It is always suspenseful to begin a first class of a season. OK, I feel jitters almost before any session — no group of students is the same, and I’m worried if I can help them to learn new things (yes, I can =))
Ten days ago, I have received an order an offer to bind an anniversary book for the upcoming 25th celebration of the beginning of the academic year at the lyceum where I have spent my three last school years.
For my current project, I have to draw shadows of objects inlaid on the book cover on the leather of the cover material.
Several weeks ago, I wrote about my first experience with soft weights. I had to construct a fake curved spine for a box. It is not possible to use flat weights to press a rounded surface and I had to find some other solution. On our kitchen, I found two synthetic fiber bags and filled them with rice and buckwheat seeds. It worked!
This October marks the beginning of the third year I’m teaching bookbinding. Being a bookbinder for almost a decade, I have never thought to give lessons. Well, at least before a friend of mine asked me to show her and her photography colleagues some basics on how to make photo-books.
Last month a relative from the US was staying with us at our apartment here in Moscow. On one of the last days she asked me if I can make her sketchbook look a bit better. It was an ordinary black notebook (like Moleskin), with black spine lining, black covers and black magnetic fastener.
OK, I need help! I need some ideas! Just look what happens at our living room (my workshop), when I’m working!
This week I have spent not only working on my current bookbinding projects, but also planning and building some things for my new workshop.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about using (and making) soft weights for a box making project. That text received some very nice comments and I have decided to follow-up with a bit of research: how to make the best soft weights?
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.
Several days ago I was repairing a Siddur (a book of prayers) for a friend. I came to his office to offer him a choice of leather to pick a piece for the new cover. He intrigued me with a question then: “Why wouldn’t you try to make a leather kippah?”
Oh, that feeling, when you plan to make or do something for a long time and save it for later just because you don’t really need it? That was the case with soft weights for me.
Every time I travel I look for some book or bookbinding-related locations in almost every city or town I visit. Past trip to Italy was no exception. Unfortunately, this time we had a very tight schedule (3500 kilometers just in 11 days) and almost no time for museums. However, we had a full day in Venice and I hoped to find something interesting there.
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 =)
Vacation season has arrived! Me and my wife decided to visit Italy this summer. We have quite an itinerary and will drive from the north of the country to the south and back.
