intrigued. Not that that fact was going to change my mind.... whatever the advantage was, it's a new tool, and I needed it to be mine.
 .................... I do believe I am in love.

Various paper folding tools... yes I have used a butter knife (Eeeeeeak!)

Teflon Folders are a lot more expensive then regular bone folders, but when you spend that $10-$20 for beautiful handmade Paper from Napal, the extra cost is so worth it.

   ~Eric

Papermaking

I took a lot of paper making classes in college. The process was a blast. I found an awesome video on the process. If you EVER get the chance to try making your own paper... DO IT!

a very cool video

A book store with just books about books

So I found this AMAZING bookstore, Oak Knoll Books and Book Press. Imagine this..... A 3 story book store with just books about books! And it's about 20 minutes from where I live. Kinda blows the mind. They specialize in used books on every conceivable subject about books.... Collecting, writing, printing, binding, illustrating, & paper making. If it has to do with the art of books it is there .

 It was the coolest place. I found 2 treasures. One on making headbands  and a cool hippy binding book from the 60's. I haven't poured through them yet because I had to jump online and share the experience with you guys as soon as I got to my computer. So as soon as I am done with this I am hoping in my comfy chair and delving into my new found treasures.

Please forgive the photos... they are from my iphone.

From Oak Knoll's website:
    Oak Knoll Books was founded in 1976 by Bob Fleck, a chemical engineer by training, who let his hobby get the best of him. Somehow making oil refineries more efficient using mathematics and computers paled in comparison to the joy of handling books. Oak Knoll Press, the second part of the business, was established in 1978 as a logical extension of Oak Knoll Books.

Today, Oak Knoll Books is a thriving company that maintains an inventory of about 23,000 titles. Our main specialties continue to be books about bibliography, book collecting, book design, book illustration, book selling, bookbinding, bookplates, children's books, Delaware books, fine press books, forgery, graphic arts, libraries, literary criticism, marbling, papermaking, printing history, publishing, typography & type specimens, and writing & calligraphy - plus books about the history of all of these fields.

 They also had some beautiful hand bound books on display. These books were amazing. All of them were constructed from precious metals and velvet. Next time I go. I promise to take my regular camera and I'll get some better shots.

This one was marked at $9,000

So if you are ever in my neck of the woods, make sure you make a point to visit Oak Knoll!

   ~Eric

Scissor review

Okay So I really like tools. I buy way too many. I have to try out the latest and greatest. This obsession sometimes gets in the way of my bizarre cheapness. Despite the fight between these natural traits of mine, I still have managed to amass massive amounts of tools. I think this harks back to my days as a studio goldsmith. All of the tools were specialized and expensive... but oh sooooo cool!
  Anyway....where was I... Oh yeah... scissor review. As we all know having a nice sharp pair of scissors is very important. Most people think that any old pair will do. Oooooh no.... I regularly use 5 different pair. And yes I get VERY annoyed when I see people using my scissors to cut things that they were not intended.

Forgive my messy work area!

(1) Cheapo dollar store scissors. I use these to cut all of those nasty things that I should not be using scissors for... Tin, aluminum, sand paper...etc.

(2) Tonic Non-stick Serrated scissors.  These are the one's to reach for when you need to cut thick stuff, leather, cardboard, plastics, and rubber. The non-stick is rather handy when it comes to cutting things with adhesive already on them. The serrated part is not my favorite. The cut edge is not as smooth as I would like. But The serration keeps the scissors from dulling when cutting the chunky stuff. I suppose function has won over form.

(3) Fiskars Titanium Fabric scissors. I LOVE these. They are super sharp. I cut nothing but fabric with these. anyone who works with fabric knows that you should reserve scissors for just this purpose. There is nothing more frustrating then trying to get dull blades through expensive cloth. Titanium is harder then tool steel, so these will keep their edge longer.

(4)  Tim Holtz signature Tonic studio Non-stick micro Serrated scissors.. (whew!) These puppies are awesome. I use these medium duty scissors for pretty must all of my paper cutting needs. they are my work horse. I was a bit standoffish about the Micro serration, but it is so fine that you don't really notice. The non-stick, once again, is quite the bonus.

(5) Cutter Bee micro scissors. I like to think of these as my traveling pair. I use them only for sewing threads, and I sew all over the house, on the road, where ever. So these little buggers have done some traveling. The blades are very sharp and the tang is very pointed so they are excellent for sewing threads. I love the fact that they are yellow. They spend a lot of time on my bench among all the rest of the detritus covering my work area.

Book Review: Paper Transformed

Julia Andrus's book Paper Transformed is one of my favorite technique based books. There are hundreds of swatches of useful techniques for altering paper. Her instructions are clear and to the point. Probably the bast part is that she doesn't use a lot of expensive equipment or supplies. Most items can be found at your local craft/art store.

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