While the glue dries...

I'm waiting to be able to work on the next step of my uncles book, so while the glue is trying I have been experimenting with adhesive free binding. 

Today's effort  is vaguely based on a Coptic stitch with added French link stitches (the herringbone stitch). 

This is some of my favourite paper too, I was given it by a bookbinder in Siena who prints it himself. He uses it in his shop to wrap the books when they're bought. 

Still going strong...

Although it may not look like it from all my non-bookbinding related posts lately, I am still working away on my Uncle's book. ( no photos as it doesn't look very pretty at the moment... Don't want to scare him!) 

And today I decided to make another very quick notebook, using up some of my paper collection! Yes, I have a collection already of pretty papers! 

So, this is a basic case bound pamphlet binding, using leftover wrapping paper. 

It's pretty small, I'd say handbag sized, approximately 10cm x 15cm (4 x 6 inches). 

Rather than using thick board to make a hard cover, I used thin card, so it's almost like a paperback cover. 

At the Circus

I love Gifford's Circus and try to see their show every year.
 

The show is traditional, and family oriented, a few ponies, a chicken that sings and fantastic acrobatic acts! 

Escape to the country

After my whirlwind trip to Birmingham on Monday morning, I drove down to Devon for a few days to celebrate Mum's birthday.

This was the view from my window when I arrived on Monday evening

And this is the same view Tuesday morning... Hopes for a brighter day! 

Have you ever been to Sharpham Vineyard? It is part of the beautiful Sharpham Estate and has a lovely outdoor cafe. We had a delicious lunch here overlooking the River Dart.

Yesterday we drove over to the stunning Saunton Sands Beach, famous among surfers and kite surfers. It was rather a windy afternoon, so there were plenty of kite surfers around.

It's such a beautiful place, I hope to go back some time, but for now I'm back home and back to the books!

New toy!

I'm so excited to have my own book press! 

I collected this from Birmingham yesterday morning and can't wait to be able to use it... 

Another evening, another book

I am still working on my Coptic binding, made this little notebook tonight with soft covers. I definitely prefer the books with board covers, they feel a lot sturdier and I prefer the stitched detail on the cover. 

This handmade paper is a little difficult to work with, it's rather fragile, maybe it would work better as end papers? I'll have to try that another time. 

A little homework

Working on my Coptic binding at  home.

I love the simplicity of coptic binding, no glue is required and the exposed spine stitching can look fabulous...

I need more practice!

Casing the book

we have been busy, using the papers we painted on Friday we made our end papers for the book, rounded the spine....

then learnt how to "back" a book. Starting with the text block gently round the spine, then using a press and backing boards to hold the book in place, we "coerced" the spine to round further so that the edge of the spine will be level with the outer covers when the book is complete. It's a slow process, but hopefully the finished book will look great!

We then sanded the top edge of the book until it was perfectly smooth and could be painted or gilded or decorated.

It's going to be bright! Orange and lime green....

And the finished book, straight from the press!

Back to school

It's time for another course in bookbinding, again at shepherds in Woodborough.

Today was the first of five days and we spent a lovely morning playing with starch paste and paint decorating papers to use in the books we make during the rest of the class 

This afternoon we sewed the text block for the first of the books 

Looking forward to more tomorrow....