Cast Your Spell on Me

The must-have accessory for all apprentice wizardy types: your very own book of spells and potions.

Chained, as your knowledge, to the book.

Someone had it before you... they left a trace of golden writing

and kindly provided your broomstick key

along with a little bag in which to keep your potions.

But be aware! nothing is quite as it seems ... you may have to stand on your head to open the book

but once you're in, then take pleasure in sourcing your most potent ingredients

and finding ways to store your recipes

and my final recommendation is, do not open the little book, hidden at the back.

I did once, but fortunately I said the magic word, just in time, to stop the whole thing going up in flames.

Made with love (and lots of childlike fun).

Notebook from the Stables

Take one: Soft brown suede on flexible cover; lovely leather wrap to remind you of the saddle; silver-styled metals for just a bit of flash; paper made from grass; internal pockets and folds to hold those secret aspirations; little ways to trap the snaps of Lovely Horse; and a place to tuck away a bit of dinner, for when you get the munchies.

Take two: More purposeful, industrious appearance - think nineteenth century stable's recording book kept in the tack room - but with folding pages, pockets, and tucks, to play opening and closing the stable doors.

Take three... the book that would like to run about fields by the light of the silvery moon, pretending it's a unicorn. (We all take our inspiration from somewhere.)

For the Student of Chemistry

Need a book to match an outfit, embody a place, create an illusion?

But here's a warning. Some books make themselves.

Like this one. When it was done, I couldn't help but notice how it needs to be casually laid on a table in a story written by Edgar Allan Poe.

Then here, cold crumpled blue leather, made like the sea; a sudden sparkling from a diamond-like gem, thrown by the chance turn of life, saying, find me. Blue, bleak, beguiling. Suits Aldeburgh, Suffolk, when a sea mist rises.

And for this one, I didn't set out to stitch a book of feminine erotica...

but I think that's where we ended up. (Book will choose woman.)

Sisters

Light brown sueded cover locked in close, tiny stitches to wraparound textured leather, two halves sealed with chain and bones, easy to part, quick to join, two signatures, each made the same, yet feel and know the difference, like two paths trod through lace and cloth to net and ribbon, by turns gentle, sharp, pliable, rough, smooth, quick to noise, and as silent as you turn the pages, all bound and divided, torn and stitched, made whole again, then parted, a private place, a place to be apart, yet always be together.

A book made, like sisters.

Best Made Local

Yippee! It's a Best Made Local!

Anyone who knows Grit realises that marketing - her telling people where to buy her lovely hand-stitched books - well, this is not exactly a strong point in her repertoire of skills.

Add to this Grit List of Fail all self-promotion, marketing, 'raising awareness' and anything to do with acronyms, clocks or maths.

But! I have resolved (again) to turn over a new (promotional) leaf!

So what if I didn't tell you much about where you could find me at Steampunk, the Village fair, or that fancy-schmansy community hall?

I'm telling you about this one!

Best Made Local! Best Made Local! Best Made Local!

There. I know about these things. I have worked in advertising. (And got fired.)

Book for the Dress