#bookbinding class

[zhalfirin]

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - R. L. Stevenson

(EDIT: have a look at the clamshell box I made for this book here)

A few weeks back I had the chance to take a leather book binding class held by the wonderful Greek bookbinder Dimitris Koutsipetsidis at his bindery in Athens. He helped us patiently to improve our skills and even took us leather shopping in the end.

It was a really great week and I've had the pleasure to spend it with fellow Renegades while making tools and binding books together and doing some occasional sightseeing on the side.

My book was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A book that I greatly enjoy every read and for which I had a lot of different plans before finally settling on this design only the night before case decoration was up in class (many thanks to my fellow Renegades at this point for having opinions on my ideas, I greatly appreciated all your input <3)

The whole trip left me with lots of good memories and plenty of bookbinding things to work on (gold tooling and leather paring included. Although I might end up cheating more often than not with the paring >.<)

Photos were taken by @runawaymarbles, one of the other bookbinders on the trip.

[bookisland]

Workshops New and Old, Taken and Taught

My workshops for the summer session at SFCB are live today! Visit my Workshops page for specific offerings. I am dialing it down a bit this summer to open space for Dominic Riley and Michael Burke, who were unfortunately prevented from visiting for their usual summer regime during covid shutdowns and later. One workshop I am really excited about is an expanded Decorated Edge. It had always felt…

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[darkbluesinamay]

After almost a year, the bookbinding class started again. This time, I´m the only newbie, not that it matters much, as we all do different projects and some of the old gentlemen have been retaking the class each semester for 1 5 years!

When I left, I was one step from having a complete notebook. Now it´s finished, and next time I get to take it home. At first sight, it looks quite okay. Then you take a closer look and you see all the wonky details. But for a first try: I´m so pleased! I made a notebook! *happy grin*

[darkbluesinamay]

Fucking covid! Due to stricter recommendations happening, the bookbinding class is suspended at least until December.

It´s necessary, I know (oh believe me, I know; we´ll probably have to re-open the “corona stall” at work, so yes I know!) but still so, so annoying. I was one single step from having a complete little notebook. Last week I glued the spine to the case, and yesterday I was supposed to have finished the rest.

Oh well...

[darkbluesinamay]

I´m halfway through the bookbinding class, and it´s. So. Much. Fun. My tiny little notebooks slowly start to look like... well notebooks, and not just weird-looking stacks of paper with mesh and glue all over the place.

Yesterday, I trimmed the bookcloth on the cover. That´s done with a huge-ass crafting knife. Anxiety galore! But it went kinda well. As well as it could, when it turned out I cut the board the wrong way, so the grain is off. Crap!

And last week, I got to use a SEWING FRAME! I mean, when I first started reading up on bookbinding, a sewing frame seemed to be an essential item, and at the same time really hard to get unless you could make one yourself. Then I went to the first class, and the teacher says we wont use those for our first project; it´s perfectly possible to sew signatures together without one. In fact, for most newbies it´s easier without the sewing frame! But now I´ve tried one, and I gotta admit, it makes you feel kinda badass. If you squint...

I also learnt that current students are on the priority list for next term. Woohoo!

[darkbluesinamay]

Bookbinding class

The bookbinding class yesterday was so much fun! Oh man! Due to covid-19, it was a smaller class than usual, so only 6 students; me and another girl were the only beginners. The rest of the students were at various skill levels, and while the teacher focused on us newbies, they kept working on waaay more advanced projects. Apparently you can take this class as many times as you like, and keep learning. Will I be back next semester? Is the pope a Catholic?!

To learn the basic technique, we'll start with making a few notebooks. We cut A4 papers and folded them into signatures, went all in sawing holes - yes sawing, not punching - and stiched them together into something that actually resembled a book... woohoo! At that step, the time was up. Three study hours gone in a blink of an eye! And best of all: the sewing part could easily be done without a sewing frame! Double woohoo! Can it be Monday again soon?!

Note 1: most tools in the studio are either made of ancient-looking wood or cast iron, and look like they can maim you, kill you or both. 

Note 2: Doing evening classes, it sucks living 60 kilometres away without a car. I´m gonna be bloody knackered every Tuesday... Still worth it? You bet!

[fafandbo]

coptic stitch bookbinding workshop koskela 21 September 2013 10:30am-1:30pm  photo courtesy of koskela and ashley jones 

[fafandbo]

some great workshop pics from the weekend coptic handbound book workshop koskela 21 September 2013 10:30am-1:30pm photo courtesy of koskela and ashley jones