Secret Book Binding Business

 

Secret Belgium Binding Journal 27cm x 24.5cm 200gsm paper

Here is the last book I made in my book binding frenzy.  it is a journal with thick watercolour paper pages.  I made it for myself for a little drawing project I wanted to undertake.

It is bound using the ‘Secret Belgium’ binding technique.  Don’t you just love the title, how could I not have a go at this.  This binding technique is similar to coptic but it has a spine that is sewn.  A slightly tricksy technique but I am very pleased with the finished result.

Sewing on the spine – Secret Belgium Binding

Secret Belgium Binding Journal Spine Detail

I added a couple of extra details to this book, it has a closure of a crystal button and a handmade cord, which I finally choose after a weeks dithering around with a multitude of different options.  I am far more decisive when making decisions for other people and hopeless when it is something for me.  It took me four months to choose paint colours for my house and I was able to choose all the colours for a whole house in 3 hours when I was a colour consultant.

Button and cord closure

I also added washi tape to the edges of the papers to give it greater strength, a nice subtle touch to the journal.

Secret Belgium Binding Journal Binding Detail

So that is the book binding for the moment, I have been drawing in my journal and have started a new large art work, so plenty happening at the moment.

Karen

 

Case Binding, another book made

Case Binding Sturt Desert Pea Book A5

This is the first book I made.  I did a class earlier in February and learnt to do case binding.  This is (in my mind) the real book binding, with spine, headbands and end papers.  Just like a real book.  The book we did in class was very basic and black and while I was happy with it, (despite the few wobbles); I didn’t actually like it.

The basic book before I reworked it.

Like all my works that I am having trouble with, I left it to one side and made the coptic bound book that I showed you in my previous blog.  But thinking over it and considering a number of options I came up with some ideas.

The plain black book-cloth covering was very boring, especially for a handmade book so I got out my silver gel pen and went to work on the cover.

Added a little decoration

I did a simple dot and dash design and then glued on another one of my prints of previous art work.  This one got the Sturt Desert Peas and I am now loving my little book.

Case Binding Sturt Desert Pea Book A5 size

Karen