Making seasonal handmade books

I have a small idea.....

Making handmade books is beyond a passion and nudging into an obsession. I began making them when I was quite small. I used to make my own tiny journals and over-sized scrapbooks and never really shared them with anyone. When I went to university my parents also moved house so I had to recycle many of them but, by then, I was hooked. I have always loved paper and now make my own. I also dye and print papers as well as using recycled papers. For me, book making is central to my small business but the process means much more to me than that. In my world no two books are the same meaning that folk are getting something original. More than that even……I am making the book and they are filling it and I see that as a creative conversation.

My books are created on a small Scottish island and then sent all over the UK and I love to imagine how they are being used. I imagine some are gifted. So where lies the appeal? It is a gentle, quiet activity best done slowly and mindfully as mistakes can be costly. I have to be in a book making mood and then I will lose hours folding, cutting and stitching. The stitching is my favourite bit as it brings the project together into one neat place. I was gifted a heavy duty book binding press last year and that has been joyful. I usually press over night so it is lovely to pop into the studio before breakfast to see how the books have turned out.

I am very much influenced by the seasons with my book making as with all my creative journeys. Pressing flowers for covers, choosing colour palettes and even paper selection are all part of my commitment to seasonal creativity. Right about now the pressing for this season is well underway as summer is the bumper time to gather and press.

Exploring different book patterns is an eternal occupation of mine as I find new ways to fold and cut paper to make books that, I hope, delight. In my exhibition work I often make Artist Books although these are never for sale. These are for my studio and my teaching sessions. My favourite subject for Artist Books is ‘place.’ I love to capture different places through the pages.

There are a lot of ‘book clubs’ out there and I am a member of a couple. We read the same book and chat about it. They are joyful. I have often wondered about a book making club where we make a different book project each month inspired by the shifting seasons? It would be fun to begin with the same pattern but for folk to make their own selections of papers etc and thus the outcomes will all be very different. As well as making the book we could explore writing as language and engage in activities such as found poetry and asmeic writing. We could also look at how we use visual language inside our books. Basically, we could get well and truly lost down a book making rabbit hole. I would be interested in feedback on this idea if you could spare a few moments.

Meantime, you will find me gathering papers together and printing some covers for a new collection of books due out soon. I never need an excuse. Until next time. x