Studio 5 Book Arts

The Liverpool Doors Project

2012-01-24T11:30:00.002Z

You may ask why a picture of a door in a skip.. well it is all to do with a project I have been working on in The city of Liverpool.

It all started over a year ago over a drink or two in the Red Lion ( Barnes ) chatting with the celebrated Liverpudlian Poet, writer and all round good egg... Roger McGough.

2012-01-02T17:06:00.002Z

Die NIBELUNGEN.

2012-01-02T14:23:00.002Z

The hand dyed leather is on, now to the leather joints and in-filling...

Happy New Year.

2012-01-02T13:45:00.003Z

Wow, a busy year was old 2011 and I hope 2012 will be busier.
lots of studio work and new students, projects big and small.

One of the biggest is the Roger McGough, Liverpool Doors Project. More about this later. But, it has meant that I have been working in Liverpool. I find it important to be able to find a comfortable office to work out of. Mine is called the Roscoe Head.

I think it is no secret that the project involves doors... over 30 of them....

And a lot of people.. more about them as time for the opening gets nearer.

Die NIBELUNGEN.

2011-11-29T11:19:00.002Z

The endpapers are on, the boards and spine attached, ready for sanding.

The boards are shaped to reflect shapes in the illustrations.

Been Very Busy

2011-11-29T11:01:00.000Z

New post will be up soon....

Book in Progress. Through the Looking Glass.

2011-11-04T10:38:00.003Z

Book in Progress.

2011-10-11T17:11:00.004+01:00

Book in Progress.
I hope to have this on exhibition in a month or so.. in London. But something tells me that the selection committee may find it difficult.

Post L A B 2011...

2011-10-06T13:36:00.002+01:00

Images of meditations interrupted 3 and Duplicity, Coleridge and a Cup of Tea in their new home.

Many thanks to the Collectors for the images.

New book on the bench. Die NIBELUNGEN

2011-09-23T13:57:00.003+01:00

Love the book... but

It is held with wire staples... a mixture of single folio sections and 3 fold sections. The wire has bitten into the single folio sections ... leaving holes.

A small book with issues... but it is beautiful.

London Artists Book Fair 2011...

2011-09-23T10:30:00.001+01:00

The trick £50.00... always a pull at these events..

A few minutes before the doors open...

London Artists Book Fair 2011... At last a use for the Encyclopaedia Britannica...

2011-09-21T14:13:00.002+01:00

Yes I realise that there is nothing new under the sun..... but it is fun....

Meditations Interrupted 3 London Artists Book Fair... not long now...

2011-09-20T13:07:00.004+01:00

Meditations Interrupted 3 in the natural environment.... see this and more at the L A B 2011...

I mages taken in THE RED LION Public House, Barnes.... my office.

London Artists Book Fair...

2011-09-16T16:32:00.003+01:00

starting to prep the work for the show ... lots to do...

Hull History Centre.

2011-09-06T13:33:00.002+01:00

As part of The Designer Bookbinders touring exhibition I will be giving a talk about the work of Designer Bookbinders, how and why the books are made and an informal chat about some of the books in the exhibition.

The Hull History Centre, Lunch Time Club, Tuesday 13th of September from 12.30....... see you there.....

Society of Bookbinders Conference.. 2011

2011-08-31T10:17:00.002+01:00

Over the weekend I did my stuff........

Society of Bookbinders and Designer Bookbinders workshops....

2011-08-18T13:54:00.001+01:00

I am doing a workshop in London, November 19th and 20th.

More details can be found on the Society of Bookbinders web site... please follow the links.

London Artists Book Fair... My MoJo...

2011-08-16T13:37:00.003+01:00

The Mo Jo series of Books, I hope to have them at the London Artists Book Fair later this year.

Why Mo Jo ? see the ' Short Movie of the Bookbinder'.....

London Artists Book fair... My MoJo...

2011-08-13T11:45:00.001+01:00

Ravilious... Engravings.

2011-08-09T13:22:00.002+01:00

Boards on and whited out.. ready for the vellum.

New book on the bench.

2011-07-27T11:43:00.000+01:00

Swiss rolls of leather.

The Doctor's Dilemma... Finished.

2011-07-27T11:25:00.002+01:00

Well, very nearly finished..
Just a little bit of fiddling.

The Doctor's Dilemma... Guarding the spine folds part 1..

2011-07-14T16:26:00.004+01:00

Because of the damage to the spine folds I will have to do repairs. I have used a Japanese , long fibre paper (Toned Kozo) To save time I have fold the repair paper over on its self a number of times and staple the folded paper to a piece of board. I then pre-cut the lot with a perforation wheel, the strips can be removed as and when required.

The cuts have a slight undulation. I find this method to be quick and saves on repair paper.

I am sure that purists will be up in arms at this method but it works. The adhesive I use is a Japanese rice starch paste.

The Doctor's Dilemma... Guarding the spine folds part 2..

2011-07-14T16:14:00.006+01:00

Rice starch paste is applied to the repair paper. I use an old window panel to paste out on.

A clean sheet of waste paper is placed next to the repair paper.

The spine fold is placed into position, just under half way to allow the repair paper to go around the fold.

The section and repair paper can then be picked up as a single unit.

The Doctor's Dilemma... Guarding the spine folds part 3..

2011-07-14T16:05:00.006+01:00

Fold over and secure the repair paper.

Place the section into the fold of some release paper.

Consolidate the repair paper.

Leave to dry.

When dry cut the repair paper flush with the head and tail of the section.

The Doctor's Dilemma.....

2011-07-13T15:22:00.003+01:00

Though I suppose I am perhaps best know for contemporary binding and some bookarts I also undertake the rare repair or restoration job. Some years ago I spent my day at the bench as a bench monkey (general bookbinder in a small company paid peanuts... hence bench monkey)

As said, I do undertake some general work but there are a number of boxes must be ticked ...

1st. Do I like the customer ? If no then I suggest another binder, if yes then we move to box 2. I feel that it is important to enjoy the company of your customers. It could be that the relationship may last sometime and that with each visit I gain more insight as to their requirements, their likes and dislikes. Also that as the binder you may have to educate them as to what is possible given their budget, use of the book, condition etc.

2nd. Do I want to do the work and is the work involved within my skill base. Again if no then I suggest another binder. If yes I move to the final box....

Last. Will I enjoy the work ? It could be that I may be spending a lot of time working on the book....As a side note to this, as I am working on the book the studio members and students will have the chance to see how I tackle issues, problems and bad stuff with the repair of old books. Also, how I work out my costings and charges.... something that few teachers like to talk about.....

I realise that my attitude may come across as arrogant and that I am not genuine ( as one critic said recently) but it is the way I work and have worked for the last 20 or so years... it works for me but I realise that it does not work for all... each to their own.

The Doctor's Dilemma (1872). In 3 volumes, bound using wire staples.... what more can one say....

First the text blocks are removed from the original binding and the sine linings removed. This had to be done dry as the condition of the paper and the fact that the staples were rusted meant that no paste could be used. I used a dental tool to pick of the papers and old adhesive...

This took some time...

When the spine was clean I then opened up the staples being very careful to keep as much of the staple intact because a broken staple leaves a hook that can result in more damage when the staple is removed from the section..

The staples were then extracted from the inside of the section.... not easy but a workable technique.

I realise that this is only one way to deal with the problem of staples, but I have to consider time and budget..... Hence the pile of staples in a previous post....

Next is manual cleaning and pressing the sections, then onto spine repair.......

Staples.

2011-07-13T10:24:00.003+01:00

There is a story behind this rusting pile of staples..... more to follow soon.

Liverpool Doors....

2011-07-12T15:01:00.001+01:00

Poet and good all round egg Roger McGough and I will be working in Liverpool later this year.... we will be making books out of doors.
The book /s library will form part of the permanent collection of the new Museum of Liverpool, the main opening is the 19th of this month with the installation of our work later in the year.

Why doors ? I hear you ask... well here is the background to the concept....
On one of the very rare evenings that Roger and I found ourselves in the Red Lion pub (Barnes) at the same time.... we started to talk about our various projects. Over our first beer the chat flowed this way and that.....
During the second Roger asked me how big could a book be made... I replied that in theory any size but practically about the size of a door... Roger had been asked to produce some work for the New Museum of Liverpool and wondered if a large book would work... the chat turned to ideas...by the third pint the ideas had turned into sketches on the reverse of the menus.
After many false starts and cul de sacs we came up with using doors .

Doors fantastic things.. They open and close,we are carried through them at birth and death... they keep us safe, the welcome us. Notes are pinned to them for the milk man, letters are posted through them, loo roll, coats, and towels are hung on them. Posters are blu tacked to them........... doors everywhere , quite often we do not notice them until they are not there.

With their different paint, knobs, letter boxes etc each has their own special history, but when a property is re-developed or pulled down where do we see the doors ? by and large used to line skips or torn up and left as rubbish.
This is why we are using doors.... They can form a diptych, triptych etc. Ori Hon, with a bit of work one can make a codex out of them.

We have started with the collection and our first doors are from the Everyman Bistro and Theatre.

Roger and doors.......

Japanese Bookbinding.

2011-06-28T12:56:00.001+01:00

NEWS FLASH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

New series of courses in JAPANESE BOOKBINDING AND BOX MAKING

Please see The link to Bookbinding Courses at Studio %...

NEWS FLASH ENDS>>>>>>>>>>>

LIVERPOOL DOORS.

2011-06-23T16:51:00.002+01:00

Over the last few months I have been working on a book with Roger McGough, Roger is a poet and a damn fine one to boot.
What started of as a few ideas over a pint in the Red Lion began to take shape after two pints and by the fourth we were ready to take on the world.

The book or books is going to be huge and will form part of the permanent collection of the new Museum of Liverpool which opens its doors on the 19th of July.

Images and more blurb will follow soon........

The Tempest, finished ....

2011-06-01T14:19:00.002+01:00

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Now just the box to make.

On You Tube

2011-05-27T10:57:00.000+01:00

I am on you tube !

See the links and follow The Bookbinder.

The Tempest, cold gold and first phase tooling.

2011-05-20T18:00:00.002+01:00

After the dye has been allowed to dry out over night the gold leaf has been applied. It took 2 books of gold leaf !

Then the first phase of the tooling. I estimate that there may be up-to five different tooling phases..... I may just go mad.

Also... the book has been titled......... not a common thing with me.

The Tempest, Black Line work...

2011-05-19T12:07:00.002+01:00

With the leather dying completed I worked on the image of Miranda. using a fine brush and a spirit leather dye I blacked in the original. This gives more definition and really brings the face to life. Next will be applying the leather to the book, then cold gold work..... still lots to do.

The Tempest, Leather is pared on with the colour...

2011-05-17T15:14:00.003+01:00

Following on from the spine cleaning new linings, end bands, linen, skirting, hollow, boards etc have been added to the text block. The next thing to be done is the paring of the leather. This I do with a hand paring machine and a French (Made and bought in Japan) paring knife. I do not use a spoke shave as I feel it stretches the leather, and if I am honest... not accurate enough.

An image of a young girls face (Miranda) is applied to the front board area.

Next is some hand dying to create the tempest............

If you would like to know more about some of the techniques I use, I will be demonstrating them at this years Society of Bookbinders Conference. Please go to the SoB web site for more details....

EYE

2011-05-09T14:35:00.001+01:00

The morning after a day of filming, the result....

Return of a Prodigal Book.

2011-05-07T14:00:00.001+01:00

The Royal Mail delivers many things, yesterday was not an exception.

After some time, buried in the soil of New Zealand one of my books returned.

Buried by Sandy Corbett. Many thanks to her and her Husdband.

I would like to say that it has been through two earthquakes

The Stoned Bradel.......

2011-05-04T11:50:00.003+01:00

One of the variants of the 2nd module in the Studio 5 Introduction to Bookbinding Course is to make a Bradel Binding. This one has Flottage board papers with the spine leather being manipulated to hold two stones.

Just one of the variations that we come up with....

The Tempest, a new commission.

2011-04-27T10:33:00.003+01:00

The Tempest, lovely illustrations by Dulac.... what more can I say.
First job is to clean off the old spine linings and adhesive, in this case hot or flexible or animal glue. A stiff cold starch paste is applied to the spine, covered with cling film and allowed to sit for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes the paste has begun to soften the spine linings and re-activate the old glue. It is just a case of gentle scraping with the flat end of a bone folder to remove any material that feels like coming off. Patience...... Then a re-application of paste, wait 10 minutes and repeat and repeat etc.

And repeat.....

.... Untill the spine is clean. The trick is to be gentle, take one's time and not over work the spine. Patience.............

Life and Adventures of Peter Porcupine.

2011-04-26T17:41:00.003+01:00

Detail of the hand dying and tooling.

Back on track... new bindings Gilbert and George....

2011-04-26T17:27:00.002+01:00

After a lot of work and experimentation I was not happy with the results of the first Gilbert and George. I had to make the decision to start again... a very painful process but I am happier now. It is always difficult to take the step and say that some thing is not right. Much learnt and the challenge continues.

Gorden's getting us drunk.............

End papers and doublers.

End band and edge decoration.

When things do not go as you hope....

2011-04-11T14:39:00.001+01:00

Sorry, I have been a bit bit busy over the last few days, normal service will resume very soon.

Work on the bench.

2011-03-20T12:26:00.002Z

Some times I find it important to go back to the basics. A simple paper covered case binding. The structure is based on the Bradel with a minor twist, to look at the simple and to think why is this done this way? not just doing things the same old way but to take the next step.

This leads me on to BRAVE NEW WORLD.

The front board... The main body is made from old, discarded, cupboard doors, with applied found objects and materials.

The text block, well this is where I meet the brave new world . I will be using a Kindle, locked with just the one book ( Brave New World ) installed.

The binding will form a dyptich.

Though the Kindle will be part of the work, the viewer will be able to remove it from the binding... an interesting concept..... I hope.

JAPAN

2011-03-14T13:03:00.002Z

Dear Reader,

In my previous post I mentioned that I was going to Japan, to see family, friends and do a lecture or two. My flight was for Friday the 11th, my flight was cancelled.

Our family,friends and students are safe (those we have managed to contact and for the moment)

My thoughts are with them and all of Japan.

The Art of Gilbert and George, Gordon's Getting Us Drunk, front and back boards.

2011-03-10T16:38:00.004Z

The gold is on, the resin is set, all is right.

Going to Japan for a few days.......

The Art of Gilbert and George, Gordon's Getting Us Drunk, Gold Leaf and paint stripping.

2011-03-03T14:51:00.003Z

The resin has done its stuff and the gold leaf has been applied to the back board. The effect is about what I am looking for. More work to do and time is not on my side....

Paint stripping for the binding of Brave New World.....................

Work for the Designer Bookbinders Touring Exhibition ( I hope )

2011-02-15T16:22:00.002Z

A long with Gilbert and George I am submitting two other books for the Designer Bookbinders touring exhibition.

Work in progress. Brave New World and The life and Adventures of Peter Porcupine.

Brave New World. A large book/Kindle installation piece. Made from the new and the old, the made and the found.

The Life and Adventures of Peter Porcupine. A hand dyed leather waiting for gold tooling.

The Art of Gilbert and George, Gordon's Getting Us Drunk.

2011-02-09T14:09:00.004Z

The back board, a label from an empty Gordon's Gin bottle. Some of G and G's early work feature Gin.....

Designer Bookbinders... a snap shot.

2011-01-26T11:28:00.003Z

34 Fellows and Licentiates of Designer Bookbinders are producing a collection of designed boards to be housed in a specially made wooden presentation container.

The theme of these designs will be Africa because they will be sold in aid of the Ethiopian Heritage Fund.

This is a charity dedicated to the conservation of artistic relics and artefacts which are kept in the rock hewn churches of northern Ethiopia. It also aims to raise awareness of these objects, increasing tourism to deprived areas.

The creation by the binders of D.B. is a unique event - a snapshot of what is being done in contemporary binding. It can be viewed, and will be for sale at the ABA Bookfair in June 2011.

So, here is my offering so far. Not finished but well on the way. The reverse of the board will have the various details of the work, design etc. A unique way of using our skills to help others.... It should prove to be a a fascinating collection.

The Art of Gilbert and George, leather is on...

2011-01-25T13:50:00.002Z

As the new year is behind us the bench begins to fill with work.
Gilbert and George is well on the way with initial dye stuffs on and then covered.

I have made a practise board for the next few steps as I am after a particular finish to the book...... it may all go wrong but life will be fun.

Back in the swing of things.

2011-01-21T10:33:00.002Z

Working on a number of different projects, some big and some small. More news when I have time.....

Studio 5 re-opens after the seasonal break.

2011-01-06T10:26:00.002Z

Evenings in the pub (The Red Lion Barnes) open fires and my second biggest critic inspecting a pint of Porter !

Now that the seasonal break is behind us I am pleased to say that Studio 5 will be re-opening on Wednesday the 12th of January 2011.

Happy Christmas....

2010-12-24T11:50:00.003Z

Happy Christmas and a good to new year from Studio 5.

The Art of Gilbert and George by Wolf Jahn.

2010-12-23T12:32:00.002Z

A fantastic book, full of colour, full of some of the most influential work produced in the 20th century and beyond. A signed edition that charts the work and life of G and G.

The boards have been attached with aero linen, skirting and 3/4 hollow are evident. I have created a recess in both of the boards, this is to create an area for the design and a new material, more about that later.

G and G with water colour paper to the boards and the spine piece in place, all sanded and ready for the leather.

Ally Cold gold...

2010-12-21T14:19:00.001Z

Ally, the gold leaf was applied with a mix of PVA and a rice starch paste... simple.

LYSISTRATA is finished, now the images.

2010-12-13T13:45:00.001Z

LYSISTRATA is finished....

2010-12-12T16:53:00.001Z

Images coming very soon.

LYSISTRATA very nearly finished...

2010-12-09T17:46:00.001Z

Lysistrata is very nearly finished, just the box to finish...
Hope to have images up very soon.

LYSISTRATA the final stages of the binding.

2010-12-06T12:39:00.003Z

So yesterday I was in Studio 2 printing the Doublers for Lysitrata. The print technique is soft plate off-set and is fun if a little unpredictable.

However, I love the results with the line, texture etc.

The client had wished for a few details to be printed on the front doubler so here they are, minus the clients name of course. So all is set for the binding and the box to be finished well before Christmas, well I would hope with a week to spare...

LYSISTRATA and snow.

2010-12-03T10:19:00.003Z

Snow, wonderful stuff.

Lysistrata, now that the outside is completed work can begin on the inside. The leather joints are down just in-fill and the doublers to do... not long to go!

Lysistrata,the Lady disappears then shows her charms

2010-11-27T11:33:00.002Z

As the gold leaf is removed the lady begins to come through. The dynamic pose, the gesture. I really like this look, the gold looks worn, similar to an ancient mural. Covered in the dust of time only to be found by an archaeologist.

LYSISTRATA, Gold Leaf...

2010-11-26T12:30:00.002Z

Not the perfect day for laying down the gold leaf but I want to crack on with the job. Finding all the gold leaf cushions in the studio and cutting the gold so that I can work with a momentum. For the last few weeks Julie (Work experience from Paris) has been helping. Today Julie will be keeping the gold leaf cushions charged and who knows Julie may be helping to lay the gold leaf down, it is work experience after all.

LYSISTRATA, final touching up of the dyes.

2010-11-25T12:29:00.002Z

Once the blue dye had dried out I was able to continue with the other areas.

Quick brush strokes to give movement and energy.

Next will be the gold work, I have to have a day with no students to be able to lay out the gold leaf...... we shall see.

LYSISTRATA, the first colour is on.....

2010-11-24T10:17:00.002Z

With all the blind tooling done and Black Line work finished the first of the dyes are applied to the cover. In this case a touch of red and a lot of vibrant blue.

I am aiming for a very dynamic look, almost like the posters for WW 1. This along with the painterly quality of the dye gives movement. I hope to be able to capture a little of the pop Art style.

As I was taking the images my camera went into automatic portrait mode !

Early Morning outside the studio.

2010-11-20T10:57:00.001Z

Simple hand made tools.

2010-11-05T15:39:00.003Z

With Lysistrata I am making my own tools. They are simple and not so expensive so i am not worried about altering them to create new shapes.
I start with drilling a hole into one end of a handy length of dowel to fit a length of brass rod. The brass rod should be snug and fixed with evo stick or a similar strong adhesive. The blank is then held in a bench vice to keep it secure and save my hands from damage.

Using a model makers hand held drill with an abrasive fitting I start to create the tool face. Once the main shape has been prepared I then use needle files to get to the final shape.

Emery Paper is then used to get rid of any burrs and refine the face.

Then I Emery Paper the face to get any marks from the saw or files out. This can take a few minutes but is worth the effort.

The last stage is to polish off with a strop with jewelers rouge to make sure that every thing is clean and top.

I am careful to clean up and always wear safety glasses.

LYSISTRATA, the design.

2010-11-04T11:50:00.003Z

Now that the fair goat is on the book the application of the design begins.

I have transferred the out line of the design to the book and am blind tooling where I want the gold to go. All of this sounds easy but it requires a lot of concentration.

I have made 7 new tools and will have to modify them as the tooling continues. The tools are simple brass rods that are shaped by grinding them with a model makers drill, working them smooth with emery paper and finally polishing them with jewelers rouge on a strop.

When Mini cooper met Fiat 500....

2010-10-29T12:34:00.003+01:00

Okay, I've shown you mine, now show me yours...

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey, Champagne and Mark.

2010-10-20T16:57:00.005+01:00

©Janie Airey
The night of the Man Booker presentation, the author, the book and the binder.

All of the Man Booker Bindings for 2010 are now on exhibition in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

LYSISTRATA Covering...

2010-10-19T10:56:00.002+01:00

Now that the Man Booker is out of the way (I have a cracking image that I hope to post soon) I can resume work on Lyistrata.

The whole is bound in fair goat and will be worked on the book. A large thin book.. lots of fun covering!

Hello Korean Bookbinders and book artists.

2010-10-17T12:42:00.001+01:00

안녕하세요 한국에 있는 모든 예술제본가와 북아티스트.

The New Press.

2010-10-16T10:14:00.003+01:00

My new single screw laying press. Based on my old one but improved. The woods used are reclaimed so a low carbon footprint there. The backing boards locate on the cheeks with aluminium studs (my originals being located with old bits of dowel)
A thing of joy and beauty.

I always edge the backing boards with masking tape as this helps to keep things clean and I can see when a student has hit the backing boards and not the book!

I have a favourite plough, Jim (the guy who made the press) ensured that the plough and press work together....

I LOVE this press.... The press was made by Jim at Olive and Oak. www.oliveandoak.com

Comments.

2010-10-14T17:05:00.002+01:00

Thanks, comments are important, it is all too easy to be working in a vacuum.
I have feed back with the students and studio members, as I offer feed back. Outside views and opinions are part of the life blood.

Today my new backing/Laying press arrived.

2010-10-14T11:46:00.000+01:00

I am so happy, images to follow soon.

Why does no one leave any comments?

2010-10-14T11:45:00.000+01:00

Man Booker Binding, the morning after....

2010-10-13T10:03:00.002+01:00

Having managed to traverse London, I arrived at the Guildhall. As usual I faced the now normal routine of the door men not believing I was a not a guest and that I had to get a book on display before the big names arrived...... Why.
In any case I was 'Allowed' in and got my book set up along with the other bindings. All good.

I was introduced to Peter Carey, a nice bloke, very relaxed and fun. Met some people from the Australian Embassy or Consulate, again very nice people. I had Champagne.... all night.......

The winner was announced .... drum roll .. Howard Jacobson for his book 'The Finkler Question' His first time on the short list.
The cameras were primed, the journalists at the typewriters, all that was needed was Howard Jacobson, then I could go home.

The man himself... winner of the 2010 Man Booker Prize.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America plus Mark go to the Guildhall.

2010-10-12T16:43:00.000+01:00

Shaken and stirred !

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Dusting down the old Dinner Jacket.

2010-10-11T16:20:00.002+01:00

Having found my Dinner Jacket (tucked away in the darkest region of my wardrobe) and all the other bits and bobs that go with a Black Tie event, I begin to plan for the presentation tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 12th of October)

The evening starts with a reception at 6.30pm (Champagne) Where my binding along with the five others will be on display. We then move on to the Dinner at 7.30pm (Food with red and white wine) I will have to be on my best behaviour as I will be on the same table as Peter Carey, the author of Parrot and Olivier in America, thus I may be seen on the television! During the meal the 6 finalists are introduced to the gathering and their specially bound book is presented to them.

The winner will be announced at 9.45pm, this will be broadcast on BBC News across television, radio and online.

After that there is a post award reception sort of thing with more wine....

Carriages at 11.30pm... Wish me luck.

I will try to take some pictures of the evening...

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Finished.

2010-10-07T11:54:00.002+01:00

One week ahead of the presentation!

On to the next book......

My Biggest Critic.

2010-10-03T12:20:00.001+01:00

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Front board finished..

2010-10-02T15:05:00.002+01:00

Instead of a label on the front board I opted to do create a pallet. One of the characters is a painter... logical. Plus Pallet and Parrot are not too dis-similar.

The Gold tooling has been distressed with wire wool and a cocktail stick, I want it to appear a little singed (fire damage)

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. The front board.

2010-10-01T12:07:00.002+01:00

The leather was hand pared down to 0.5mm and hand coloured with a spirit dye.

On covering the brush strokes and un-even nature of the dye becomes obvious.

The finishing was done in a hurry, 1837 style. Next will be a label........

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Leather on the spine, back boards and canvas.

2010-09-29T11:42:00.002+01:00

The spine has been covered in fair goat with a simple design of red stripes. I like the uneven nature of the coloring, it adds movement to what could have been a very static design.

The back board is to be covered in a painted canvas. One of the characters is a Female, French painter. To me it makes perfect sense to use painted canvas. I have used the back of the canvas as I prefer the texture and it is not so white.

On the final page, Parrot gives us the date 'May 10, 1837' The flag of the USA had 25 stars. I have exchanged one of the stars with a Fleur de lys. This represents Olivier, his desire to be part of America but always a French man, not quite fitting in.

Canvas on the back board. The effect is bold and brash, the new world.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Rounding and Backing, End Bands, Edge Colouring.

2010-09-24T13:29:00.004+01:00

After sanding the edges colour is applied. In this case a simple yellow wash.

Then it is the end banding. Single core in red with flashes of white and blue. Red, Blue and White being common colours to The USA, France and England (National flags !)

The front end papers.

The back end papers.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Section marking and sanding

2010-09-19T15:27:00.004+01:00

The ever-so helpful printer, a new and discreet method of section identification.

Sanding the edges, always a fun thing. The edges will be yellow hence the sanding. The paper is not so good so the sanding is, on one hand easy and on the other hand difficult as it marks so easily. And as you may have guessed, the grain direction is WRONG....WRONG....WRONG !

As the sections are so thick they have stepped out. The text block in the press is a before, the text block to the right is an after. Elbow grease and patience.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Sewing etc

2010-09-18T12:37:00.002+01:00

After further reading the work has begun on the text blocks, difficult to sew as the sections are so thick and the paper of poor quality. One has to remember that the text block was never intended to be sewn in the first place, also some very interesting section identification techniques!. Images will follow soon.

Man Booker. Olivier and Parrot in America. The text blocks arrive.

2010-09-12T10:23:00.003+01:00

The text blocks are here, having read the book I am gradually forming the design, velvet and silver, burnt paper and print.

Type and New York circa 1830.

But first the text block has to be sewn...

The Man Booker short list.

2010-09-07T12:17:00.002+01:00

The Man Booker short list is out, I will be binding Parrot and Olivier in America......

The Decayed Book, the project continues.

2010-08-31T12:32:00.002+01:00

As we have a day of sun one of the recent decayed/ eaten books drys out.

This is one of my note books, my ideas, designs and thoughts. A tiny fragment of history. Different inks, pencil and ball-points have made their mark, each leaving traces on the partially eaten and decayed pages. The texture of the surface metamorphosing into hidden worlds.

Tray Number Five..

2010-08-29T11:41:00.003+01:00

As I wait for things to dry on Lysistrata, boards and the like, I am working on a small print project. Just for fun....
Simple in print and a simple binding. The eye of the storm at the moment as I am one of this years Man Booker Binders, a few months of hell awaits.

LYSISTRATA re-sewing and end papers.

2010-08-20T12:48:00.002+01:00

After some time in the nipping press the sections where sewn using the original holes. The stitch used is an un-supported link stitch. The first an last sections have been left loose so that I can hook guard the end papers.

The image for the end papers is derived from a small illustration within the text block, the printing technique is soft plate off-set. The front end paper is on the left and the back end paper is on the right. The printed paper has been laminated on to a toned paper that goes some way to match the text block paper.

Detail of the front end paper.

LYSISTRATA pulling and cleaning the spine.

2010-08-12T09:45:00.002+01:00

Having looked at the text block I thought it best to remove the old binding, clean the spine and pull or remove the original sewing. First I removed the text block by cutting through the paste down in line with the edge of the mull.

Then using a lifting knife (a flexible thin bladed knife) I carefully peeled back the mull and part of the paste down. The original boards are called straw boards because they are made from chopped straw, very cheap and very acidic!

I repeated the process on the other board.

Once the text block was free I could begin to clean the spine. First I peeled back as much loose material as I could, nice to see that bookbinders have carried on the tradition of recycling when ever possible.
Next was the wet cleaning of the spine...

LYSISTRATA removing the mull and old adhesive.

2010-08-12T09:27:00.003+01:00

After all the spine linings that could be removed dry, I moved on to a wet cleaning process.
The text block was placed in working boards and clamped in my backing press with just the spine area above the cheeks. A thick paste was applied to the spine to soften up the mull and old adhesive. To keep the paste moist I covered the whole area in cling-film and waited for about 10 minutes before removing the paste and any mull and adhesive that had become soft. I then repeated the process until the whole of the spine area was as clean as I could make it.

Care must be taken, as the paper becomes soft and can be damaged, even more in the case of this particular book. The sections are in fact just a single fold (Folio).....not fun!
What became more evident as the spine became visible was the shocking rounding and backing.

Sections had been crushed, threads broken, old crusty hot glue... not nice. I imagine that this poor book was rounded and backed last thing on a Friday afternoon or after a particularly good lunch.

LYSISTRATA... a new commission....

2010-08-06T10:08:00.002+01:00

First a big thank you to Nicky, Haein and Cheryl for their help over the open studio weekend. It was good fun with about 40 people coming.

Random image from Madrid, I just love the colours and textures.

Lysistrata, a new commission, the binding has seen better days and to be frank the construction is not suitable for this size of book.

STUDIO 5 OPEN WEEKEND

2010-07-23T11:27:00.002+01:00

It has taken some time but Studio 5 will be having an OPEN WEEKEND..... Saturday-31-July and Sunday-1-August...2010

All welcome!

Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Finished and in Transit 1

2010-07-20T12:58:00.002+01:00

Brush Up Your Shakespeare is finished and in transit to the owner.

I had great fun working on this miniature binding, such a contrast to the previous commission (The 4 Gospels being over 2m in length!)

The box is a 2 tray drop back box with a weighted top tray. The top tray is weighted to ensure that the box will stay closed. I find that working on miniatures that because the materials can be light weight boxes and the like sometimes just want to keep gaping.

The binding is in full fair goat with hand dying, pouting lips... Kiss Me Kate. The text block is of the song 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare from the musical Kiss Me Kate, which was inspired by 'The Taming Of The Shrew' by one William Shakespeare.

The Doublers/Doublures are hand printed (Soft Plate Off-Set) with 23 1/2 ct gold leaf laid on top the worked. The front being 'All The World Is A Stage'

With the gangsters on the last page of the text block paying homage to a rather ironic looking Shakespeare, again soft plate off-set with gold leaf.

The One Pound coin to the left gives some indication as to the size of the finished book.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Finished and in Transit 2

2010-07-20T12:48:00.003+01:00

With this style of text block construction the pages flow as you go through them. The text block almost escapes from the binding.

Fun to work with and fun to handle.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Doublers are down.

2010-07-14T12:59:00.003+01:00

The Doublers are hand printed and coloured with a layer of worked cold gold (23 1/2 ct)
The text block will be attached with the first and last pages being inserted behind the doublers. A non adhesive binding!

Now for the container.

HOLIDAY

2010-07-08T14:16:00.000+01:00

For the first time in many years I am going on HOLIDAY.... to Spain.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Kiss Me.

2010-07-07T13:07:00.004+01:00

Work progresses on Brush Up Your Shakespeare. A Full leather binding ( Fair Goat ) with a stylised image of a pair of pouting lips.
The dye has been applied with, yes you guessed right.. a brush. All free hand... Next is the gold leaf.