DRAW AWESOME ALBUM PART 3 – EMBELLISHING THE FORE-EDGES
The addition of the hinges does add some thickness to the bound edges of the pages. The stack of fore-edges is therefore slightly thinner than the binding. This doesn’t matter, but having this bit of leeway, I decided to go a bit bonkers and add some fun fabric trims to the edges of some of the pages! If I had embellished every fore-edge, it would have made the pages much too thick at the outer edge, resulting in the “gator-mouth” which so many book-makers deplore! Some people do enjoy those chunky-monkeys, though.
Rummage time!
I opened up my vintage leather cases in order to have a good old rummage through my stash of lace and trims.
I am not a neat and tidy stash-storer. I prefer the rummage method. Anything creased that needs to be flattened can usually be dealt with, using my little craft iron.
I also have a large ottoman chest on the landing, full of fabrics (no room in the studio). A lot of this is fabric left over from other projects like curtains and dressmaking, and some old coloured sheeting (the white stuff is stored separately). I also buy up clothes from charity shops made of useful fabrics, or which have interesting trims on them. Some of these are completely covered with motif-style lace which can be cut up and used appropriately.
I don’t know where quite a bit of all this stash comes from. I get given all sorts of bits and pieces by people who no longer need them, or are clearing the houses of deceased loved ones. I’m always a willing recipient of such gifts because even if I have to keep them for years, they will usually come into their own eventually. Some trims I really don’t like as they are, but once they are in place in a suitable environment, they can look absolutely fine.
I cut the pieces to length and stuck them down onto the pages using Fabri-Tac adhesive. When this was dry, I trimmed off any excess.
The fore-edges decorated.
Eventually I will do a proper flip-through of this book, and you will be able to see these embellishments in all their glory!
In the next part, we will begin working on the end papers and cover.
