Fiber Fool

Follow the feats and foibles of a fiber fanatic.

EC and FO Friday: The Red House Edition

Filed under: Bookbinding, Follow the Flock, Finished Objects, Eye Candy Friday — Kristi at 7:55 am on Friday, April 20, 2007

Red House Book in Sun

I don’t think there is anything much scarier than to have someone order something of worth from you but demanding nothing specific. Giving you 100% creative freedom. Sure, it sounds great. You jump in and do what the photos and fabrics say to you. But, during the entire process there is that niggling voice asking questions and planting seeds of doubt. This is nothing like the original book that prompted them to contact me for these commissions at first glance. In reality the very start of this book is almost identical, but it looks so drastically different because of the difference in materials. There is also the reality that the book they liked would not fit with the decor of the house this book is to serve as a warming gift for.

Yikes! This book is going to be in a $3.3 million dollar house! What did I charge for it? Probably not enough…

It has been carefully wrapped and packaged. It has been dropped into the FedEx box. Can I pull it back out and come up with a reason for a further delay and give it another shot? Even if I could open the drop box and retrieve it, you do hit a point where you just have to say your prayers and put it out there. Not to mention, if I made another I wouldn’t make a profit!

Do commissions ever get easier? *sigh* I’m not sure I can handle the stress…

Red House Book

Dimensions: 6 X 8 X 1.5 inches
Pages: 64, white 98 lb pastel paper
Binding: Exposed Spine Herringbone and Chain, Lay-flat
Extras: Eyelet Reinforcement, Binding Spacers (allows for the addition of photos etc. without the book yawning open)

Photographs provided by customer, taken by Jonathan Allain.

18 Comments »

Comment by Stephanie

April 20, 2007 @ 8:09 am

Scary, sure, but it also has to be incredibly satisfying to have created something so unique and beautiful. If they didn’t like what you did, they wouldn’t have commissioned you and given you creative freedom. So, think positive thoughts - I’m sending some your way just to help you get through the waiting.

Comment by hillary

April 20, 2007 @ 8:26 am

I know just what you mean. That must be the scariest thing in the world. On occasion, I’ve been asked to make something for someone for payment of a sort and it always flips me out. I agonize over every single detail. In the end it always comes out fine but that doesn’t prevent me from freaking out again anyway.

Comment by Vicki

April 20, 2007 @ 8:36 am

It’s beautiful, Kristi. You should be proud.

As an artist, I think you’ll always have doubts and lingering “I could have done better” thoughts — being creative is a fluid process and you SHOULD always think that you can do better and grow. The alternatives — arrogant, stagnant, stale — are not very appealing or inspiring. At some point, you’ve got to say “Enough, I’ve poured my heart into this, I’ve given it all I can, this one is finished” and move on.

Be proud of your work and what you’ve accomplished, take what you’ve learned and some of those new ideas and see where they take you with the next one. That’s what it’s all about.

Comment by Cathy

April 20, 2007 @ 8:39 am

Very nicely done, Kristi! Be drained coz you did a good job! I am always fatigued when I finish a commission. Then I wonder why I take them. Payday reminds me. :-) And Vicki makes a lot of good points.

Comment by Chris

April 20, 2007 @ 8:59 am

Well, it IS completely gorgeous. :)

Comment by margene

April 20, 2007 @ 9:02 am

You do such amazing work! What’s not to like?

Comment by Cindy

April 20, 2007 @ 9:16 am

This is where your confidence in your ability and artistic “eye” come to play. I honestly do not believe they would have given you such artistic license if they had not believed in your abilities. Try believing in yourself.

Comment by Jamisyn

April 20, 2007 @ 1:11 pm

Oh, the book is so very pretty! Creative freedom can be a scarey thing, though. Wow, a 3.3 million dollar house! How exciting that something of yours will be in that house!

Comment by AmyP

April 20, 2007 @ 2:01 pm

I think you more than pulled it off - well done!

Comment by lori

April 20, 2007 @ 3:43 pm

Commissions are the hardest things… but oh, my, that is gorgeous. I would have to think it’s going to be very well accepted and loved.

Comment by limedragon :-: Harriet

April 21, 2007 @ 5:26 am

Awesome! I love how you used scraps from the house, that makes it really special. : )

Comment by scout

April 21, 2007 @ 7:25 am

It’s beautiful!

Comment by JessaLu

April 21, 2007 @ 7:35 am

When I was doing cakes I just absolutely loved it when the customer told me to ‘just do what seems right’ or ‘I trust you, go ahead and do what you want’ (N.O.T.) I used to want to say, “I am not here to make up your mind for you OR be your scapegoat when you come to pick up your cake and you hate it, Ms. Passive-Agressive.” ;o) Drove me nutso (which isn’t hard to do) ;o)

The book came out lovely! :o)

Comment by Erin

April 22, 2007 @ 12:28 am

Well, I think it is beautiful. And for the record, I have really great taste. :)

Comment by Birdsong

April 23, 2007 @ 7:42 pm

I am delighted to see how this turned out, even though you ended up sick. I do think we can’t help but hope for more direction when trying to see inside someone elses’ mind… but it is good to remember that they wanted YOUR work and not their own.

Comment by Carrie K

April 23, 2007 @ 9:18 pm

It looks fabulous! Perfectly at home.

Pingback by Fiber Fool » Crazy Busy…

April 30, 2007 @ 1:53 am

[…] It has been nuts around here. Recuperating and reacting poorly to the meds (nausea) while also trying to put together a last minute design on a tight schedule. Taking on two more commissions - yes the book was well received. Received so well they want a second like it for the interior designer as well as two books for the next house too! […]

Comment by Faiz

January 26, 2008 @ 1:16 am

That is a good work. Hope you produce more wonderful works and still better.

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