Book Binding and Finishing Touches

 On June 7th, we had the pleasure of attending a second book binding workshop presented by the Brass Gears Adventure society, and led by Susan Leabhart.  Journals were created, but we had different plans.  Ms. Donovan created a replacement insert for her leather bound journal case. I however, traversed yet another path and generated a complete hand bound and covered version of the Ni No Kuni, Wisards Spellbook.


Once the 340 pages had been folded into signatures, punched, and bound using the Coptic Stitch method demonstrated by Susan.  It was time to move forward with the cover, and transitioning it into a perfect binding.  For my purposes, I covered the spine in Mod Podge, careful to not let the glue get anywhere but the spine.  Once covered it was flipped on edge and covered in a piece of black material.  I used some cans to hold it in position until the Mod Podge had fully dried overnight.

For the cover I wanted an embossed look, and was able to achieve such a look by layering hard board shapes up.  I also added some extra flair with flat leather cording, and a drop of magic sealed in a red stone for the cherry on top.  Slathering the edges in glue the whole was wrapped in a soft faux leather material and left to dry.

I wasn't pleased with the level of emboss so I used some Black Acrylic to add shadow to the emboss, and grant it more of a worn and dirtied look.  Fizgig Von Scrufflebottom was showing me all the spots I missed along the way.

Once the shadowing was dry, some more decorative elements 

were affixed, as well as setting the stone in place.

Voila, une Wiseard's Spellbook al a Ni No Kuni. 

Till next our Paths Cross.

Great Garden Gentleman Gophers!

Greetings and Salutations dearest readers.  I wish to bring to your attention a creature which you may never have been educated about.  "Vampiric Yard Animals".  Souless and Pale creatures with large teeth and lifeless eyes.  But, dear reader, let not your soul be troubled, it is a curable matter.  Let me explain . . .  

After a few hard seasons in the sun, yard art suffers from becoming vampiric.  Yes, Souless and Pale.  Examples of a gopher found in our garden.  By no means is it proper for a pair of Monster Hunters to have vampiric gophers.  Thus the need to find a cure was a matter of utmost importance.

With just a few common items from around the household a plan was conceived.  In this case the following ingredients served us well.

Pull from a canned beverage
Metal lid from a cat food tin
Broken pull chain
Ring from a bottled beverage
Pair of faucet caps





Using a bit of Epoxy, all the bits are affixed to raise the status of common gopher to proper gentle gopher.  A top hat, and monocle.  Slap on a bit of paint, using a solid brown, then washing with black, and highlighting with light brown.  Eyes, nose and claws a solid black, then dry brush a bit of copper to add some flair.  White teeth, and presto chango. Vampirism is cured.

A right proper gentleman gopher for a pair of Steapunk Monster Hunters.

Do add a bit of non-yellowing clear coat to insure that the animal does not 

revert to vampiric ways, and to grant you many more seasons of enjoyment.

Till Next our Paths Cross,