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Big River Bindery

Practicing the Book Arts in the Greater Toronto Area

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What’s Happening in the Shop

We’re working hard and having fun in the shop. See some of what we’ve been doing here.

bigriverbindery

Took a trip across town to see the @thejppofficial

Took a trip across town to see the @thejppofficial for their Market Week. Got some good deals on paper and stocked up for the fall. Always a joy to see the staff and the papers. #japanesepaper #washi #bookartssupplies #kidinacandystore #ineedtocomebackmore #bookarts #torontobookarts

We’re excited about our fall workshops in the bi

We’re excited about our fall workshops in the bindery in Scarborough. You can come learn multiple color linocut printmaking from @jacquieprints from design to finished print. See more at our website, link in the bio. #linoblock #linoleumprint #printmaking #printmakingtoronto

This book is getting a spine repair and new pasted

This book is getting a spine repair and new pastedown endsheets. The original endpapers don’t have any inscriptions, so it’s safe to replace them. We need to remove as much of the original as possible to reduce the bulk under the new ones. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

I have an artists’ book at @propellerartgallery

I have an artists’ book at @propellerartgallery right now, and needed a cradle to present it. A cradle supports and displays a book nicely and only takes a few minutes to make. #bookconservation #bookcradle #artistsbook #bookarts #torontobookart

I’m excited to be going back at the @howardironw

I’m excited to be going back at the @howardironworksprintingmuseum Print Expo and Fair. This year I’m teaching a workshop on Pochoir printing. Come to Oakville, ON to see the museum, all the vendors, and to take a workshop. See all the workshops on their website, link in the bio. #letterpress #printmaking #bookarts #bookbinding #pochoirprint

Today we deep cleaned the spine of this book, usin

Today we deep cleaned the spine of this book, using Methylcellulose to loosen the adhesive and the rest of the paper linings. Now it’s clean and ready for paper repairs, the next step. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

It feels good to remove the old brittle paper lini

It feels good to remove the old brittle paper lining on this old bible. We start by lifting all the loose bits dry before adding moisture to clean off the adhesive. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #biblerepair #acidicpaper #bookarts #torontobookarts

We’re cleaning up this endband to stabilize and

We’re cleaning up this endband to stabilize and reuse it. Cloth covered endbands come apart easily and fit the look of the original book better than a new woven replacement. #endbands #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Snuck into the shop with the summer intern to prin

Snuck into the shop with the summer intern to print a couple linocuts. He carved them at a summer camp during the week but wanted to print them before the weekend was over. Glad I have enough equipment around to help out. #linoleumprint #linoprint #handprinting #inkonpaper #bookarts #torontobookarts #printmaking

Join me on September 15 for an online workshop on

Join me on September 15 for an online workshop on the Double Fan Adhesive method. Ideal for single sheets or rebinding failing adhesive bound books. Organized by @cbbag_bookarts, see the details at their website, link in the bio. #bookbinding #doublefanadhesivebinding #bookarts #bookrepair #torontobookarts

Removing the old paper and cloth lining from this

Removing the old paper and cloth lining from this book. We clean off the old brittle and degraded materials so we can provide strong support to the spine. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

I had to trim down some folded endsheets for rebou

I had to trim down some folded endsheets for rebound books. I use a triangle and straight edge to make sure they’re square. #bookbinding #endsheets #newbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Went in to the shop to cut the adhesive off this p

Went in to the shop to cut the adhesive off this perfect bound book. Now it’s ready for a new adhesive binding. The guillotine ready makes it easy. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #guilotine #choppingbooks #torontobookarts

When an adhesive bound book has failed, we need to

When an adhesive bound book has failed, we need to disbind the book so we can reglue it. Now that it’s in smaller parts, we will cut off the old adhesive and put it back together. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Spending the afternoon reattaching lifted endsheet

Spending the afternoon reattaching lifted endsheets on this book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

I’m attaching the loose boards back on this ledg

I’m attaching the loose boards back on this ledger. We make sure the boards attach in the right place so the squares are even and protecting the text block. Next we add the new spine. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #addingboards #torontobookarts

The children’s books continue by gluing down the

The children’s books continue by gluing down the lifted cover cloth. This helps hide most of the new spine and keeps the original look of the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #newspine #reback #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Was at @openstudio_toronto last night for a member

Was at @openstudio_toronto last night for a member workshop with @etigson on making scrolls. A great workshop and a fun evening in the shop. Thanks to Open Studio and to Daniel. #bookbinding #scroll #japanesepaper #washi

Today we rebound a hand bible. The original adhesi

Today we rebound a hand bible. The original adhesive binding had failed, so we rebound the loose sheets using a process known as a Double Fan Adhesive binding and holds better than the usual perfect binding. Thanks to @e.m._harrison for the extra hands. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Today we’ve been reattaching lifted endpapers. T

Today we’ve been reattaching lifted endpapers. The new hinge has been applied, so we’re hiding the repair under the original endpaper. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

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