tales of a traveling librarian

On Sunday, I attended and officially completed my Book Binding I course. We came out of the six week course with three books, two with blank text blocks, and one with a printed text block. Honestly, I’m not sad to not have my Sundays back. What this girl needs, clearly, is another day to sleep in. The brown is the first book we completed. Its a Quarter Bound German Casing, with Eska boards for the cover boards, with home made linen book cloth (unlined) and plain old regular printed scrap booking paper for the cover. The text block is Somerset Book paper, and actually, extremely soft. It gives the edges a unfinished home made look that I really appreciate. If I had unlimited time, I would trim the fore edge, but that’s only because I didn’t make my casing large enough to properly house the text block.
Book 2 is a Half Bound German Casing, with Conservation boards as the book boards. The text block is the same, but this time, we ploughed the edges. Our instructor was an insane vault of information. She mentionned that traditionally the top and fore edges were trimmed to a) help with dusting and b) ease of turning pages. It never occurred to me that this would be something that was thought of. They didn’t bother with the bottom edge because it did not impede use of the book, and of course, since this was a trade, cost more both in time and money to trim an extra edge. I made the silk book cloth, lined with Japanese Kozo, earlier in the course. I actually like this book much more. The cover paper reminds me of an artist that I like. And of course, right now, cannot remember the name of. Oh! and, I made the end bands from lined silk. My instructor told me they were a bit too big, but I like the look.

This third book is our example of an English Casing. It was kind of a bonus for the course, so, although we could have hung it in if we wanted, I choose to leave it unhung in the hopes that when I go to make another book on my own, this will jog my memory. I’m not sure its going to work, so I’m also hoping Erin will send me some of her book binding notes. She was a much better student than I. The cover of this book is entirely book cloth, however, store bought.

This last one is, hands down, my favourite of the techniques I learned. I know, I know, Secret Belgian Binding does not look as professional as the others, but, that’s exactly what I like about it. This one was a present for Tasha, who has long been promised a book. It was her idea originally to do the whole “Book Journal” and “Travel Journal” presents for Christmas, so, she definitely deserved one. That and she’s a great friend, so…I was happy to do one for her.

I’m looking forward to Book Binding II. Its not for months, but, I’m looking forward to it. I’m not particularly a fan of being in the classroom, but, I am a fan of the skills that I now have. There is something so pleasant about making things, especially things that you are proud of, that makes all the getting up, and the less free time, and the boring, worth it.

This weeked was not actually a weekend. See, a weekend involves things like: sleep, trashy magazines, sleep, baths, eating junk food, gossiping (both about people I do know and people I do not know), looking up people on facebook, having brunch, maybe going to the gym, etc. etc. All the things that I have no time for during the week, since it seems that I spend, oh, ten hours a day on campus (damn you work and school!) But this weekend I spent doing none of those things. This weekend I spent at the Bindery. For two long days. So, for those of you who have no interest in book binding, you can stop reading. There are no juicy details about Saturday night included in this post.

On Saturday, Tasha, Robin and I spent the day making clam shell boxes. See, I love doing the whole book binding arts/crafts thing. I will happily spend hours shopping for paper, visiting fabric stores, looking for the best supplies. I will spend afternoons putting the book together: cutting, folding, slitting, adhering, sewing, covering, etc. books that I truly love and feel proud for producing. What I don’t like is guided group lessons. Now, I may have stated this before, but, here we go again: I’m not an idiot. Neither are Robin or Tasha. Neither are, oh, two other people in the group. But people who are idiots slow down the whole process for all of us. Slow down by hours. A project that would normally take about four hours, took, oh, more than eight. And some people weren’t even done when we left! Okay, okay, I should stop. I mean, not everyone learns at the same speed, and blah blah blah. Damn slowpokes. I’m not nice enough to cut them slack.

However, the day did produce the following:

The key elements of this clam shell box (which is not shaped like a clam, mom) are the inner and outer tray. Basically, its all about the inner tray. Its size is determined by the item that will be housed, and all measurements come from that material. The instructor spent quite a bit of time measuring, but, in my humble opinion (which is really worth nothing because, well, I have no qualifications), its easier to just work with the materials. There’s less room for mathematical error, which is a serious worry for me. I plan on making one on a much larger scale, say, to house my book binding tools. Wow, that was nerdy. I am quite happy with my little photo box, even if it does looks like a jewelery case rather than an archival tool.

Now, today was the second day of Book Binding I, and…drum roll…we made picture frames. Ta da!

And that is pretty much about all the energy I have for posting about Book Binding. Except to mention that my technique really is getting better and I am extremely proud of this frame. Its very technically sound. No mistakes, nice corners, very pretty. See, I told you I got proud of myself.

After a less than auspicious beginning, I am pleased to state that book binding was successfully held, and attended by me, today. It was hard to get up in the morning, I have to admit, but I always complain when I have to get up prior to, oh, noon. Its funny though that I never seem to have any trouble deciding that its a really great idea to stay up until three am, talking, but, you know, that probably has a lot to do with the company. I’m such a sucker for a nice guy and a great conversation. Anyway, before I get sidetracked with the good stuff, back to the book binding.

Today was the first of six classes. At the end, we’re supposed to have produced three hard cover books, as well as an assortment of things that help to teach us the techniques. Such as a picture frame. And multiple pamphlets. Now, I have to admit, after the Secret Belgian Binding, these pamphlets are not a big deal. Sewing is sewing, and, pamphlets are not nearly as impressive, well, a book. However, as a whole, they look quite dashing, and I have to admit that the pink and black one is actually quite nice. Simple, but nice. I am especially proud of the little red one with the yellow stitching, but that is because I successfully hand trimmed (with an exacto knife) all the edges to ensure a smooth, flush edge. I had never done that before, and it looks quite professional. I love learning how to do things like this, it gives me a sense of accomplishment that, well, I am not used to feeling. I think maybe school is supposed to make me feel that way, but, I consider myself such a terrible faker of a student that it doesn’t ever do it for me anymore.

Although the course today was a bit slow, I’m looking forward to the rest of the class. However, I am quitting if the heat does not get turned on. Dude. Today I spent the entire seven hours I was there in my winter coat and scarf. There was no heat in the bindery today, and all of use froze our butts off. It was fracking freezing. And, there’s nothing worse than being cold for a long extended period of time. Oh wait, yes, its being cold for an extended period of time and trying to use a needle for small, detailed work.

There are very few things that will get me out of bed on a Sunday morning before noon. A few of these things are: food (to the tune of bacon and eggs, toast, pancakes, something like that). Yep, that’s pretty much about it. So, when I signed up for Book Binding I, a six week class that runs on Sundays from ten to five, I’m not sure anyone but me really knows what kind of commitment I just made was. It was very serious. But, I mean, the class cost me almost $500 (shut up), and damn it, I was excited about it.

Today was the first day. You’ll notice that I’m writing this at, oh, 11:45 am. Wait, shouldn’t you be in class Alli? Why yes, yes I should be.

But the damn instructor didn’t show. So, I’m up and awake and my feet are wet and I got cold and it was all for nothing. Well, except I met the other people in the class and they actually seem really alright. I have high hopes for next week. And for getting a free workshop. Cause you know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Or, in this case, the bitchy girl gets some money back because she complained enough.