Annie Fain » A.Fain Books Creations

What’s hoppin’ at A. Fain Books’ Etsy Shop?

Annie Fain — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:16:57 +0000

Here’s a quick look at some of what I’ve been working on here in the studio lately. Most all of it is available from my etsy shop: www.afainbooks.etsy.com

Eco Books

Annie Fain — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:43:51 +0000

Lark Books has recently come out with a new book called Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin put together by Terry Taylor. It’s totally great, simple as that. Each project is by a different book artist, many of which are local to Western North Carolina (I happen to be one of them, but I prooooomise I’m not saying any of this because I’m biased in any way). You’ll find projects made of everything from egg cartons to cassette tapes.

Here are a few images of the book I made for Eco Books:

I took two hand embroidered pieces I had found in a thrift store (I had to peel them away from the backing that held them in their tacky wooden frames) and hand-stitched with black thread around the bunches of lemons and oranges to make the images “pop” more. Then I made book board for my covers by laminating layers of recycled cereal boxes that I then encased with my altered, vintage fabrics.

I decided to make the book a dos-a-dos (two books that share the same back cover) because I had two fabric pieces. I used 100% recycled Classic Laid text paper, stained the edges with walnut dye I made myself and bound the book with multi-needle Coptic Binding.

I made twine (with two contrasting colors so that it would look striped) to be wrapped around a vintage button each to create closures for the front and back of the book.

Check it out at your local independent bookstore (that would be good ol’ Malaprops here in Asheville).

Mini-Stocking Stuffers

Annie Fain — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:58:39 +0000

Here’s a little taste of my new set of miniature journals. I made them for my first time exhibiting at the Craft Fair for the Southern Highland Craft Guild. I had stocking-stuffers in mind, though using walnut dye to stain the covers tones them down a bit. They don’t necessarily have a cheery holiday “look,” but hey, just like any gift, it just needs to be matched with the right person. Right? Right! They’ll be available one by one over the next week in my etsy shop.

Miniature Books

Annie Fain — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:35:40 +0000

Did you know: “Miniature books, most of which are less than three inches tall and some of which are smaller than a penny, have delighted readers for centuries. Popular because they were easily carried or concealed, these historic books range from tiny “Thumb Bibles” to illustrated nursery rhymes.” 4000 years of Miniature Books, Lily Library.

Ever heard for the mini-book society?

An Alphabet Book by Nancy Chandler Edwards

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Mini-Books are soooo fun to make. I’m a little bit addicted. Here are a few:

Checkout Lost Button Studio’s easy to follow directions and templates to make your own.

Mini-Address Books on Etsy

Annie Fain — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:21:41 +0000

I’ve had a great time coming up with a design for these mini-address books that are now for sale from my Etsy shop. They are about the size of a cell phone and fit perfectly in your back pocket or the palm of your hand.

For you bookmakers out there; I took the already printed address book text blocks (from Paper Source), attached decorative paper end pages with a chain stitch along the spine, made mini-covers and assembled all the pieces. Then because it would be both cute and functional I added simple button and wrap around closures.

Check ‘em out: www.afainbooks.etsy.com

Once Upon a Time…

Annie Fain — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:40:49 +0000

“Once upon a time… storybooks held a special place in our lives, filling our hearts with wonder. Thanks to this extraordinary crafting anthology we can experience that magic again in a marvelous new way by recreating and reinterpreting the picture book. An overview outlines a variety of structures and techniques, from simple collage to gluing. But above all, these highly visual pages offer ideas and inspiration, with talented artists presenting lovingly designed story spreads and covers. Take a fantasy vacation via a travel booklet fashioned from vintage, nostalgic postcards. Follow The Queen of Tarts in a story that unfolds in a miniature puppet theater motif. And two different artists offer their revised versions of a classic: The Princess and the Pea. ”

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Susan McBride and I collaborated on a hand-made storybook which is featured in a new book titled: ArtfulStorybooks: Mixed-Media Artists Create Handmade Tales, published by Lark Books July 2008. Simply put, I made the book and she filled it. Its called Old Hickory and is a commemoration to happy childhood vacations spent by Susan McBride and her good friends at a cabin in the Allegheny mountains of western Pennsylvania.

Susan gave me a sort of “care package” of memorabilia that reminded her of that time in her childhood and the cabin itself, my favorite being two wonderful old book covers. She wanted a house, or rather cabin, shaped book and after some brainstorming I decided on a multi-needle, Coptic stitched, gatefold book structure with two salvaged buttons as a book closure reminiscent of door handles.

We had a great time with this collaboration and, feeling that our work looked good together, ended up doing a joint show in December 2007. After the publication of Artful Storybooks we were asked to teach a Mixed Media Storybooks class at Asheville Bookworks in the Spring of 2009 inspired by this piece. (The class description is below.) Its wonderful when one thing leads to another so smoothly; particularly in the collaborative art world.

Thanks to Susan for including me in her creative endeavors and to Lark Books for supporting regional artists and crafters through quality publication.

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MIXED MEDIA STORYBOOKS
Asheville Bookworks
Tuesdays, 6-9pm
April 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26 & June 2 2009

In 2007 Asheville artists, Susan McBride and Annie Fain Liden, collaborated on a book making and story telling project that was recently featured in The Artful Storybook: Mixed-Media Artists Create Handmade Tales published by Lark Books 2008. Their collaboration also inspired this workshop. They will share their combined skills in mixed media illustration, story development and book construction to guide students through the exciting process of developing their own story book. Students will choose from 3 interactive book structures, make the book from scratch, learn to use a storyboard method to plan the tale and use linoleum block printing, painting, drawing, collage and simple book closures to illustrate and embellish their own unique storybook.