Progress Toward the Ultimate Book

If I were sensible, I would have added to this more often since now I have way too much to add. You won't want to read through it all. Hopefully you are good at skimming and can pick out what you want.
Over the past months, I have continued to practice various aspects of the craft of bookmaking. I made boxes, small books, more paper. In August of 2008, I returned to Penland School for a class making decorative paper with Steve Pittelkow and his assistant Sue Bjerke. Not only did we learn to make several kinds of decorative papers, including suminagashi, orizomi gome, paste paper and marbled paper, but because both our instructors are also skilled bookbinders, we learned how to sew and cover a simple case-bound book and how to complete a coptic binding. We also learned how to make boxes. I came home with a box full of decorated paper, sample books and several lovely boxes.
As a result of the class, I felt inspired and ready to move on to the next level. I practiced the skills I had learned, experimenting with several kinds of paper in an effort to see what worked for different uses. I purchased banner paper at Office Depot for making marbled Christmas wrapping paper. It took two days of marbling to make enough paper for the season, plus designs for our holiday cards.
Certainly, I learned some things. For example, although you can marble tracing paper, I advise against it since it is very fragile and must be lined in order to use it for anything. The banner paper worked out well and was cheap, plus light weight enough to work well for wrapping. Making boxes is very time-consuming but they are lovely gifts, especially if you have covered them with your own paper.
After the holidays, I completed a couple of projects that didn't get finished in time to give as gifts. I practiced suminagashi then covered a notebook with it, making a wine journal for my son-in-law. I was pleased with the subtle look of the design. In addition, I practiced the coptic binding on a rather frivolous datebook for my daughter and tried a couple more folded book designs that I learned at a short workshop at the Venice Art Center.
In February, I practiced with more marbled paper and tried making paste paper with cornstarch paste. The photos show the results. Following a bookbinding video, I was able to produce a nice little journal made with tapes.
Every day I walk on the beach, sometimes picking up unusual shells, trying to visualize how to construct a book out of them. It took much thought and conferring with my neighbor Nancy Stormer next door but I finally figured out how to make a shell book. The text is several poems; the illustrations are comprised of some photos and a number of sketches of the shells I like. It's printed on many different kinds of paper, some handmade, other types commercially produced, a few decorated. The binding is coptic, the endpapers are marbled fabric. In the photos, you can see both the outside and inside of this book, which is about 5 1/2 x 3 x 1 1/2 inches. The cover is made from a pair of pen shells.
It seems to me I grow ever closer to the day I can create my magnum opus. The next thing I need to learn better is binding. I am particularly interested in leather bookbinding so I have been researching where I might learn how to do this doing the coming year. One other note: I must mention that I could not be doing all these fun tasks if it weren't for my husband David. First, he remodelled one of our guest rooms into a workroom for me. That project included installing a wood floor and repainting every surface in the room. He also researched and ordered a great craft table that I can fold up when company comes so we can still use the room for guests. He accompanies me to whatever farflung places I want to go for workshops and then makes the odd tools I need. He has made all the marbling combs I use, built the sewing frame for binding, and invented a nifty device for punching the sewing holes. Every time I marble, he sets up the drying lines for me. It makes all the difference to have someone who is so supportive and patient!