“You should know how to cut with scissors, fold with confidence and tear with verve.”
~ from How to Make Books by Esther K. Smith
I’m pretty good with the bonefolder and I think I’m getting quite good at that tearing thing too. Today was a fun day at the bookbinding studio. I actually did quite a lot as I had to sew fourteen signatures (I tore the paper last week and flattened it in a book press), glue them and then hammer away at them until I formed a nice rounded spine.
My new project will be another rounded spine book (I know, I still need to post pictures of the one I recently finished!) but this one will have a spring back. Still not quite sure how that works but I’m already looking forward to next week.
Right now I’m going back and forth on whether or not I should get How to Make Books. I have a nice collection of books on bookbinding so it’s not like I really need another book. This one also has a lot of the same structures found in my other books but it’s just a really nice book to look at too. Ok, I’m going to step away from the computer and think on it some more.
Interesting! I wish I have the talent like you. 😛
Hello just wondering if you fancy contributing an article about bookbinding to my new crafty blog (see above link).
I was just thinking that’d be a fun hobby.. I may have to look more into it!
Sounds like a cool thing to learn! I’ve thought about doing that, myself.
As for the copy of How To Make Books, if you decide not to get it right now, you can always tack it onto your book wishlist, right? 🙂
Valentine’s Day is less than a month away. How about an early present?
Melody – Ah, it’s just a lot of patience 🙂
Jodie – Hey thanks! I’ll get in touch with you soon.
SciFiChick – It is a lot of fun but I warn you if you get hooked on it you’ll find yourself spending a lot on supplies!
Erin – It’s a lot of fun and the How to Make Books would be great for a beginner as it’s focusing on some simple techniques and ones where you don’t need a lot of equipment. I think I will add the book to my wishlist.
Isabel – That’s a very good idea 🙂
Please post more pictures of your books as you make them. I love seeing what you’re working on.
You’re a total all-around book lover. Almost all of the interests and hobbies revolve around books–stamps, bookmarks, bookbinding, etc. A genuine bookgirl! 🙂
I love reading about your projects!
aka Nik – So glad you like them. I promise to get some pics posted soon. I have to get my husband to help with the pics so that’s why sometimes it takes me a while 🙂
Matt – Ha,ha.. So true!
Nancy, aka Bookfool – Ah, I’m glad you enjoy that. I wonder sometimes if when I talk about bookmaking people just think I’m nuts. I get that sometimes in real life 😉
Isn’t bookbinding so much fun? I wish I had more time to do it. I took a bookbinding class in college my last year and wish I had discovered it sooner or else I would have taken it every year. I love making books for presents, etc. and hope to dedicate more time to rediscover my love for bookbinding.
Would you mind sharing your bookbinding book recommendations? I own Bookbinding for Book Artists by Keith A. Smith and Fred A. Jordan, Japanese Bookbinding by Kojiro Ikegami, and The Encyclopedia of Papermaking and Bookbinding my Heidi Reimer-Epp and Mary Reimer. I enjoy all these books.