Why “Simply Amber?”
Prayerfully, I landed on this business name because I truly believe that I am simply a vessel for God through my creativity. God is the Ultimate Creator (Colossians 1:16) and thee most Creative One (talk about all of the detail in the things He has made, yall!), and I am simply a reflection of Him through my bookbinding. I kept my name in, because through growing in my identity in Christ, God has helped me love and appreciate all He has made me to be, especially the parts of me that Satan attempted to distort and diminish, God saved and redeemed. He is healing so many parts of me, Amber, and making me more like Him every day, and will continue to until The Day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) So, I am simply a vessel, but I am also made with purpose.
Because every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), each person has dignity and, in various ways, can reflect aspects of God’s character. Scripture first reveals God as Creator (Colossians 1:16), so our ability to imagine, make, cultivate, and solve problems can be understood as one way we reflect Him. God gives people different talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts to use faithfully for His glory and the good of others. So even if you do not think of yourself as “creative,” you can still honor God through the particular gifts, skills, and opportunities He has given you.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Learning the Craft
I began binding my custom pages together using spiral and comb binding before moving into hand-sewn books, including pamphlet-stitch booklets, hardcovers, and fabric-covered hardcovers. Video tutorials on YouTube and books on bookbinding have been great resources to my growth. I have learned tremendously by my mistakes as bookbinding can be quite frustrating and confusing, but immensely exciting at the same time. Along the way, I also developed a deep appreciation for the materials and creative details that make bookbinding so meaningful - paper, (specifically Chiyogami, Lokta, and Mulberry paper!) book cloth, embroidery, and other handcrafted elements and stationery. Each new skill has strengthened both my creativity and love for the craft. Bookbinding has become such a wonderful, safe space for me to find rest and joy in The Lord.
My pages
My personal style has always been very minimal featuring warm, earthy, and muted palettes. My page designs are therefore simple, yet they come from a genuine desire to spend meaningful time with the Lord every day and through every season. When I shared my Everyday with Him concept with others some loved the all-in-one approach, while others preferred to keep their subjects separate. You will find that I create other books featuring specific templates, such as church notes and prayer journals, branching out from my “big books.”
Be on the lookout: You will find my favorite flower integrated one way or another, in all of my books - daisies!
I pray my pages would serve as a canvas for your specific, unique journey God has for you as you seek Him daily.
