Imaginarium Press

Creative Workings

[imaginariumpress]

After a very long time, I've started bookbinding again! These are almost entirely fanworks I'm binding for friends (mostly in my Discord server) although the odd journal or original work is sure to sneak in. I decided to start this side blog in order to keep track of all the work I've done, so it doesn't get lost in the depths of my computer!

[imaginariumpress]

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything! I've been doing a lot of nonfanfic projects, which has taken up most of my time (especially because the fanbinds don't usually have deadlines), but I'm finally finding a balance between commissions and personal/fandom projects. For this particular project, I was able to make a copy for both myself and the author.

I've been wanting to bind @arialerendeair's Rewrite the Stars fic for a long time, and now I've finally gotten around to it! I know nothing about figure skating, but this story still managed to captivate me. The art on the front cover is @mayhemspreadingguy's work, and I'm very grateful they allowed me to use it!

I was originally going to try and print the art on Shrinky Dink film, to give it an almost stained-glass appearance, but ended up going with a fake Polaroid look instead (with mixed results: I should have used thicker material so the paper texture wouldn't show through!)

I went with a relatively simple Bradel binding, using leather on the spine but forgoing the traditional corner pieces in favor of metal corner protectors. There's two kinds of shimmery/iridescent paper used for the cover and endpapers, making this a very shiny book, but that works for the figure skating AU!

The typeset is fairly simple: the pair of skates hanging from each chapter title is as fancy as it gets. I tend to make very minimalist typesets because I'm the furthest thing from a graphic designer. That being said, this fic doesn't need a fancy typeset to be fun to read!

[brunheiffer]

The highly entertaining The Unicorn Frappuccino Au, by @theplatinthehat beautifully typeset by @imaginariumpress. I have never read any Dr Who before, and it was an absolute delight.

[imaginariumpress]

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything. 😅

This is a memory book I made for my coworker's baby shower. There were a lot of last minute changes because I wasn't following any kind of guide, just decided to wing it, so it's a miracle it turned out as well as it did! The ribbon isn't fixed in place, so new pages can be added if needed!

I had a lot of fun with this one, even though there was a lot of math involved (the photo pocket alone...) and I really hope she likes it!

[imaginariumpress]

Finally uploading pictures of the books I made for the Fourth Annual Renegade Bindery Exchange! I'm really happy with how they turned out, and my giftee @robins-egg-bindery loved them!

The first is a compilation of the Teen Wolf fanfic series where thou art, that is home by @shanastoryteller. It's done in black goat leather from Siegel, and I used Cricut foil HTV on the cover. The title page was made in Canva because I have zero actual art skills.

The second was another fanfic series compilation, The Unicorn Frappuccino AU by @theplatinthehat, a Doctor Who/Good Omens crossover. The bookcloth is homemade using batik fabric from Joann, and the stickers and author name on the spine were once again done using Cricut, as was the wavy edge of the blue cloth. I forgot to take pictures of the inside before sending it off, but @quandtuniverse was kind enough to give me permission to use their artwork for the second fic:

This whole event was super fun, and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it! I can't wait to do more events this year!

[wild-woofs-press]

For the 2023 Renegade Bound Fic Exchange (cc: @renegadepublishing).

Fic: Play It Again by metisket Words: 63,206

fonts title: Bebas author name: Amiline body: Cochineal

bookcloth: duo flieder • endpapers • htv: siser infinite galaxy

[imaginariumpress]

I'm the giftee and I love this so much! All the materials feel so nice and the HTV pattern is amazing!

It's also a fantastic fic and everyone should read it (if you haven't already)!

[sits-bound]

Bound: I Do Not Love You by @writandromance

The first time I made the cover. Sigh.

A little cattywampus.

I took part in a typeset exchange for the @renegadepublishing Discord server, and this is the typeset I received! It was created by @imaginariumpress from the fic I Do Not Love You by @writandromance. This fic is probably in my top 3 fics - it has it all. Angst, memory loss, slow burn, more angst, and ultimately a happy ending. So good, like all of the author's work. I'm partway through their latest fic now, so I'm really immersed in them! Love it.

The typeset itself is beautiful - check out the chapter headings and the section dividers! And the font choices are so lovely. I chose the cover font based on the font used on the chapter headings and the music page. And I want to note that generally I do not like when "fancy" fonts are set in all caps, but I don't know, there was something about this one that called for all caps on the spine. It just fits the vibe, I think. I love it.

The bind mostly went together smoothly, but I didn't cut it perfectly straight in the guillotine, so, erm, it's a little crooked. But it's FINE it's FINE. And then I made the cover, it came out perfectly, but the boards were a couple of millimeters wider than I would have liked and I should have LEFT IT but no, I had to try to trim them while glued to the bookcloth and, well, that was a bad idea. So I had to start over, but all's well that ends well.

And I was going to do a black on black cover, but I chickened out, so I don't love the color of the endpapers with the cover, but it's fine, it's fine.

Cover font: Roman Antique Italics

[imaginariumpress]

This was such an interesting typeset to make! I'm not usually one for maximalist typesetting, so this is the most embellishing I've done to a typeset. I was inspired by the chapter titles to use the corresponding sheet music (even if some of those pieces made me squint and reminded me why I don't like playing classical music) and @purplephloxpress helped me out so much with the music selections! I'm happy with how it came out, cause for several moments during the process I thought all was lost!

[imaginariumpress]

*cringes as I realize how long it's been since I posted* Sorry about disappearing, everyone! I've been working on a lot of projects the last few months, as well as Life Stuff™️, but I'm getting there! I expect a lot more posts going into the new year.

This book was a very special draft copy of my dad's book (name blacked out for security) bound for his birthday, complete with feedback from myself and a few of his other beta readers! The title had changed by the time I finished, but I really like how it turned out. I kept it simple with black Lineco book cloth I had laying around, plain copy paper, and a Bradel binding. I also used a bit of leftover gray paper for the paper label, and put it through the Cricut instead of the printer.

(P.S. - my dad loved his present!)

[imaginariumpress]

My own copy of A Man of Good Fortune by @softest-punk, in legal quarto size! I used the stiffened paper binding technique this time, as seen on DAS Bookbinding (check him out on YouTube!) I really love this work, if you couldn't tell, and was very excited to finally make my own copy!

[imaginariumpress]

I made a book to keep track of the books I make! I really like the paper backed denim I found, especially in conjunction with the endpapers and title card. And as you can see from the spine, I am optimistically anticipating needing more than one volume of these!

[imaginariumpress]

This is a Coptic sketchbook I made for my best friend @dearheartofmars's birthday! First attempt at Coptic binding and heat transfer vinyl, and I think it turned out really well!

[imaginariumpress]

Here's the special author copy of turn, my beloved, and be thou like a young hart upon the mountains of spices by @dancinbutterfly (AO3)! I used the same materials and images I did before, only this time I used the rope binding technique to create the ridges on the spine - I'm so pleased with how it turned out! I also put some metal corner protectors on the front and back cover, just to give it that extra something.

[imaginariumpress]

This is a special author's copy for @temve of Bread and Wine (AO3) a Knights Templar Star Wars AU! I used Hollander's Silk Moire for the first time and it was very cool to work with, and I think it gives it a very elegant, period-appropriate look!

[imaginariumpress]

This was a freebie for @sleepsonfutons because I made an identical copy for myself. The work is turn, my beloved, and be thou like a young hart upon the mountains of spices by @dancinbutterfly (AO3)! The cover was a little fiddly, as I wanted it to look like seamless cloth but the whole piece didn't fit through my Cricut Joy, so I had it cut out and added a frame to make it look like a stained glass window (kind of).

[imaginariumpress]

The second binding, for @sleepsonfutons! Another copy of A Man of Good Fortune by @softest-punk (AO3)

[imaginariumpress]

Pictured is the first fanbinding I did, for @silver-dream89! It's A Man of Good Fortune by @softest-punk (AO3) and considering it's been a while, I'm very proud of it!