Many things

I'm working on two projects at the same time and it's been both fun and a challenge. When I get to a point where I hit a wall with one project I can just move over to the other and do some prep work there. But I have also found it hard to keep a (somewhat) neat work space. I'm not a neat freak, but I do appreciate what my chef brother refers to as "mise en place" or everything in the right place.
The first project is two blank books bound with the "Secret Belgian Binding" developed by Hedi Kyle (and taught to me by Emily Martin). It's really not a secret anymore, but it is a binding that I like for the functional yet decorative stitching that shows on the covers and spine. (I'll post a finished picture when it's complete.) You can see the text block being sewn above. The tyvek (blue) strips make it easier to sew the cover to the text block as you have to weave your needle through the thread stitches on the text block. The stitching looks decorative and it is pretty, but the linking from one signature to the other actually helps stabilize the text block. I like to wrap the text with the tyvek strips after it's sewn as then they're not flapping around annoyingly when you're working on the cover. They'll be pulled out after the cover and text are stitched together.
Here are the cover boards drilled for sewing.I'm not going to tell you too much about my second project, but here's a sneak preview.
And another with an important addition:
While I was looking for the right size wooden spools this weekend, I found this amazing box.
I can hardly pass up any red box, but this one was clearly built by hand.
I love the hook on the front, but when I opened it and saw the little shelf (and knothole) on the inside, I practically swooned. I have a rule now that I have to put something in all my boxes, otherwise what's the fun of opening them? P.S. I now have chickadees at the feeder and a woodpecker in the yard.