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!

The Book

When I retired in June of 2006 from my library career, one project I wanted to begin was the creation of my own book. This blog is an account of my progress. By "creation", I don't just mean writing. Rather my intention is to make the paper, write the text, illustrate it, print it, bind it, and create the cover. The idea is evolving as I move forward. But for now, I am considering printing 10 copies. They may all be different. It may be a series, instead of a book. I will create a unique cover for each book. The illustrations may also vary from book to book. This will help me stay creative rather than repetitive.

Since I spent most of the summer traveling, I took only small steps toward my goal. One of the retirement gifts I received was a certificate at Sarasota Art and Frame where I invested in some of the material and equipment I would need. Already I had a small proof press I had purchased years ago when we lived in Wisconsin. The press came from the Lake Mills Leader, a weekly newspaper that had moved ahead in the publishing world and got rid of its old printing apparatus. I purchased a variety of type, mostly Caslon Oldface, from Doug Etter, a retired printer in Lake Mills. I chose Caslon because it had been used at the Golden Cockrell Press, the topic of my independent study in library school.

The first step I wanted to take was that of educating myself so I signed up for a class at the Penland School in North Carolina. That was a great idea! The class was called Pages and Possibilities, taught by Lynne Avadenka. We learned a variety of printing techniques and spent time in the studio practicing what we learned. Being around so many real artists was inspiring! And Lynne was an excellent teacher. She encouraged us, was non-judgmental, and pushed us to try new things. In the studio next to ours was a papermaking class that I sampled from time to time.

When I got home, I tried making some miniature books, using samples of the printing I had done in class for the illustrations. So far, I have made about ten of these. They are fun but not what I plan for my project. At holiday time, I printed some greeting cards just to get back to printing. It was good practice and a refresher in the use of my proof press.

So that's where I am at the moment. Next step is to try making paper. I have a video tape in lieu of taking a class since there isn't one being offered nearby.