Book #151

Ks

Yesterday, I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so today I converted the guide brochure into a little book. The building is shaped like a pyramid, so I used one of Smith's 3-section sewings with a triangular shape. He calls this stitching pattern Ks.

Book #150

Roycroft Suede Binding

Today's book is a model of a traditional Roycroft suede binding, which was in use during the American Arts and Crafts movement. I learned this structure from Fran Kovac, based on the research done by Eileen Wallace.

Book #149

Multi Accordion

Kevin Steele is a book artist who has been experimenting with multilayered accordions and he makes some amazingly elaborate books. His website is mrkevinsteel.com where you can see his work. He is also teaching a workshop at The Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland this summer. Today I tried a quick basic model of the multi accordion structure using four small accordions. But have a look at his website to see the greater potential!

Book #148

Simplified Binding No. 3

I have one more variation on the Simplified Binding for today. This one has a paper spine and I made this one with sewn endsheets; the two previous versions had tipped-in end sheets.

Book #147

Simplified Binding No. 2

In addition to yesterday's book, I did a couple variations on the Simplified Binding; this one is in full cloth.

Book #146

Simplified Binding

The name of this structure is deceiving. It is a simplified version of a traditional fine French binding, but still a very detailed and precise structure. I made this book with a leather spine and paper-covered boards, in a class this week taught by Eileen Wallace. (Eileen is also responsible for creating the beautiful paper on this book.)

Book #145

Parquetry

A quick one for today. This is another of Smith's 3-section bindings.

Book #144

Embroidery Binding

I just learned this stitching technique from Deb Eck, who designs these binding patterns, inspired by her knowledge of various embroidery techniques. The pattern on this book has its origins in Elizabethan black work. Check out some of her very impressive work at debraeck.com.

Book #143

Limp Vellum Stationary Binding

Today's book is a replica of a Spanish limp vellum stationary binding from 1586, the Libre De Albarans fets p La S.a Jeronim Junyent. I used an old parchment document for the cover. You can see the original here.

Book #142

Dove Tail

Another 3-section binding from Smith's book. This one has always been one of my favorites... I should use it more often!

Book #141

Triple Chain

Back to Keith Smith's 3-section bindings today. This one he calls the triple chain, and I do quite like this one.

Book #140

Springback

The ever impressive, Springback binding. I never get tired of opening and closing these books.

Book #139

Dowel Spine binding

This is one of a small edition that I made in 2011, called Green. This little book recognizes the achievement of Canada's Green Party, successfully electing Elizabeth May, the first Green member of parliament, in 2011. The content includes the principles of the Green Party, outlines their acheivements and also questions why green principles are not already part of other political agendas. The materials are all repurposed and/or recycled.

The structure is called a dowel spine portfolio, which you can find in "More Making Books by Hand" by Peter and Donna Thomas.

Book #138

Houndstooth

Both of the books shown here are made with a 3-section stitching pattern from Keith Smith's book. He calls this technique houndstooth, and it would probably look more like houndstooth if I had spaced the sewing stations more carefully.

Book #137

Longstitch through a slotted cover, or
Slotted Longstitch 1

This is one of my favorite longstitch bindings and I use it a lot for limp leather journals. I wish it had a more impressive name but for now it seems to be known as simply, longstitch through a slotted cover although I always refer to it as a slotted longstitch.

Book #136

Single-Section Library Binding

This rather plain-looking book is actually a fancy pamphlet binding. The single-section is bound to an extra spine bit so that it can be properly rounded for a hardcover leather binding.

Today I am leaving for PBI so I will not be home for a couple weeks. I have taken some measures to get a few books ready for my blog, but I must admit that I do not have enough ready for the entire time that I am away. I will try to keep it going the whole time, but if I falter I will make up for it when I get back!

Book #135

French Link

The binding on this book is what I call a French Link sewing although I have seen much debate about that name. In any case, it can be used for a number of different structures, but on this example, it is used just by itself as an exposed spine sewing. Most of the time, this kind of sewing is hidden under a spine covering.

Book #134

Stab-bound Album

A photo album with a 4-hole stab binding for today.

Book #133

Post-bound Album

Another album today, post-bound.

Book #132

Ribbon-bound Album

Today's book is a photo album, with a ribbon binding. I used a piece of Japanese kimono silk for the cover on this particular album.

Book #131

Barber Pole

One of Smith's two-section stitches, called the barber pole. It is trickier than it looks; getting the twists to be even and straight requires more effort than you might imagine!

Book #130

Multi-section on Tapes Laced into Paper Cover

There are a number of sewings that might be given the same title as this one. This particular variation is included in Keith Smith's book (1- 2- & 3-section Sewings). I really like this one and with the heavy cover paper and turn-ins, it makes a very nice book. And I was able to use a sheet of marbled paper that I had made recently when I had been experimenting with some heavier papers.

Book #129

Multi-section Running Stitch

Yet another simple stitch that I found in Keith Smith's book: this one is the multi-section running stitch. He is very clear to distinguish this from a longstitch. In his book, he refers to this as the triple dash.

Book #128

Multi-section Figure 8 binding

As the title says, this is a multi-section Figure 8 binding. The most interesting thing about this tiny book is the cover material, which is a scrap of fish leather.

Book #127

Buttonhole Binding

Today's book is an example of a sewing technique known as the buttonhole binding.

Book #126

Multi-section 5-hole Pamphlet

Building on yesterday's theme, this is another multi-section pamphlet binding. It uses a 5-hole pamphlet stitch with three pierced sewing stations and two passive sewing stations at the head and tail.

Book #125

Multi-section 3-hole pamphlet

Today's little book is an example of what Keith Smith refers to as a multi-section 3-hole pamphlet binding.

Book #124

Accordion + Tunnel

This is another permutation of the accordion structure which combines two accordions, and one of them is cut with windows to create a tunnel. This example is made from a single sheet of paper with the second accordion extending from the top of the fourth panel on the main accordion. I saw this idea in one of Alisa Golden's books.

Book #123

Venetian Blind Book

The basic accordion, which I showed previously, has a lot of permutations in the world of book arts. This is one of those permutations, often called a venetian blind book because of its similarity to such with the cord passing through each panel.

Book #122

Origami Book 2

Today's book is obviously another origami book. This one consists of five folded squares, attached to each other in such a way that it fans open like a book. This one has no content but there are various page arrangements, and by folding and unfolding segments, can make for interesting content display.

Book #121

Crossed Structure Solo

This is another of the bindings from Arregui's website. I have used this structure a lot and I may have modified it a bit from her original plan, but it is still essentially the same thing.