What I truly love about bookbinding (woodworking, other crafts) is that there is always a chance to experiment, find some new tricks, small hacks and create strange jigs. Currently I’m working on a couple of large boxes (for dolls) designed to resemble books. The project brought me a lot of fun, and I plan to share all of it in time =)
This time Pavel decided to snatch the role of the main host and made me the guest of iBookBinding's podcast. We talk about how my interest in books and bookbinding began, study at the AAB, and the process of making tools for bookbinders.
Identifying the origins of a manuscript is a notoriously subjective art, one that requires an impressive visual memory and an exceedingly trained eye that can quickly spot the telltale details which hint at certain artists, periods, and locations.
Thanks to a group of photographers who wanted to know how to make photo books, I made this one-off thing, an introductory bookbinding class. The initial plan was to be done in four hours, and at 23:00, we were done!
I know that methylcellulose is often used in paper and cloth conservation processes. I also know that a PVA-mix with methylcellulose is in use by bookbinders — that mix allows lengthening of the time of drying of the PVA glue. I’ve even used the mix myself while I was studying at the American Academy of Bookbinding. However, since the time of my study I still haven’t bought any methylcellulose here in Moscow.
This time on iBookBinding's Podcast, we discuss the material and structural history of bookbinding. Our guest is Emily K. Bell, a book conservator. This is the first part of the three we recorded a while ago. Some of the things have changed in the lives of our guest and of the hosts of the podcast. But the historical/bookish part definitely remains actual.
Recentemente um dos meus alunos perguntou-me como retirar o cheiro do tabaco dos livros. Felizmente nunca tive que lidar com esse problema. Nem eu nem a minha família mais próxima somos fumadores e nunca comprei nada em segunda mão que precisasse de ser desodorizado.
This time we found all the bookish objects and themes from the new Dune movie directed by Denis Villeneuve. In this video, we talk about bookbinding, languages, libraries, and handwriting of the cinematic universe of Dune.
Mill-Boards There is no occasion to wait for the book to be advanced as far as the backing before the workman sees to his boards; but he should take advantage of the period of drying to prepare them, to look out the proper thickness of the board, and to line them with paper either on one side or on both.
This weekend I had to work on a small project that is not so typical for me. A friend of mine gave me several books to separate the pages, scan, and rebind them together once again. These are adhesive binding books, so almost no harm is done by cutting off the spine. There was only one problem: I do not have any instrument to trim the book block besides my utility knife.
Couple of weeks ago I have shared with you my experience with soft weights. I needed them during construction of false rounded spines for a box project. Today I would like to share my thoughts on making those false spines.
I’ve organized a visit to Moscow’s Book Museum for a group of bookbinders and book lovers yesterday. Some of the things our guide told us weren’t new for me. However, I can’t say I came out of the museum without picking something up.
A practical guide to bookbinding that includes multiple projects aimed to help to master the basics of the craft. Softcover, 1931. Limp cloth wrappers, 8vo, 48pp.; multiple illustrations and schemes.
Sherif Afifi just published a new video tutorial dedicated to sewing a two-color endband on one core. It isn't a fast-paced video, so you'll have a chance to see all the details of the process.
Many of you know that iBookBinding is mainly a one-person venture. So, some changes are coming in my life that would affect iBookBinding quite a lot. My wife works for a large multi-national company, and she is being relocated to Amsterdam this February. I’m closing my workshop in Moscow and plan to start working full time on iBookBinding and its Etsy store right after we move to our new home.
