Say a big hi and hello to Ruth Bleakley! Ruth is an artist who also makes gorgeous handbound books and other stationery, including adorable mini-books! And she’s got a little something for you to win today, too…
Where do you live?
I live in a 400 year old seaside town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, a sort of arm-shaped peninsula where the first Pilgrims landed. As I write this we’re experiencing a typical “Nor’easter” which is a storm accompanied by winds up to 50 miles an hour!
Where do you do your work?
I have a studio space in my home – for a long time I did my work on a rickety table in the corner of the dining room, but I was pretty unhappy at the lack of space and we transformed the TV room into my studio. Over the past two years I’ve acquired a huge work desk, two flat files for storing paper and various paper cutters.
What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?
This is tricky because I grew up all over the world, growing up in a military family. I lived in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. That being said, the most beautiful place in the world that sticks in my mind is Switzerland, up in the Swiss Alps with cows with bells around their necks coming down from the mountain pastures through wisps of clouds. I went there on a trip when I was 14 and have never forgotten the image!
Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business,
family, hobbies…
I have several part time jobs that keep me busy, one is working at a local coffee shop – I absolutely love to make latte art and have a serious weak spot for Double Iced Soy Mexican Mochas. I also work at a lovely stationery store where I get to design custom invitations for people as well as order lots of decorative papers. In addition I also teach bookbinding classes at the local community school – right now we’re working on a Longstitch binding.
What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?
The furthest back I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher – but between then and now I also wanted to be a landscape architect, a genetic engineer, a botanist and a tattoo artist.
How did you first get into your craft/art?
I took a course at college called “Book Arts” mostly because my friends were taking it – but I instantly fell in love with bookbinding. It’s so easy to make a lovely polished little book and working with different brilliantly colored papers is a lot like painting or working in pastels – but less messy!
What do you make?
I create handbound books, as well as other stationery and paper items like drawings and original illustrations, handmade envelopes, marbled papers & notebook sets. I am drawn to bright colors, Japanese papers, gold paint, cute imagery of animals.
What are you most proud of making?
I did a pretty big job a couple years ago for the local scientific institution, binding a collection of biographies of local Nobel prize winners – I even had the cover stamped hot stamped in 24k gold, a line drawing of Alfred Nobel I’d created from a picture of the prize in Chemistry. I created not just one of these volumes, but three companion volumes to be distributed to different institutions. They were about 3 inches thick and contained probably around 300 pages each – very heavy!
What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?
I like having a photographic record of all of my work, so that when I part with it, it’s not very difficult – when I was younger, I would hoard all of my artwork in a portfolio and never gave any of it away at all, so it was hard at first to start selling it – taking good pictures though, is like still having the original piece of work, but it takes up much less space. What do I like least? I really dislike writing up product descriptions and going through the actions of listing an item.
I love…
Bubble Tea – especially mango snow with boba mmmmm
It drives me crazy when…
I hear two types of music playing at the same time – one of the classes I teach takes place at the same time as a ballroom dance class in the auditorium next door – I had to turn off my music because I couldn’t concentrate on anything hearing Belle and Sebastian singing over the Cha Cha.
What’s your favourite word?
I have no idea, right now I’m thinking the words “omnibus”, “gesticulate” and “hyperbole”
If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…
“Bright, Cheerful and Generally Pleasant to Look At” haha!
Visit Ruth Online!
Shop: RuthBleakley.Etsy.com
Blog: www.RuthBleakley.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ruthbleakley
Ruth has generously donated this gorgeous journal for a giveaway! But sorry fellow Aussies… this one’s open to the US and Canada only.
To Enter:
1. Visit Ruth Bleakley and come back here leaving a comment about your favourite piece from the page.
2. For additional entries, leave a comment saying that you: followed or subscribed to Epheriell Designs (or already do); have twittered about the givewaway; have shared the giveaway with friends on Facebook, or; you have written a blog post about it.
3. Entries close next Saturday, the 11th of December, at 12pm Australian EST.
The winner will be chosen via Random.org
Please remember to leave me a way of contacting you!
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What a great shop!
I think my favorite is “Tiny Strawberry Patch – Chiyogami Journal”. I have a weakness for beautiful notebooks and journals.
Thank you for the chance.
I love everything on Ruth’s page, but my favs are the portraits of Chairman Meow
Oh – I’m following you now and I retweeted the giveaway.
My favorite piece is the Niantic Bay Journal!
I love maps and it would make a perfect travel journal.
I’ve been following this blog since the summer, I love it!
I like Hardcover With Cherry Blossoms Journal.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscriber with Google Reader.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow with GFC.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
That Creeping Spider is AWESOME. It was the first thing to catch my eye in the shop. This blog post garnered my interest because of the Cloudman miniature. 🙂
I knew the miniature would grab people, Greg! 😀
Love the Mini Sea Anemone Book – Original Illustration!
ty
nancyrobster at gmail dot com
Hi! I really love your jounals – it was a hard decision! I love the journal you’re giving away with the purple. My favorite is the hardcover Journal with Cherry Blossoms and I also am very fond of the Willamette River Journal and the Koi Fish Jotter. You do beautiful work, my dear! Thank you for the chance to win!
Oh, so many choices. I’ll have to go with the Scottish Highlands Castle Journal. But they’re all so lovely 🙂
Wow, this is all such gorgeous stuff! Wish I had that US postal address I’ve been dreaming of. 😉
Wow good to live in the US because she has a great site.
I like the Florentine Address Book
I love the Squibnocket Martha’s Vineyard Journal – It would make a great travel diary!
I am now following your blog 🙂
Wow is she great! I do love the Storm at Sea notebook! Awesome, awesome – I love that painting..
I adore the pale rainbow journal!
I’m following via GFC.
I love the Pale Rainbow Book – Marbled Paper Journal
Love the spotted scat painting. Thanks for the chance.
shutterboo at gmail dot com
I love the cherry blossoms journal!
I like the tiny strawberry patch journal. So cute.
Great job your work is lovely
I love the Blue Fiddler Crab! http://www.etsy.com/listing/45053796/blue-fiddler-crab-hand-colored
I love the Pale Rainbow Book – Marbled Paper Journal! So pretty!
I am now a gfc follower 🙂
so hard to pick one but I really like the Two Fish Talking – handbound miniature book http://www.etsy.com/listing/27066428/two-fish-talking-handbound-miniature
GFC follower
email subscriber
I really like the White Stone Diary – marbled paper journal. So cute!
I really need an address book, but I like the look of the Journal – Hardcover with Cherry Blossoms.
I love the Florentine Address book!
I love the Tiger Longstitch Handpainted Journal!
MaryLeeByTheSea@mail.com
I’m loving the Set of 3 Notebooks – Old Fashioned Bike Ilustrations- my BFF works for a major bike company and would love it.
OOps did not leave my mail ID
onehotstove AT gmail DOT com
I absolutely love the Purple Crysanthemum Jotter – Ribbon-sewn Notebook
I follow your blog with google friend connect already as Amber!
I tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/AmberGoo/status/12668058514489344
I love the little accordion book!
Taylorgketchum@gmail.com
I love the Hardcover With Cherry Blossoms Journal.
everlastingjoys(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the Tiger Longstitch! So gorgeous. Thanks for the giveaway!
I absolutely adore Purple Crysanthemum Jotter – Ribbon-sewn Notebook (Okay really, I love them all!)
peggylikesstuff at gmail dot com
THIS: http://www.etsy.com/listing/47905267/scintillating-serpent-hand-painted
Beautiful! begd at live dot com
email subscriber 🙂 begd at live dot com
My favorite is the cloudman miniature boook:D
xtine_76@yahoo.com
absolutely in love with the cherry blossom journal!!!
I love the ‘Rabbits in Springtime’ photo album. So sweet and what a great price!!
Thanks for the opportunity- love the journal!!
guinnesspaws(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a follower of this blog (ErinC).
guinnesspaws(at)gmail(dot)com