Bookbinding
My bookbinding focuses on the creation of one-of-a-kind leather bound books inspired by the craftmanship and processes of pre-industrial (pre-19th century) bookbinders. I use the same materials, tools and techniques that have been used for centuries to make books that last for centuries. They are bound to look beautiful and withstand repeated use.
To learn more, see below. To inquire about a commission, please get in touch here.
Since I hand-engrave my own decorative tools, the design possibilities are endless. I seek to make books whose designs are bound with equal measures of beauty and meaning. Tool making allows me to add meaning to the binding through the creation and use of finishing tools that express ideas through the impressions they make on a book’s surface.
I specialize in two areas:
Custom rebinding – Not to be confused with conservation or book repair, I begin with an existing volume and, according to your vision, transform it into a beautiful binding that engages with some aspect of the contents within. The tooling on the covers can remain simply decorative or, by the customization made possible through my tool making practice, specifically tailored to that project. I can also do work that replicates historic styles of decoration from a variety of eras leading up to the 19th century. Custom rebinding starts at $1000.
Commonplace blank books – Beginning with large sheets of beautiful, strong paper, I make blank books whose pages are full of potential. Whether you are looking to record cherished family recipes, immortalize family genealogy, sketch ideas, dissect dreams, or just jot down your grocery list, these timeless bindings provide a space to manifest your intentions. Custom commonplace books start at $750.
So whether you have a cherished book you want to celebrate, or you need a place to write your own story, I will work with you to create a book that is bound with equal measures of function, beauty, and meaning.
