PM BoS Update

Well I've finally gotten some work done on my book. It's FAR from completed and still needs a lot of work, considering I haven't had much time to work on it lately, especially with summer and two kids circling me like vultures.

However, I thought I'd take a moment to share what I DID get done with my book. While I'm not happy with the lack of color, I think this will perhaps be my permanent book.

This will be one of the very RARE times I upload a video. Most of the time blogger is very slow at uploading movies, and my internet is not very data friendly, but because I have a lot to show, and I don't have a way to do a slideshow of only specific pictures unless I upload them to something like photobucket or whatever, I thought I'd just movie it.

Most of the stuff I printed off my computer...mostly for esthetics. I can't draw borders, and not really happy with my own handwriting...that and my daughter decided to use my good scrapbooking pen as a coloring marker and totally ruined the tip.

The point in the video where it says "Grimoire" is the "secret" book part on the inside. This is where I will store my Rituals and Spells.

Of course it's a work in progress, and I suspect it will take me probably a couple of years to complete (as a book should). I'm a very picky person. Little teeny things pick at me and when I can't figure out how to work it, I obsess to the point of frustration sometimes, so adding decoration, smashing, borders, etc are going to elude me until I figure it out finally. I hate being a perfectionist when it comes to creations lol.

Book Pin

I had a sudden inspiration last night, that took me all day to find materials for.

It's not a grand thing, it's actually quite simple, it's just finding what I needed to make it that was hard. I made a variation of the pin from the movie "Practical Magic", in which Jet handed the crystal pin to a townswoman to pierce the dove for a love spell, as per her request.

From: "Practical Magic"

While it would have been really great if I could have found a large marbled-sized crystal ball to make this "pin"...I had to make do with what I found...and actually it looks really nice.

I found plastic "gems" at my local dollar store. All but the 1 package I found were various blue colors in random shapes. I was lucky to find a hidden package of diamond shaped clear "gems"...complete with a hole to thread the wire through to secure.

I'm really impressed with how it turned out. I would have liked it better if the hole to thread was going top to bottom, rather than through the bottom point, but C'est La Vie.
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**UPDATE**
Upon further inspection of the "pin", and upon searches for similar pins online, I have perhaps concluded that a large clear bead might work just as well. Unfortunately I will be unable to re-create the "claw" that holds the "crystal", but have my own inspired creation in which to hold such a ball. Now...to find the LARGE bead lol.

Practical Magic Book of Shadows: IT'S DONE!!!

Finally, boo-boo after boo-boo, it's finally done. I'll let the pix speak for themselves :)

It's still not quite dry in these pix, so I'll let it sit for a little while before I start filling it with info. I'm so proud of myself, this is an awesome accomplishment.

Book dimensions

Pages - Folded Legal sheets: 8.5 x 14; folded 8.5 x 7

Total book size - 7" wide, 9" long, 1 1/4" thick

P.M BoS Update

I've made a new addition to my sidebar. It's a sort of "Tip of the Day". I've started this because I made a **BIG** boo-boo, and didn't realize it until I was almost done.

In the midst of making my cover, I realized I mis-measured one of my spines. I'm actually quite upset. I measured each book-block separately, when I was supposed to measure (for one spine) both book-blocks together, then the smaller one by itself. I can get the gist of what my book will look like (it'll look really good once it's done) despite my mistake, but I cannot continue with my book the way it is.

I'm quite upset, because I've ruined precious vinyl. Walmart...has decided to discontinue selling the vinyl I'm using to make my books, so now I have to find a new place for vinyl supply. I suppose if I run out I can use the brown velvet I have that I've previously bought (for a previous book I made), but it's quite a thick material.

So...because of this mistake I've made, It's sparked a new addition for my blog.

The tip of the day today is (as seen on the sidebar): Measure Twice, Cut Once


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**Update** 02/10/11
I've bought new canvas boards and more glue. Let's hope (fingers crossed) that all goes well tomorrow (going to try again) and I can show off my new book.

Practical Magic BoS - Update

I thought I'd take a moment here to add a video to show you guys how to thread a signature. I noticed I failed to mention it before. Might be an important step if any of you choose to hard bound your books :)



(***WITCHY-BOO BOO!!!**)
I uploaded the wrong video. I will re-upload my edited version at a later date (it describes the things I'm doing)

First Project of the Site

The first project I am putting up for this site is not a new one to me...or my readers of my other blog.

My favorite thing to craft is books. I love to make books from scratch. It's time consuming, can somewhat be stressful, but I love it.

I am in the processes now, of making a "Practical Magic" style book. This book I plan to make into a grimoire for myself...but this book really is just an attempt to see if I can actually do it. I seem to be over-analyzing this, making it out to be more complicated than it really needs to be, so I thought, "what the hell" I'll make it just to see if I can.

My Book of shadows is so big at the moment, that I think the time has finally come for me to make a new volume. If this endeavour works out, I may re-do this project and make myself a BoS v.2 (my Grimoire being a different book altogether).

It makes me sad to have to make a whole new book, but with Samhain coming, it could be a golden opportunity for me to do things on this path right. Consecrate and bless this book with the beginning of a Witchy New Year and go from there. I'll post it's progress and keep you all updated, as well as describe the steps so you too can make your own, if you are so incline :)

Note: I make two types of books: hardbound and post bound. This book will be a hardbound book.
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                  Finished book blocks