I'm proud to be friends with the guy in the video below. He's the executive director of SOEMZ, an experimental factory in the Moscow region that produces different stuff with the molded fiber material (recycled paper.)
Adelene Koh is one of the winners of the first Open•Set Competition; she also received a Highly Commended Certificate of the Designer Bookbinders’ Bookbinding Competition for two years in a row in 2014 & 2015.
I'm a bit disturbed by the titles like "The last traditional papermaker," or "The last bookbinder of New York." These titles are misleading and untrue. However, that's how the video is headlined. Nevertheless, it is kind and makes us to think about our modern world.
Pop-up books are something that makes my mind spin. I never tried making one, and even while I understand some of the underlying three-dimensional geometry, I still can't stop holding breath when seeing some new examples of the craft.
How to operate a book? Well, there are some instructive pictures about opening a new book. This video, however, tackles the subject of the physical structure of books, from the medieval manuscript codex to the modern paperback.
Every year six bindings are made by Fellows of Designer Bookbinders. 2018 wasn't an exception. In this video, Angela James, a Fellow and former President of the society, talks about the process, and about her own work.
Birds of America by John James Audubon was published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838. The work consists of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints. They are made from engraved plates, measuring 99 x 66 cm (39" x 26".)
Last week I posted a review of a new tutorial offered by the project Bookbinding Out of The Box. I just wanted to give you an update. Ben Elbel posted a video where he talks about this style and about his book.
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.
This video made me curious: how do you set a book when sewing an endband? Here the book is set with the spine facing the bookbinder. I was told to put it the other way around. Please join the conversation!
This is a post about the flea markets of Copenhagen, printing tools, and airport security. Initially, I just wanted to share some things I bought while visiting the capital of Denmark this weekend, but it grew to be so much more.
This 17th-century dos-a-dos structure opens in six directions. The video gives an idea of the beauty and refined technique with which this artifact was created. It is a true masterpiece of printing and bookbinding crafts.
Artist Steve Pittelkow speaks about the history of marbling or Ebru, as it was invented by Turks some 600 years ago. This video also shows the main steps of the process and tools used for marbling.
Super thin paper made by Hidaka Washi Ltd. is used by museums and other institutions all over the world for conservation and restoration projects. But the technology of production dates back a thousand years.
I like when a serious issue is approached with a sense of humor. But it seems to me the list is not full. Non-reversible adhesives should be added to the list, along with self-made repairs, and some other nightmarish things. However, that may be more of conservator's peeves, not archivist's.
