Cloth books

[kestrell]

The Art of Darkness blog had a post about making children's cloth books
http://www.shadowmanor.com/blog/?p=12484
specifically, the soft books which have things little kids can do, such as tie things, remove things, etc., but the post describes a woman who makes these books with "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" themes.

It occurred to me that this kind of book is innately accessible to readers who read through touch, and that this concept could be adapted to make a book for an adult. There could be a winter solstice themed book, with fake fur, pine needles, and mulled spice scent, or a cutesy "I love you" sort of book (one could even use those felt letters used for kids' clothboards), one could make a science fiction book with robots with cut-out squares of aluminum foil and tiny electronic parts, or one could make a horror book with cut-out monsters. One could even make an erotic cloth book. Any of these could also be adapted to making pages mini-collages which were more intended to be experienced as abstract tactile designs.

Comments

[capri0mni]

Cloth books for adults is a great idea. You could even do books for lots of reading of words, too (in braille with embroidery knots and English words written in indelible ink, etc.) -- especially good for reading in bed, 'cause if you fall asleep on top of it, you don't need to worry about crumpling the pages, or poking yourself in the ribs with a hard bound corner.

And also, with "quiet books"? Absolutely, positively, guaranteed never give you a paper cut!

Back in the day before Zazzle, when I was a teenager, and dreamed of having my own hand-painted sweatshirt business, I thought a great idea for a Valentine's Day gift would be a romantically-designed shirt with a pocket, and in the pocket, a linen (or cotton) handkerchief with a love poem on it, folded, and slipped into the pocket over the heart). A cloth book of love poems would be great, grown-up, bedtime book...

[kestrell]

One could also use very thin ribbon tocreate letters, and there is always puff paint, although my one experience with puff paint was pretty disappointing--it's really difficult to get a uniform line which is thick enough to puff. On the other hand, there are beads and metal studs which could be used to create braille. Also, Lima Beads just started carrying wire lace--how cool does that sound?

I like the handkerchief in a pocket idea--I don't think I ever grew out of the kid love of things within things.

[capri0mni]

ooh, beads! And how about sequins? You could even use different material for your braille depending on the subject of your book: brads and rivets for a steam punk theme, sequins for a book about dragons ('cause they're like scales)?

And wire lace sounds very cool indeed.

People who do not love things within things are boring as brick. They are not people I want to talk to.

[kestrell]

My first reaction was: I don't do sequins, but the dragon scales idea sounds nifty. Also, re things within things: a small book of perhaps four leaves tucked within a pocket of the larger book (to steal your handkerchief in a pocket idea).

[capri0mni]

One of my "genres" of YouTube videos, since I got broadband a couple of years ago, is How-to Scrapbook Hobby vids. And there's a format of mini album called a "meander book", where a single sheet of however-big sheet of paper (standard size for crafting is 12 by 12 inches) is folded into sixteenths, and then the three vertical creases are cut in such a way that the resulting paper likes kind of like a big paper "W". Then, the horizontal creases are folded accordion-style, and are glued together at the very edges, to keep them together. The result is a mini-book with seven 3-inch square pages, and every single page is also its own pocket, for the maker to slip extra notes and things inside.

...Seems to me, this would be a perfect idea for a cloth book, and straight stitch along the folds, instead of gluing. And, since you're stitching, you won't have to worry about fraying, and could use a sturdier, more adult material than felt or Pellon, such as denim or light canvas.

[kestrell]

In-teresting. I'm pasting that description into my art journal. That would particularly nifty with some brocade-type materials, it seems to me.

[capri0mni]

A lot of these scrapbook how-to videos are about making your packaging for candies, chocolate bars, etc. as "gifts for your kids' teachers (or postman)." But it's always struck me as risky because of possible unknown allergies.

And I prefer to give little gifts that are actually useful. And the idea occurred to me that a booklet with seven pockets, could be like those pill organizers with seven compartments, to organize your medications, only with my idea, each pocket could hold (maybe) a 3" by 5" index card for that day's notes (to write down phone numbers for people you meet, to-do lists, etc.). So I was thinking it would need to be extra durable paper to hold up. ...I was thinking wall paper samples, from those discontinued sample books would be good...

Oh, and speaking of beads for braille, there is a scrapbooking supply which is specifically for decorating greeting cards with sheets of seed beads with strong stickum on their backs, so you can just take them off the sheet their sold on (sort of like candy dots), and stick them on the card... so you don't have to sew them on.

[kestrell]

I have so many friends with nut and shellfish allergies that I just don't even think of including those ingredients in party foods, let alone giving them as gifts. Also, I really dislike peanuts, the smell of peanut butter makes me nauseous (I think it may be some sort of low-grade allergy).

Have you heard about the paper used for bank cards now being used as a craft paper? I forget what it is called, but it is superdurable.

Do you know the name of the beads with sticky on them? I have an ongoing tactile tapestry project in which I wanted to use beads, but frankly, I don't think I was made for beading. I mansged to get a number of strands beaded and sewn on, and the threads broke, beads everywhere! and I have I managed I have an old wood floor in my room, with lots of cracks for things to fall into?

[capri0mni]

I looked at the most recent craft video in my subscription list that uses them, but all the crafter calls them is "basic pearls."

However, Googling for "Self Adhesive Craft Pearls" brought up a lot of hits. I don't know how well they'd attach to fabric, but if the adhesive is strong enough to endure the postal service, and arrive at their destination still attached to the card, as intended, it's got to be pretty strong.