"Sweet" Binding Examples

Rounded, coptic, flatback, sweet.....

Sweet binding, flatback binding.

Sorry that the pics are a little bit blurry, but here's a few examples from my classes. These were just quick shots I took at the final to post here on the blog so you can get ideas. Some students used leather, some used linen tapes, and others have used ribbon. It always amazes me how impressive your final work is!

Here's another fun example of something you can print on the interior of a text block. Great example! Amy was this yours? Sorry, I should have posted all these earlier, so I could do my credits more thoroughly! Email me or send me a comment, and I'll add your name to your work. :)

Little Embossed Coptic

Thought I'd share this little book that I made for my shop.

Paste Paper Examples

Some great examples and links (click on the photo for original source information) for paste paper.

Wheat Paste

To make Wheat starch paste you need: wheat starch (usually about $1 per bag), water, blender and a fine mesh sieve.

1 "part" wheat starch
7 "parts" water

Decide on a measurement. When I make this for class I use: 2 cups = 1 part and it makes tons.
You decide how much you would like 1 part to be. It could be 1/2 cup or 1T, or 2 cups, or whatever, but that is the ratio of water to starch.

1. Reserve 1 part wheat starch, and 1 part cold water. Mix to make "slurry."
2. Boil 6 parts water, when boiling slowly add "slurry" while constantly stirring, and boil until semi thick (about pudding consistency - this should not take long).
3. Pour through sieve into air tight container.
4. Chill overnight, it will set up and be almost like jello, but weirder.
5. Blend in blender or food processor until smooth, adding water one teaspoon at a time if necessary to make desired consistency.
6. Pour through sieve 1-2 times more to remove any tiny remaining lumps.
7. Use, and store in refrigerator for up to a week, or until it goes bad.

Lecture Update

Deborah Wender

• Time: 7:00 PM
• Date: Thursday, September 6, 2007
• Place: Library Auditorium

Click here for a link to BYU's website: About the Event

There will also be a class offered at the University of Utah the following day.

For more info and for information on book arts classes offered at the Univ. of Utah visit their web page.

Book Presses

Traditional Book Press

Cassandra's Homemade version

A great and easy (not to mention economical) way to have a press at home is to have some boards cut down at a local lumberyard, and use C-clamps to "press" your books. In the pictures on this post Cassandra used c-clamps, but I've also seen many people make presses using long bolts and drilling holes in the corners of the board.

Japanese Bound French Fold Album

This album has French folded pages, meaning that there are folds on the fore edge of all of the pages. The actual binding is a simple Japanese style. The hinge is bookcloth, and the rest of the cover is covered with paper.

Japanese Binding with ribbon

A quick project for any single sheets you may have left over from a book. The holes were punched with a 1/8 in punch and then bound with satin ribbon. (thanks Mark W for all the photo help).

Visiting Artist

Tuesday June 12, 7pm

Julie Leonard
* Time: 7:00 PM
* Date: Tuesday, June 12, 2007
* Place: DeLamar Jensen Lecture Room, 1130 HBLL

While working as a book designer in Boston, Julie Leonard began studying bookbinding, decorative paper techniques, and hand papermaking. She was awarded a three year artist-in-residence position at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina in 1990 and maintained a bindery in the area until 1997. Julie holds an MFA in Design and Graduate Certificate in Book Arts from the University of Iowa’s Center for the Book. Julie divides her studio time between producing limited edition and unique artists’ books and fine press edition binding. Her work has been exhibited and is held in collections throughout the nation.
© 2006 L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Julie will also be holding a workshop at the U, for more details read the Deseret News Article on the upcoming visit/lecture. For BYU's Harold B. Lee Library blog link, click here. Take a look at this link for future book lectures.

Unique Ideas & Lecture Series

Bonny sent me a link to these (over on the right in the Fun Links category). They are called scary nightmare journals. So interesting, and creative.





Another fun idea, the artist says: "I started by removing the old marked-up pages, and replaced them with crisp new acid-free heavyweight #60 unlined drawing paper, handmade art papers, and tracing papers. I've included several of the more salvagable pages from the original text. These would make a great foundation for your own collage work, or you could use a bit of white gouache to create a space for your writings. Perhaps, you could let the bits of story inspire your own writings.

I then replaced the old plain endpapers with ones of a lovely art nouveau floral pattern, that matches the color on the cover. The cover itself remains unchanged."

The link is "vintage cover" click there to see more of their work.



This is the flyer for this year's set of book arts lecture series. Come and bring a friend. Or two.

Baby Book

This book is for my Sister-in-Law's new baby girl. I bought some nice vintage-looking flowers when I went home last month and bought the frabric and ladybug buttons specifically for this book. It took me nearly an hour to finally pick out some fabric! But it turned out nice and I hope she uses it! When you have children...keep a baby journal of them..my mom did and they have made all the difference in our relationship.

Bonny's work winter semester 2007

Coptic Bindings


Sweet Binding (exposed spine)


Accordian Fold


Clamshell Boxes


Bonny was in my class winter semester and made all kinds of fun bindings. Here's a few she sent me from her final projects. She liked to go above and beyond. Instead of just one final she turned in at least five.