The Little Book of Book Making by Charlotte Rivers is a great book for anyone who is interested in making handmade books. This is a hardcover book in a handy little size (approximately 7.5" x 7").
The first 4 chapters in Little Book of Book Making are more inspirational than they are instructional. They show examples of "Folded Bindings" (Chapter 1), "Sewn Bindings" (Chapter 2), "Page & Cover Treatments" (Chapter 3), and "Experimental Packaging" (Chapter 4). In each chapter there are photographs of sample works from various artists. There is also information about each artist/studio and about each piece of work that is shown - something that I can only think to compare to a short press release. (As a note, not every stitch/technique mentioned in the text is addressed in the how-to section.) If you were curious, "Experimental Packaging" (Chapter 4) refers to concepts for covers/cover treatments/cases that various artists have used for their handmade books. These chapters (1-4) show a variety of ideas, but do not give you the how-to.
"Bookmaking in Practice" (Chapter 5) is where you will learn the actual stitches and techniques for creating your own handmade books.
Let's take a look at what is covered:
Book Styles:
- Instant Book
- Accordion Book
- Flag Book
- Dragon Book
- Carousel Book
- Secret Message Book
Stitch & Binding Styles:
- Pamphlet Stitch
- Long Stitch
- Japanese Stab Stitch
- Coptic Stitch
- French Link Stitch
- Case Binding
Page & Cover Treatments:
- Suminagashi Paper Marbling
- Paste Papers
- Frottage
- Natural Plant Dyeing
- Book Cloth
- Woven Cover
- Fabric Cover
- Pillow Book
Although the actual how-to portion of the book is relatively small (just over 50 pages), it really packs a punch. The techniques are clearly explained with step-by-step illustrations (where necessary).
For me, the Little Book of Book Making will be a great resource in my future handmade book endeavors (such as scrapbooks, mini albums, and other craft projects).
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.
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