Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Book Review :: Little Book of Book Making by Charlotte Rivers, Foreword by Esther K. Smith

The Little Book of Book Making by Charlotte Rivers is a great book for anyone who is interested in making handmade books. This is a hardcover book in a handy little size (approximately 7.5" x 7").
The first 4 chapters in Little Book of Book Making are more inspirational than they are instructional. They show examples of "Folded Bindings" (Chapter 1), "Sewn Bindings" (Chapter 2), "Page & Cover Treatments" (Chapter 3), and "Experimental Packaging" (Chapter 4). In each chapter there are photographs of sample works from various artists. There is also information about each artist/studio and about each piece of work that is shown - something that I can only think to compare to a short press release. (As a note, not every stitch/technique mentioned in the text is addressed in the how-to section.) If you were curious, "Experimental Packaging" (Chapter 4) refers to concepts for covers/cover treatments/cases that various artists have used for their handmade books. These chapters (1-4) show a variety of ideas, but do not give you the how-to. 

"Bookmaking in Practice" (Chapter 5) is where you will learn the actual stitches and techniques for creating your own handmade books. 

Let's take a look at what is covered:

Book Styles:
  • Instant Book
  • Accordion Book
  • Flag Book
  • Dragon Book
  • Carousel Book
  • Secret Message Book
Stitch & Binding Styles:
  • Pamphlet Stitch
  • Long Stitch
  • Japanese Stab Stitch
  • Coptic Stitch
  • French Link Stitch
  • Case Binding
Page & Cover Treatments:
  • Suminagashi Paper Marbling
  • Paste Papers
  • Frottage
  • Natural Plant Dyeing
  • Book Cloth
  • Woven Cover
  • Fabric Cover
  • Pillow Book

Although the actual how-to portion of the book is relatively small (just over 50 pages), it really packs a punch. The techniques are clearly explained with step-by-step illustrations (where necessary).

For me, the Little Book of Book Making will be a great resource in my future handmade book endeavors (such as scrapbooks, mini albums, and other craft projects). 
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

No comments: