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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

Thanks to @e.m._harrison, my presses are getting a

Thanks to @e.m._harrison, my presses are getting a well deserved spa day. They’ll be clean and happily running by the end of the day. #letterpress #asbern #pressmaintenance #bookarts #canadianletterpress

We have two fun workshops coming up in the shop. L

We have two fun workshops coming up in the shop. Learn to make the Storage Book and the Drum Leaf Binding. These two books use adhesive rather than thread, and are great for photos and prints. Great for prototypes or finished art books. See them on our website, link in the bio. #drumleafbinding #storagebook #bookarts #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I added a paper lining to the spine of this book t

I added a paper lining to the spine of this book today. It supports the spine and makes the opening of the book flex correctly. The inside of this book is done, now I can work on the covers and spine. #bookconservation #bookrepair #spinelining #bookarts #torontobookarts

After a weekend full of teaching, it’s nice to hav

After a weekend full of teaching, it’s nice to have a quiet day making fills for some paper conservation. I use Japanese paper to fill in missing parts of the pages and apply them with wheat starch paste. #bookconservation #bookrepair #paperconservation #torontobookarts #bookarts

Had a delightful visit to Lumiere Press in Toronto

Had a delightful visit to Lumiere Press in Toronto. They make fine press books on photography and photographers. A lovely letterpress shop set up for limited edition books. I wish I had an Intertype machine for casting type slugs in my shop as well. Thanks to Michael for the great conversation and tour. #finepressbooks #lumierepress #letterpress #canadianletterpress

Cleaning off the old lining and adhesive from this

Cleaning off the old lining and adhesive from this book. Methyl cellulose softens the paper, cloth and adhesive making it an easy job. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleanspine #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I’m toning Japanese paper for a new spine for this

I’m toning Japanese paper for a new spine for this book. Getting just the right color takes a little work, but can be so satisfying. #bookconservation #bookrepair #toningpaper #washi #torontobookarts

Repairing endbands for a big bible this week. Afte

Repairing endbands for a big bible this week. After removing and cleaning, they get lined with Japanese tissue and remade. #bookconservation #bookrepair #endbands #japanesepaper #torontobookarts

Today is a paper repair day. Page by page, we fix

Today is a paper repair day. Page by page, we fix tears in the paper with Japanese paper and wheat starch. It’s going to be a long day. #bookconservation #paperconservation #japanesepaper #bookrepair #torontobookarts

Turning in the head and tail of this new spine. It

Turning in the head and tail of this new spine. It’s nice to hide the repair under the original covering material and endpapers, if a bit fussy sometimes. Just gluing loose material down and some touch ups and it’s done. #bookconservation #bookrepair #reback #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I always make a “pair of pants” when doing two-on

I always make a “pair of pants” when doing two-on sewing of a book. Do you have a different shape you use? Two-on sewing uses less thread and creates less thickness or swell in a book, by jumping up and down while sewing across the spine. #bookbinding #swell #twoonsewing #abreviatedsewing #bookarts

Today I lined some boards for a big clamshell box.

Today I lined some boards for a big clamshell box. Lining on both sides balances the pull of the adhesive, and makes for stronger flat boards. #bookbinding #boxmaking #flatboards #bookarts #torontobookarts

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday gathering with bo

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday gathering with book artists and binders in Toronto. We met at the @victorialibrary71 to see some special collection items before sharing our own bindings. I can’t wait to come back to see the amazing bindings and artists books in their collection. #finebindings #artistsbooks #specialcollections #torontobookarts

Come join Elijah Harrison if @glasscreature.editio

Come join Elijah Harrison if @glasscreature.editions for an evening of creative zine and book structures. Learn to make Flexagons, Turkish map folds, and more. Sign up at our website, link in the bio. #bookarts #zine #flexagon #turkishmapfold #torontobookarts

Gluing out the endpapers and casing in the book wr

Gluing out the endpapers and casing in the book wraps this project up. #caseboundbook #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Came into the shop for a few minutes on the holida

Came into the shop for a few minutes on the holiday weekend to get this tray finished up. I love the light green cloth for the trays, it will look amazing with the cover colour. Now it can set up on Family Day before getting back to work on Tuesday. #clamshellbox #bookbinding #reallybigbox #bookarts #torontobookarts

Take the time to stop at the @tpl.reference librar

Take the time to stop at the @tpl.reference library to see their new exhibit, Loops, Swoops and Curlicues. A lovely exhibit of handwritten manuscripts and documents. I enjoyed the exhibit and will be going back again soon. #manuscript #bookbinding #torontobookarts

Today I’m working on an oversized clamshell box fo

Today I’m working on an oversized clamshell box for a local printmaker. A big box is a bit harder to handle, but it should turn out well. I can’t wait to see the prints in it. #clamshellbox #printmaking #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

An amazing set of valentines came in the mail yest

An amazing set of valentines came in the mail yesterday. I love the @cbbag_bookarts valentine exchange. Such great creativity and craft from across Canada. Let’s hope my submission holds up in the set. #valentines #handmadevalentine #bookarts #canadianbookarts

I’m teaching an online clamshell box workshop for

I’m teaching an online clamshell box workshop for @cbbag_bookarts and needed to catch up on my own homework. This second tray gets covered inside and out with cloth before we line the bottom tonight. #clamshellbox #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

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