Tag Archives: Handmade books

In Her Boudoir: An 1134 Press Journal Collection

15 Oct

 

This collection of handmade journals, Boudoir, was inspired by Victorian grandeur and kitschy eclectic styles. From images of decadent furniture, traditional portraits and jewels, I not only wanted to capture what I saw happening in fashion this fall, but to create journals that inspired me to write.

boudoir 5.jpegWho says your travel journal can’t match your floral sweater and mustard skirt?

 

boudoir 2.jpegGet it HERE on Etsy

Of late, I’ve been thinking about the intersection of the act of journaling and the physical journal. Aside from the journal being a place to jot down ideas and observations, and its use a therapeutic tool, there is something about journaling that is sensual. What you doodle, or write in your journal are presumably for the self—like an act of cognitive masturbation. When thinking about my personal journaling in those terms, I wanted to create a journal that created a romantic atmosphere. Thus, in this collection there are rich pinks, deep blues, golds, and floral patterns that adorn the covers. Boudoir is nothing short of feminine. The choice to use images of furniture grounds the journals in a home of magnificence.

 

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Follow me @bryonnajay on Instagram for your handmade journal fix!

In perfect travel size, you can take romance and extravagance with you everywhere.

 

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Pack Rat, Book Junk Queen

20 Aug

The bookmaking possibilities are endless when you use the materials laying around the house. From empty wine boxes to broken junk jewelry, there is an incredibly unique and eco-conscious book waiting to be made.

Envelope book.JPGA new journal made up of recycled envelopes and cardboard. Get it on Etsy!

 

 

When I first started making books I would spend so much money going to craft shops to buy book and chipboard. But then I wised up and realized that I could eat my elbow noodles and make a journal out of it too!

 

Book Trash.jpg This is chipboard! These boxes will be used for semi soft covers.

 

 One of favorite materials to use in crafting books is through upcycling library books. I like spending a day going “book hunting,” by hitting up the different libraries in my area searching for books that found themselves abandoned on “free” shelves.

Library Books.jpgLibrary books waiting to become blank books!

 

You might be asking yourself if cutting up a book is ethical. I wrestle with this moral question constantly, especially while browsing book art sculptures on Pinterest. The truth is that some publications will inherently end up never being read again due to a lack of interest, over publication, and so forth. While I don’t make sculptures from published books, I do reclaim covers, colored end pages, and images. To maintain a moral compass while out on a book hunting expedition, I keep two things in mind: 1. Do I want to read the content so I can save interiors for reading later? 2. Is the cover interesting?

 

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Reusing materials can help to reduce the carbon footprint in a small way. Reusing materials also forces you to use creative problem solving skills by reimagining what an object could be. Check back here next Sunday for a tutorial on how to make your own upcycled library journal!

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It’s Pronounced Eleven-Thirty-Four: Who We Are

13 Aug
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If you type 1134 in a calculator and turn it upside down, what does it spell?

1134 Press is an independent publisher and bookmaker based in Baltimore founded by G.J Sieck (a comic artist, writer, and metal head) and myself, Bryonna Jay (writer, book artist, and #carefreeblackgirl). We joined forces through our love for writing, books, and an affinity for outsider-hood, weirdness, and the strange.

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1134 Comix’s, Blakbone, the rock n’ roll demon, procrastinating in world domination.

We are nerds, skeptics, and we make free web-comics too! We also make handmade journals, available on Etsy and in our store.

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Bow Down B*tches

Earlier this summer 2017 we published our first book, Gestalt by G.J. Sieck, a collection of short stories and sequential art. Give it a read, it’s a trip.

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Get it here!

Here at 1134 Press we are coffee lovers, night owls, and…

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Gary and me as kitten and sugar skull

We’ve been hard at work creating content and hand crafting products, and we want to take you all on for a ride as we continue to grow as a press and artists. Follow this blog for updates on what’s new with 1134 Press, bookmaking tutorials, calls for submissions, and other 1134 shenanigans.

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Making Books!

29 Jun

Hello everybody!

We’ve been super busy at 1134 Comix / Press making books–we love it! Bree has been hard at work making the most awesome handmade journals. I’ve begun the arduous process of creating a graphic novel while furiously drawing the remainder of the current Blakbone story arc (which will be collected into a TPB in the fall).

We’re really excited about all the things we’re doing with 1134 Press and 1134 Comix! And there’s so much more we have in the works that I didn’t mention above. You can help us keep this book making train on the tracks by visiting our Gofundme page. It’s a great way to get a copy of 1134 Press’s first book, Gestalt, and it’s the only way to get yourself written into the next story arc of the Blakbone web-comic (which will eventually be bound in print as well).

Visit this link to support our press: https://www.gofundme.com/funding-for-1134-press

Thanks!

Here’s some art I’ve been working on for the graphic novel

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You can see some upcoming Blakbone pages in there as well …

And here are just a few of those handmade journals mentioned above:

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Look for these coming soon to our store, on Etsy, and wherever we’re able to set up a book selling table!

Thanks again everybody, and check back soon for more updates about 1134 Press and more of the ongoing Blakbone story

– G.J. Sieck

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