We've been making a lot of tree swings this year as everyone, both young and old, have been navigating fun at home.

Before Peg and Awl, we made a rope tree swing for our boys. It was something they never grew weary of and has long since become a thing many never grow out of. 

As summer turns to autumn, we are finding small escapes, but we never grow weary of swinging in the backyard! Now, we are preparing to set up our swing at the Five Acre Wood, as our barn space is ready for use. When you're ready to join in the merriment, we have a video demonstrating how to hang your tree swing.

 

Our next Of a Kind Summer Pouch and Journal collection (2020) features some vintage fabrics from bundles, feedsacks, unfinished quilts, bolts of indigo from the 1800s and more. They are limited to the number of pouches we were able to make from each reclaimed piece.

Sign up for our Newsletter to be notified when a new Of a Kind collection is live in our the shop!

One Spring, I found small bundles of utilitarian textiles from the late 1800s—early 1900s under a table at a flea market. Each little bundle, when open, reveals the negative space of a homemade dress—no piece was too small to save.

The first time I encountered these tied up treasures was at an abandoned house. The red and white striped bundle was tucked into a drawer with so many other keepsakes wrapped up in newspapers from the 1950s, a time capsule from part of a life. I gathered what I could and returned many times until finally the house was just scattered bits of insides mixed with rubble in an open field. I used the red and white striped cotton pieces to line my own journals so many years ago and we have brought this detail into our Peg and Awl journals. 

Uncovering these bundles that have endured for more than a century is so strangely inspiring in our throwaway society. Someone saved them for something—did they ever imagine how the future opener of their curious legacy would make use of them a century later? 

Watch the video of our Summer 2021 Of a Kind Collection!

Shop the Scout Plein Air Box

I surveyed the hills and valleys in front of me. The land was covered in organized rows of 100 year old grape vines and olive trees, interrupted only by winding dirt roads connecting farms to the outside world. Terra Cotta-roofed houses speckled the landscape, and in the distance the hills transformed into mountains. The sun felt warm on my skin and the smell of fresh soil filled the air. As I looked up from my paint palette and over my canvas, I wondered at how this place must have looked when Leonardo was born. I had come here to Vinci, Italy to paint and to remember the importance of being an artist.

Art has always been a thread woven into the fabric of Peg and Awl, but on a personal level through the past ten years it had become a thing that Margaux and I would fit into the cracks of responsibility. Then in 2016 Margaux attended an illustration workshop in Spain and she was awakened. Art transformed into a necessity, and every day she devoted several hours to drawing, painting and writing. As I watched it feed her soul, I began to feel the pull myself. I decided to apply for a juried workshop taught by Jeremy Mann and Nadezda, and hosted by Art Escape Italy. I applied and waited, doubting I would be one of the 17 chosen. When I got the acceptance email I was ecstatic and nervous, with a underlying feeling of “what did I get my self into?” After months of struggling through the required homework of copying every page of Bridgman’s Complete Guide to Drawing From Life (which I did not complete before the trip), I hopped on a plane with my paints, brushes and canvases and headed to Tuscany, Italy.

Along with 16 other aspiring artists, I stayed at a secluded retreat situated atop a hill surrounded by vineyards and orchards. For 6 days we were immersed in instruction, reading, discussion and painting with Jeremy and Nadezda as they shared their passion for what it means to be an artist. One night we all set up along the edge of the hill and painted the landscape before us. I had never plein air painted before and had no idea what a plein air kit was. But as I taped a gessoed and toned canvas to my palette, threw a few paints and brushes in my pockets and sat down in the grass, I was enthralled.

The way that Jeremy explained the process was delightful. He had built a small plein air set up out of an old cigar box. His canvases were 4″ × 5″, and the box was small enough to fit in his hand while he painted. Inside was everything he needed: a glass palette, reused film canisters for liquin and turpentine, small whittled-down brushes and miniature paint tubes. This portable pochade box was so manageable that he always had it with him, and the scenes that he painted were amazing color studies and sketches that captured the aura of the moment. That night I decided to design a box that I could take on my own adventures.



On the flight home, I sketched out a rough plan and within a few days of my return I had made the first prototype. Made of walnut with a vegetable tanned leather cover and shoulder strap, it housed all my painting supplies and four canvases that could be stored safely when wet. I took it with me everywhere and stopped to paint whenever I saw a moment that I wanted to capture. For the next 8 months I made modifications, perfecting the design and usability of the Scout Plein Air Box in preparation to finally share it with the world.

I look back to one year ago when I was preparing to leave for Italy and I see how I have grown as an artist. Plein air painting has changed my life. The excitement of slinging my pochade box over my shoulder and setting out on a painting adventure is intoxicating. Being able to set up anywhere within a few minutes has encouraged me to paint often, to more closely observe the things around me, to hone my memory as I strive to capture a fleeting moment, and to constantly learn how to mix colors. It has taught me the importance of being in the moment, and of considering the physical world around me and my relationship with it. Plein air painting has helped me to live more like an artist.

Watch the Walkthrough of my Scout Plein Air Box.

We’ve made another video installment to our Bookbinding Tutorials – this one is in response to all of the detailed questions you’ve been asking about our materials. I’ve also shared a little of my bookbinding history—where you can see my old falling apart journals as well as some insides and a variety of antique leather outsides! 

Chapters:
0:00 List of Materials
0:32 How Margaux Got Started Bookbinding
1:37 Margaux’s Early Journals
2:59 Overview of Materials
3:31 Thread
4:07 Needle
4:38 Tape
5:14 Headband
5:38 Mull
5:49 Glue
6:03 Cover
8:32 Paper
9:07 Conclusion

Watch Bookbinding at Home Part 1: Single Signature Notebook

My mom and I have always gone to flea markets, and we couldn’t pass by an abandoned house without stopping in for a little time-travel. Even a good trash picking was never a source of embarrassment. Dumpster diving in ‘work clothes’? Not a problem. Giving rescued objects a new life after so many decades of idleness is irresistable – especially in our throwaway society.

Years ago I met an old woman at a flea market who was a designer for Wanamaker’s Department Store. She was selling scrap from decades past. I loved visiting her booth for her stories and her textiles, and I made many clothes for myself from her castaways. And then there was the Rementer House where Flossie and Jack had neatly arranged their early years (clothing, dishes, Christmas cards, photographs, boy scout uniforms, &c) into the attic of their home in the ’50s. I found it decades later and rescued many treasures, including my first tiny fabric time capsule – a small bundle from the early 1900s. It contained a larger outer piece and many small pieces wrapped within. No piece was too tiny to save. I used them as trimming for my journal edges – something we now do at Peg and Awl with all of our journals.

I’ve since found many more bundles, as well as feed sacks made of the very same textiles that could be found in clothing catalogs of the time (the farmer’s wife and daughters would make clothes, curtains and kitchen towels from them), and other scraps (with selvage) ranging in width from 24″ to 44″ (the loom width helps to determine the age of the textiles).

This Summer Pouch collection is made from found bundles, feedsacks, and scraps from the late 1800s to the 1960s. They are limited to the number of pouches we were able to make from each piece. We’ve lined each one with waxed canvas. The Essential style is finished with vintage zippers, and the rest with black YKK zippers. Browse the collection now, and sign up for our newsletter to be notified when it becomes available next week!

Enjoy!

Browse the Full Collection!

Scribbler Pouch with mid-1900s Feed Sack Textile: Taffy	Essentials Pouch with Early 1900s Scrap Textile: Apricot
Drafter Pouch with early 1900s Tea Towel Textile: Indigo	Essentials Pouch with 1950s Deadstock Textile: Geranium

Søren and Silas having a go at making coverless journals for their homeschool science projects! 

These are the materials the boys are using:

1. Needle – bookbinding needles have roundy tips and big eyes, but most needles will work!
2. Thread – any thread will do. If it is super thin, double it up.
3. Pencil – grab your favourite pencil to plot your stitching holes.
4. Paper – this is for the inside. Do you like lined paper, sketch paper, the back of used paper, graph paper? Gather your favourites, mix ’em up or stick to one!
5. Thumbtack – or something sharp to poke holes through paper and cardstock.
6. Scissors – for snipping your thread.
7. Fabric – this will serve as your linens that will hold the book together. Happy treasure hunting!
8. Glue – to glue your fabric to the front and back covers of your book. Elmers works!

The boys are following the same process as in our Bookbinding Tutorial, Part Two, showing how to make your own coverless journal. Happy stitching!

Here is the last video in our first bookbinding tutorial series: Bookbinding at Home. Thank you all for following along and sharing your books. We are so psyched to see all of the books that have come out of these tutorials! We hope you find comfort in the process of binding your books as well as filling them. There is certainly a lot to document right now— in both pictures and words. ⁣
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We love seeing your books and sharing in our Instagram stories and posts (@pegandawl) – be sure to use #quarantinebookbindingclub and/or #pegandawlbinds on your social media posts so we can find you!⁣

Project No. 3: Covering a Journal with Leather

Here is what you will need:

Leather – If you have scrap, an old jacket or wallet, anything soft and malleable, have it ready! Scraps of many colors are also available from many sellers on Etsy.
Fabric – This will replace mull (a starched cheesecloth) that will be glued directly to your book block to strengthen your book.
Thread – For the headband. Aim for something thick that will take up space. You can also use a pre-made headband.
Scissors – For trimming your cover. If you are using leather for your cover, make sure they are sharp!
Hammer – For shaping your book block. Be sure it is clean as it will be coming in contact with your paper! (I used a rock hammer and my pages don't hide it!)
Glue – For gluing your leather to the front and back covers of your book. Elmers works!
Heavy Book – This will be your book press! Any heavy book will do, though I find art books (and their dense pages) perfect for the job!

Bookbinding at Home: Part 2

So here we are again – still at home and pleased to share our next installment of our Bookbinding at Home series! We hope you have found some small things to enjoy in this time of truly slooooowing down. For me it is always the small things that brighten my days, like watching Toots and Yedda – our goose landmates – and transforming a pile of field stone into an elegant yet makeshift garden path!

As for the tutorials, we are learning a lot (we hope you are too) and are so grateful for everyone who is joining us!

Project No. 2: Stitching Signatures for a Coverless Sketchbook

Here is what you will need:

1. Needle – bookbinding needles have roundy tips and big eyes, but most needles will work!
2. Thread – any thread will do. If it is super thin, double it up.
3. Pencil – grab your favourite pencil to plot your stitching holes.
4. Paper – this is for the inside. Do you like lined paper, sketch paper, the back of used paper, graph paper? Gather your favourites, mix ’em up or stick to one!
5. Thumbtack – or something sharp to poke holes through paper and cardstock.
6. Scissors – for snipping your thread.
7. Fabric – this will serve as your linens that will hold the book together. Happy treasure hunting!
8. Glue – to glue your fabric to the front and back covers of your book. Elmers works!

We get most of our bookbinding tools and materials from Talas, including needles, thread, linen tape and other materials we haven’t explained yet. The waxed thread that I am using is a 3 ply waxed Irish Linen thread.

We love Strathmore drawing paper for our journals and find that and other supplies through Artist & Craftsman. Both the latter and Talas are small companies who have shut down their physical locations but are currently taking online orders and shipping!

As for covers, vintage textiles, needle boxes and vintage tools – you can find all kinds of unexpected magic at home as well as on Etsy and eBay. We at Peg and Awl absolutely encourage creativity in materials and tools, and finding vintage stuff is a nice way to reclaim some of the excess of items that already exist on our planet. This is also a way to make your project and your desk specifically yours!

Bookbinding Glossary

Sheet: The unfolded paper pages that you start your project with
Folio: A folded sheet
Signature: Gathering of folios
Leaf: One half of a folded sheet
Page: Each side of each leaf

Please share your little books with us with hashtag #quarantinebookbindingclub – we’d love to see what you are making, and share the results!

The Next Step…

Continue on with our next bookbinding project: covering a coverless book! We will only be covering a book, so bring your coverless book from this project to the next installment.

And While You’re at Home…

If you are housebound or feeling antsy, there are oodles of projects online and on Instagram. I’ve found inspiration from The Good Ship Illustration’s drawing guide The Sketchbooker’s Friend. The first tip is pretty great:

NO PHONES. Don’t take a photo, then draw from it. Don’t finish your drawing at your desk later. It is NOT ALLOWED and we are very strict!

 

Until next time, join our Newsletter to learn about new products, offers and giveaways, and receive a coupon code for 10% off your first order!

Bookbinding at Home

The state of the world – and the pause it is giving – has me thinking about and enjoying the small things in life – like wild violets, meringue cookies, and the scritchy-scratchy sound a pen makes. It has also brought me back to the early days of making books, and the small things that made them so special.

As a result, we have put together a long overdue tutorial on bookmaking. I have prepared a list of things you will need to make your first notebook. This is a very simple start—you can use materials that you have at home and anyone, any age can join in! So, let’s make books!

Project No. 1: Single Signature Notebook

Postcard by @deborah.j.stein	Card by Egg Press and tea box from Yogi Tea

Here is what you will need:

1. Needle — bookbinding needles have roundy tips and big eyes, but most needles will work!
2. Thread — any thread will do. If it is super thin, double it up.
3. Pencil — grab your favourite pencil to plot your stitching holes.
4. Paper — this is for the inside. Do you like lined paper, sketch paper, the back of used paper, graph paper? Gather your favourites, mix em up or stick to one!
5. Cover – raid your recycling bins and cupboards for tea boxes or snacks whose boxes you adore. Use this time to clean up your drawers find postcards and note cards saved. All of these things make wonderful covers for little book!
6. Thumbtack – or something sharp to poke holes through paper and cardstock.
7. Scissors for trimming your cover.

If you have everything on this list at home, great! If you don’t and wish to order online – PLEASE consider buying from small businesses and Etsy sellers who REALLY need everyone’s support.

Visit our blog for the how-to process video! Please share your little books with us with hashtag #quarantinebookbindingclub – we’d love to see what you are making, and share the results!

Coming Soon…

Stay tuned for our next bookbinding project: a coverless journal like our Anselm Bookbinding Kit! You do not need the kit to join, but if you’d like to get started with one (it includes a bookbinding needle!), find them on our shop.

If you are housebound or feeling directionless, there are oodles of projects online and on Instagram including the #quarantineartclub hosted by @CarsonEllis, a live book club for kids by @MacBarnett, and, coming up – one of my personal favorites, the #100dayproject!