From Bookplates to Andy English

As if I was only born yesterday, I am very curious when I found the word bookplates for the first time. I happened to stumble upon the word when surfing for rubber stamp carving on the net. It is very common to find a bookplate written with the words "Ex Libris" and a name, or a blank space to write a name on it. "Ex Libris" simply means "from the library of" in Latin, and the name as to claim an ownership of a book. So I thought, a bookplate must be a stamp (because my mind still bound to my earlier search), used to stamp on books like what we always see in books borrowed from the library, but I was wrong. It is actually a piece of paper, often pasted on the inner side of a book cover.

I remember my father taught me to write my name on my school books, but I don't remember seeing anyone using bookplates before. So this is new to me, thus I googled for bookplates and find myself awed to see all the amazing detailed bookplate designs. And this search led me to a site, owned by Andy English. There is where I learnt about letterpress! What a coincidence, I have always wanted to know about letterpress since I found some letterpress products in Etsy. What a cool finding! I know the world nowadays are into computers and printers but, I don't know, I find myself hooked with this letterpress thing. Having seen all the letterpress machine, it must be expensive right? Hoho~ nevermind, I'll be just happy with my acto knife and linolium carving tools (am using sharpen wood carver anyway).

Speaking of Andy English, I'm totally stunt to see his engraving work. Check his blog if you want to know what I mean! Eventhough I can draw quite well, but I admit I would feel like killing myself to draw something so perfectly detailed like his engraved art. The shading, textured and details are perfect. Gosh! I had goosebumps. His work is scary! Tabik spring la Andy!

Look! Look! A finished engraving.

I know you've been drawing err..carving lots of trees here Andy. But leaves and grass too?!

Rescued Sistahs

I almost throw this sketch away while doing some tidy up, because it was done on the back of paper I used to test my watercolor mixture. But then, I think I better get it scanned and see what can be done with it digitally. I purposely leave the absorbed watercolor mark and add some background to the sketch.

If you like the background, you can download it (or other downloadable digital freebies) from scrapbooketc. If you love scrapbooking (or photography, or art!) , you may find this site very useful and fun. Enjoy!

Just Hobbies

Apart from art and photography, I also found passion in DIY stuff. Sometimes my window shopping destination includes gardening and hardware sections, checking the price and sort of tools or material I could buy there when needed. Considering cooking and sewing as DIY, they too hardly escape my list. During my younger years in school, I used to make handmade cards and bookmarks for friends, files and paperbags, pencil holder, bookshelf, pillow and pillow cases, straw flowers and curtains for my room.

Unlike most of my friends, I never went to kindergarten. But thankfully, I'm quite a fast-learner and manage to catch up very fast later when I went to primary school. In those not-going-to-kindergarten years, I spent much of my time playing with my mom's sewing machine (and get myself scolded for broken needles). I made small shirts just for fun (even my little doll can't fit) and small sling bag for myself. Sometimes, I play with mom's yarn and knitting needles. There were times I play with my dad's tools. To name them; hammer (there was a small hammer for knocking small nails and I like that one very much (I thought it was made for me), saw, screw drivers, plyers, etc (of coz I got scolded by him too for many reasons). Everytime I finished using his tools, I will put them back to where they belong but my dad always know someone had disturbed his stuffs, hairan. I wonder why I didn't grow up being a martha stewart? (not yet maybe...haha).

These are two sites where we can get a lot of DIY ideas for hobbies and home improvisation (like them so much). Check out DIYideas and martha stewart's website (who don't know her?).

Dare to Tag

Time for tagging thing again. I've been tagged by ezooone.

~~Begin Copy~~

This is the easy way and the fastest way to :
1. Make your Authority Technorati explode 2. Increase your Google Page Rank. 3. Get more traffic to your blog. 4. Make more new friends.

Rules : 1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog. 2. Put your own blog name and link. 3. Tag your friends as much as you can.

1. Picturing of Life 2. Juliana’s Site 3. Shower Your Children With Love - The Right Way 4. Life’s a journey, not a destination 5. Simple Life 6. Life is beautiful; Life is love 7. Lovely Mummy 8. Lemonjude 9. Faith,Hope,Love 10. Newife Blog 11. Good things in life… 12. …the Guru-Guru life… 13. Ezooone 14. mangosteenskin

~~ End Copy ~~

Ehem...i'm tagging those who inspired me:

abgjas, allyson, blucrystaldude, coralie, emila, gennine, heilly, helmi, janeapron, jiwasintetik, leanne, mika, mr.naga, baizurah, pupu, rasso, rizal, sahar, saharil, senta, tafteh , teh aida and lastly tokrimau. As usual, this is not compulsory ok.

Enjoy!