We were inspired to make some blanks books and fill them with poems after learning that Emily Dickinson would take notes throughout the day and then later, copy her poems onto small pieces of paper. She would then sew these into simple soft cover books. The girls loved the idea of having a small stack of books they could tie up with string and tuck away somewhere special. We used blank paper inside and newsprint for the covers. The girls copied some of their favorite poems of hers into the books and added their own. The almost 7-year-old copied a short one. So sweet.
Related to this, we have gotten into bookbinding and are learning to make one style of book a week. Usually on Fridays. I try for a simple style, one that we can finish in one sitting, but the older girls are also interested in more complicated bookmaking, too. So far, were are working with non-adhesive book binding—lots of folding and sewing. Instant books, accordion books, (mini modular origami) and that kind.
Delia mentioned she wanted to make a book with a leather over, all Hobbit style, with a coptic binding and all that, which I know how to do, but it's been a while, so I looked around and found not only a wonderful tutorial for making a leather journal, exactly the kind she wants to make, but a plethora of professional and easy-to-follow bookbinding tutorials over at Sea Lemon, on you tube. They are so good!
This one here is great for showing a simple saddle-stitch binding. It uses up a single spiral notebook to make 4 smaller ones. Here's a link directly to her bookmaking project videos, she has even more, but this is a good place to start. I am really excited to have found her videos.
She also has a whole lot of craft projects, too. We already made a mess with the homemade slime. Lava lamps are up next.
