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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

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

I’m preparing some envelopes for a valentine excha

I’m preparing some envelopes for a valentine exchange with @cbbag_bookarts. Twenty-nine members from across Canada are filling each other’s mailboxes with the good kind of mail. Can’t wait to see what shows up in mine. #valentines #mail #printmaking #bookarts

Join us at the bindery for a weekend exploring the

Join us at the bindery for a weekend exploring the sewing structures of books on Saturday and Sunday, February 28 & March 1. We’ll make book models with sewing methods from the 13th to 20th centuries. A great exploration of the history of the book and hands-on practice in sewing books together. See more at our website, link in the bio. #bookbinding #sewnbook #historicbook #bookartsworkshop

Had coffee with @tinyhandmadedolls yesterday and s

Had coffee with @tinyhandmadedolls yesterday and spent time with some of their miniature bindings. What glorious little gems of books. With leather, tooling, miniature marbled and paste papers, and tiny readable text blocks. Such of joy. Thanks for sharing. #miniaturebook #bookbinding #marbledpaper #pastepaper #torontobookarts

Today the endbands go back on this repaired book.

Today the endbands go back on this repaired book. The old ones were dirty and torn, so a new set replaces them. #bookconservation #bookrepair #endbands #bookarts #torontobookarts

Spent a lovely afternoon at the opening for @etigs

Spent a lovely afternoon at the opening for @etigson show at @propellerartgallery. So much amazing silkscreen prints, scrolls, and books. Well done Daniel. Go see the show, it’s worth the visit. #silkscreen #scrolls #washi #accordionbook

Join us for a Toronto Book Arts Gathering It’s ti

Join us for a Toronto Book Arts Gathering

It’s time again to gather and meet our friends and colleagues in the book arts.

This time we’ll be meeting in the E. J. Pratt Library at Victoria University at the University of Toronto.

We’ll be gathering to see and share our favourite or most recent project. It can be a print, book, or whatever you’d like to bring. If you’ve made a hand made book or print, or have one in your collection, please bring it along.

Open to all to print, bind, or appreciate. Share with friends or colleagues who might be interested.

Please email bigriverbindery@gmail.com if you think you can attend and to get more details.

I’m getting the paste down back on this register.

I’m getting the paste down back on this register. I use a foam roller to speed up my glueing of materials. #bookconservation #bookrepair #pastedown #endpapers #torontobookarts

Today we’re trimming up some prints for an upcomin

Today we’re trimming up some prints for an upcoming exchange for the @canadian.letterpress.alliance. The guillotine really speeds up the process. #letterpress #guilotine #trimmingpaper #bookarts #torontobookarts

Getting the original spine back on this book. It’s

Getting the original spine back on this book. It’s almost done and ready to go back to the owner. I love the finishing touches to a treatment. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #oldspine #torontobookarts

Ready to share your ideas and images? Learn how to

Ready to share your ideas and images? Learn how to make DIY publications for sharing art and ideas with @glasscreature.editions . Learn to make one-sheet books and sewn pamphlets, then fill them using drawing, writing, and collage. See more on our website, link in the bio. #zine #onesheetbook #sewnpamphlet #collage #bookarts

When the sewing is broken, we have to clean up all

When the sewing is broken, we have to clean up all the bits of thread before resewing the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #torontobookarts

Join us in the shop for a drop-in printing event.

Join us in the shop for a drop-in printing event. Use our letterpress equipment to make your own valentines using the pressure printing technique. It’s a quick easy way to make images and text. It’s only $15 dollars and you get a beverage to sip while you make your prints. See more on our website on the workshops page, link in the bio. #letterpress #pressureprint #valentines #printmaking #torontobookarts

If it’s Wednesday, must be time to clean another s

If it’s Wednesday, must be time to clean another spine. I love how Methylcellulose softens the adhesive for easy cleaning. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleanspine #bookarts #torontobookarts

Casing in this book to finish off the day. The end

Casing in this book to finish off the day. The endpaper gets glued out before the cover goes on. Now I let it press overnight. #bookbinding #caseboundbook #bookarts #torontobookarts

Spent the weekend printing, so had to clean up the

Spent the weekend printing, so had to clean up the ink slabs when done. I used to use phone books for disposing of the excess ink, but have moved on to unneeded catalogs, since phone books are hard to find. #printing #inkcleanup #letterpress #torontobookarts

Following up the new years fireworks with this boo

Following up the new years fireworks with this book cover. Getting back to work after the celebrating and remembering the midnight show. #fireworks #bookbinding #bookcover #bookarts #torontobookarts

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