2 posts tagged “japanese”
Today I listed a new item in my Etsy shop: a boxed set. A cute fabric-covered box unfolds to reveal a matching journal. These elegant sets are the top-of-the-line items in my shop.
The process of making the book and its box is quite time-consuming, but makes for a lovely end result. First, I need to make the backcloth. Fabric cannot be easily pasted to the book boards, so it needs to be backed with paper to make it stronger and easier to paste. This takes about a day for the fabric to dry and be ready to use.
Meanwhile, I make the signatures for the book, folding and tearing the paper, then grouping the leaves to make the signatures. Then it's time to measure and cut the boards for the covers. Once the backcloth is ready, I measure and cut fabric for the covers, a bit for reinforcing the spine and three little strips for sewing the book. I punch the holes for sewing the signatures and once the book is sewn, I reinforce the spine with a bit of gauze. Finally, I cover the boards with fabric and paste the signatures to the covers.
Once the book is ready, I measure it so I can get precise measurements for the box. Then I cut the boards for making the box, as well as the fabric and endpapers. I always use the same paper for the signatures and the endpapers in the box! I cover the boards and assemble the box. Before covering the inside, I attach the ribbon ties. Finally, the book and the box are left to air dry for a couple of days, and voilá! A new boxed set is ready.
I have made five of these boxed sets since I learned how to craft them. As you can see, they take a while to be ready, so they become a major project for my bookbinding sessions. I hope you enjoy them!
In January, I took a wonderful class on handbinding techniques. It came as a surprise how much I enjoyed working with paper: folding, tearing , sewing and pasting papers to make colorful little books soon became a much needed distraction from work! I've always collected unusual papers and it was finally clear what I could use them for.
We learned many different techniques, from simple butterfly and album style bindings, to beautiful Japanese sewings, exposed spine bindings and we even made our own bookcloth for a boxed set.
Since then, I've tried to make time for a little bookbinding every once in a while. I still find it extremely relaxing, and it's always a great experience to be able to work so closely with paper, fabric and thread. I started learning on my own: I purchased some books (Keith Smith is a great teacher!) and started trying some interesting sewings. Soon, I realized that I enjoyed coptic stitching the best, and created a line of cute little journals that used this beautiful stitch.
My Washibooks combine some materials I find particularly enjoyable to work with: Costa Rican banana paper, which has a great texture and is also good for the environment; Japanese washi papers, which feel almost like fabric and have some of the most beautiful designs I've ever seen; and cotton and hemp threads in many colors. I especially love putting together the combinations of papers and colors that will make up each book. The covers, back covers, endpapers and thread can feature wonderful harmonies or vibrant contrasts.
The loving process of tearing the paper for the signatures, covering the boards for the covers and sewing the book together is a wonderful experience, and it always produces a cute little book that can be carried around, admired, and used for writing or drawing whenever the inspiration strikes.
You can now find my Washibooks at my new Etsy shop!
