Rescue Book Journals Online Class

Be a Book Rescuer! No need to feel sad for those old books anymore. Rescue Book Journals begin as old friends and just get better as you work in them. What old lonely book wouldn't want this kind of a makeover ...  

Here are some student examples. They invite you in to explore.

Simple bookbinding techniques transform a beautiful vintage book into your next art journal. Use an assortment of papers as the book block to further personalize your journal. It's started before you've begun! Paper choice is huge once you've started digging around and we'll talk about the possibilities. 

Techniques you’ll learn will be reinforcing a fragile book spine, using a piercing template, pamphlet stitch and creating and using stencils. 

We’ll also be creating tabs for the inside pages from surprising everyday items. Stencils, stamps and collage and journaling prompts to get your journal moving. 

Join me for 5 weeks. 5 PDF's. 10 videos (give or take :). Private blog with an open forum so you can post your questions/ideas. The blog will remain open indefinitely. 

 

 

Supply List 

Vintage book! (Make sure it is not of any value. Available from library sales, ebay, thrift shops or your attic.)

 

 

Comments

[deSales]

My inner librarian cringes...
I love books and I could never do that to a book!
Save books by not destroying them!

-End rant-

( I just had to say it!)

[Diana Trout]

Oh no! I only use books that are being trashed. I love books as well and have a huge collection of books that were being trashed and I love them too much to take them apart. Have you worked in a library? If not, your heart will, indeed, plunge if you go around back and peek in the dumpster.
Im glad you spoke up and I hope your book-loving mind is at rest :)

[deSales]

What a quick response!

'Have you worked in a library?'
No, although it was my childhood dream. My favorite game was to play librarian.

' I only use books that are being trashed.'
I can sleep easy now :)
( It's almost bedtime for me here in the Netherlands.)

My local library sells their old and damaged books for 1.50 euro each.
(as you can guess I already have a collection of old library books!)

PS. I do like your blog!
Goodnight!

[LizzieBo]

Okay, sometimes I feel a little sad/guilty about the quantity of "art" supplies sitting on my shelves (some for much too long a time), but TODAY as I went through your supply list, I thought - yup, yup, got it, yup, okay. Which made me very happy. Now I have no excuse not to take the class!! And actually I have already used one free tutorial you gave about binding a small journal with duct tape SEVERAL times, including with a group of kids, who loved it. So this just sounds fun. Thanks.

[bev langby]

Hi Diana i love you blog have u on my google reader , how long will the class be available for viewing , im in the process of moving and it starts on the weekend of the 4th so i cant see myself getting to class for a couple weeks after that....

thanks and hugz

[Diana Trout]

Hey Bev, once you pay for the class it is yours! You can visit it any time - indefinitely :)
Thanks for asking. I should have said that

[Diana Trout]

Itll be good to have you on board! Use up those art supplies :)

[Caroline]

This sounds like fun, and like the others I'm sure I have all the various things I need, and more! It would be a good idea to cut into my first book with company as well, lol! Because I, too, love books so much that the thought of destroying one, even to give it a new lease of life, still feels a teeny bit heretical.

[Diana Trout]

Yes, I do know what you mean. I had trouble with the first one and there are many books that I have which were destined to go in the dumpster and I know they wont (in my lifetime :) Truly, you are giving that book a new lease on life and I hope youll join me

[Diana Trout]

Im glad your mind is at rest! Ive bought many books from library sales myself. Several years ago, I came up boxes of a hard bound art magazine that had been published for some 30 years. A beautiful set of books on its way to the trash! Sadness. Many of these old lovelies have been read, used for collage, turned into portfolios over the years. What a relief that they were rescued!
Goodnight my dear (or good morning as the case may be). It is good night here :)

[PennyA]

WOO HOO! She exclaimed,
receiving the news. Class with
D? Count me in, too! :)

*immense pleasure in the form of Haiku!*

Rather excited! Thanks, lady D!

[Linda]

Diana, hello class sounds wonderful. I do not have a card to use for class purchuse can I use check? In hopes
Thank you plese email,
Linda

[Jane LaFazio]

sounds like a great class Diana!! something I'd love to take in person from you one day too!

[Gwen Diehn]

I LOVE this idea, Diana! I have a couple of friends who make books out of rescued books, but I've never heard them called "rescue books" before! Great title! (The library at the college where I used to teach had a big book sale every year. After the sale the librarian would bring me boxes of old books and I would use the covers with my students. You probably have already thought of this source, but if not, see if a library would give you non-sellers after their annual sale.)

[Carol C]

Hi, Diana---I'd love to take this class but am involved in two other online classes at present. Do I understand correctly that I can work through the lessons at my own pace and will have the information available for a long time (more than six weeks, say)?

[Diana Trout]

Ha, some people rescue cats! I rescue books. I do get most of my old books from the library sales. We have an excellent bookseller there and I used to work for the library so I still have friends inside. Nice :)

[Diana Trout]

Oh my yes! I think you already signed up? The class is pretty much permanent. Once youve paid, you will have access!

[Diana Trout]

You really crack me up, Penny! Im looking forward to having you in class

[Diana Trout]

Sent an email, Linda!

[Diana Trout]

We should have an ArtSparks or Sketchbook Challenge Artists' Retreat and teach each other. Wouldn't that be fun! Meet in the middle

[Penny Sue]

Diana,
After looking at the list I only have one question which may be foolish. What paper do you use for the pages? Cardstock, water color paper? I am 60 miles from a store and want to make sure I have what I need before I sign up. Thank you...I hope I didn't miss this in the list.

[Cynthia]

Diana, I am enjoying rescuing both cats and books! :) This class looks awesome, I'm sooo tempted (even though I already know the basics, I know how great a teacher you are having taken your class at Journalfest last year)

[Diana Trout]

Hi Penny Sue, good question! I am using a range of papers

Stonehenge, Coventry, Arches, Fabriano, vellum.
Use your favorite papers.
Found papers: Graph paper, lined notebook papers, old drawings or paintings, found papers such as old maps, calendars, old posters, architectural drawing papers, used file folders, magazine pages that can be gessoed. I hope this helps

[AliCarmen C.]

Hi Diana, I just signed up! This is my first online class ever. I already have most of the supplies on my shelves, and I've made a couple of journals from scratch already, so this seems like a natural. Now I just need to find a tired old book with a beautiful cover and spine. Looking forward to it!

[Diana Trout]

Oh, I love rescuing cats! We have just one right now (he prefers being an only). Thanks for the nice compliment, Cynthia. There is actually a lot more info in the online version (after the initial process). There is more time in an online class. Ill be showing a technique for attaching covers when the spine is gone and an additional stitch. Plus some art journaling ideas. Tempted yet? :)

[Cynthia]

Couldn't resist the temptation, count me in! Just bought two sets of bookcovers (no pages) last week at Journalfest, surely that is a sign? Can't wait to get started!!

[Diana Trout]

It does seem like a sign from the Universe! Your welcome letter is on its way. Itll be great to work with you again, Cynthia!

[Diana Trout]

Or just an ordinary 5 year old bestseller that is on its way to the trash because there are a gazillion copies! It is nice to have you AliCarmen

[Jacque]

Well, I couldn't help myself...I just signed up for your class! I had gone on a "class fast" since it is so close to Christmas, and I have 14 grandchildren to buy for. But, when I saw this, all of my promises to myself went right out the window. It looks like so much fun and I have so many old books, papers, ephemera, etc., so it is perfect for me. Maybe some of my grandchildren will get handmade books for Christmas...but not the 2 year-old! It could be interesting for the tweens and teens.

[Diana Trout]

Well, itll be so nice to have you, Jacque. Just sent out the Welcome email and info! 14 grandchildren. Holy Hannah!

[Barbara]

Looks like fun! I have been saving library discards from dumpsterdom for years! Looking at the photos, do you take all of the text out of them and replace it with other kinds of papers? Just wondering if you are using/leaving any of the original pages, as some of them are quite wonderful. Not sure how this works.

[Diana Trout]

Hi, Barbara. Yes, well be removing the entire text block. Some of the pages can be used as end paper. We replace the entire text block with pamphlet sewn signatures. I use the old text block as collage fodder and loads of other things. Hey! I should cover ideas of what to do with the old text pages! Thanks for the inspiration :). Hope youll join the fun.

[Lori Danyluk]

Hi Diana, This looks awesome! I have a question. It looks like you are adding single sheets vs signatures and, if so, I want to learn to do that! Could you let me know please? By the way, love your site and your book!

Thanks,
Lori

[Geneviève]

I volunteer at the local Friends of the Library bookstore, and we have to discard books all the time. We send them to paper recycling, but still, it's heartbreaking to have to throw away books.

Also, the paper recycler doesn't take the covers of hard-cover books, so people are removing the covers and sending the insides to recycling. I have "rescued" a stack of these empty covers hoping to use them in making my own journals. So this is the class for me! Looking forward to it.

[Joanne]

I see most of the activity here is from last year, but the class looks perfect for me and the info said one can joinat any time, so I did. I am looking forward to learning all about
rescue journals and am checking for supplies right now.

[BARB WELLS]

I too see that this class was offered last year. Is it still avaiable????

[Diana Trout]

Yes, Barb, Rescue Books in available online anytime. You can read about it and sign up via Paypal righthereor use the icon on the sidebar.

[Pieter]

Wonderful I love to see it and to do this, working with old books and reusable waste. but the trouble is I live in Europa, and some things, mostly brand names, I think, I dont know them,,but the common things for bookbinding are for sale here, but the rest?. Now that is one point what withhold from me following this kind of courses, And two, my English is slow

[Pam Parker]

The post says begins Nov 4. Is this correct? Maybe a typo :)

[Diana Trout]

A scrap of text leftover from the initial launch, Pam. It is open. Thanks for the heads up :)
Diana