Bookbinding at Home
Before I learned how to properly bind a book I wasn’t brave enough to even try bookbinding at home. But as I learned more about bookbinding I also found confidence in making books. I found that it is not very difficult or scary, though mine still come out a bit bent, crooked and “special”, hehe. But I enjoy the process of making books even when it’s slow and doesn’t always end up the way I imagined…
This is how I started my first handmade Art Journal made at home (and not in class with my teacher to ask stuff).
First you have a lot of small pieces of paper, then you put them together in one way or another.
Voila! A book.
For the cover I used two pieces of stiff cardboard that I collaged with text, some postal stamps and a map.
The pages are yummy watercolor papers, five sewn together in three sections.
Book binding at home
I sewed the book together with extra strong sewing thread, long stitch bookbinding-style, through a piece of linen that I glued to the cover together with. I love linen and I have a few pieces laying around that I want to sew something zakka style with, but I haven’t made up my mind about where to start with that yet.
The bottom of the spine has one metallic bead…
…and, the top is decorated even more with a dangle made of different beads. Like this:
At the top of the spine where all the threads come together in a knot I made strings of black and green beads. I love how the dangle when I handle the book and how the black beads shimmer in metallic and green!
This is how the finished book looks:
I’ve varnished the cover a few times, drilled holes for the button closure and added one of my favorite images to the front cover. I’ve also made a couple of pages inside and let me tell you, I love love love working in this book. My last few journals have been altered books in big size. It’s a very different experience to play on watercolor paper than it is working in altered books. No gesso needed in this one. And I don’t have to take imagery already on the page into consideration before I start.
If you want to make something similar there are a lot of tutorials for bookbinding online. I’ve used Teesha Moore’s tutorial How to make a journal here. Try it out, and let me know what you think! I’ve also written about this book in Swedish in the article Visuell dagbok för alla!
Wow, it’s really beautiful, and looks very professional!:)
Wow amazing :) I really want to learn to do this!!! .)
it’s gorgeous, hanna!
Bookbinding is fun! I’ve tried the Coptic method once and I’m definitely going to come back to it one day. *^v^*
Just beautiful!
I clicked on your first picture to see it better, and it says it’s PRIVATE.
Do you have something naughty on there?
haha
Love watching people bind books. Want to learn. Will keep reading about it.
Rock on, sister!!
A beautiful handmade journal! I would love to make one myself so I appreciate the info too….thanks ~
This book is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the photo on it as well, and, well, you’ve given me a marvellous idea! I already have the perfect photo for my next book.
The book looks great, I make my own also and have never brought one since learning how to a few years ago. It is so much more personal and fitting to have them suiting your theme/idea/ personality ;D
Wonderful, I want one, I want one !!!! pleaaaaaaaase !
I love the book!! I don’t have money to go somewhere and learn how to do it myself, so I hope you could direct me to some website that has guidelines/a tutorial for making my own book? It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just down to basics :)
thanks!
*hugs* Elisabeth
It’s really wonderful. It’s so cool that you can make your own books!
Looks lovely! I started bookbinding last year – not very formal, but effective. You might like a journal that I made, kind of like yours it’s on my blog, if you click on category ‘art journal’ and scroll down to a post called ‘ups and downs’. PS just been shopping on your etsy site!
Kel x
This is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. I just discovered your blog and I really like your philosophy and your art! Thanks for sharing.
This is a very good introduction to making books at home. The book looks great!