Bookbinding Weekend
I just got to have an entire weekend devoted to taking classes in the book arts at Hollander’s in Ann Arbor. Several times throughout the weekend, I just stood at my workbench in awe repeating, “Wow, this is so cool!” as I learned new skills I can apply to both the new book structures I was learning to make and the forms I had already been playing with. It was a really fantastic experience.
On Saturday, I took a class in Paper Engineering taught by Matt Shlian. In it, I learned the basic elements of pop-ups, which can be used in conjunction with each other to create some very nice effects. Now I have a whole new area to draw on for the content of my books. The techniques we learned were so simple and elegant too. For instance, I just loved the fact that rather than worrying about calculating the placement of each tab that glues down and positions the pop-up, one just has to decided one of them, place glue on the others and fold the page. The pop-up naturally positions itself. It was beautiful!
At the end of the class we had some time to tinker around with what we had learned. I made this winged turtle as an experiment in combining both the elements of a basic strut and a v-fold. This gives the pop-up motion in two directions when you open the card: the turtle pops up and the wings fold out.
I also made this fish pop-up using paper cutouts.
On Sunday, I took a class in roundback spine bookbinding taught by the owners of Hollander’s. In addition to simply being a more elegant book form, roundback spines hold several advantages over flatbacks: they can hold more pages, they open wider and flatter (the inside reading/writing edge does not tip into the spine as much), and their page movement is more fluid.
This was the most intricate book I have bound to date. We sewed and glued the entire book block ourselves, which was a skill I had wanted to improve on. I also got to learn how to use many new elements, such as attaching headbands and using “super” fabric for attaching the book block to the casing.
I am completely hooked on this new book form, have bought the supplies I need, and am revved-up for another round of binding fever.
August 21st, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Stephanie was really cute when she got home: she was supposed to leave the round-back spine book under a bunch of weights to finish drying, but she kept taking it out to fondle it and show it to me.