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

We’re back at paper repair on this children’s

We’re back at paper repair on this children’s book. Japanese tissue and paste all day long. #bookconservation #bookrepair #paperrepair #japanesepaper #washi #bookarts #torontobookarts

Toronto book artists and bookbinders, join us for

Toronto book artists and bookbinders, join us for this gathering. Open to anyone interested in the book arts. This time we’ll be meeting in the Toronto Metropolitan University Archives & Special Collections.

We’ll be gathering to see and share our favorite or most recent project. It can be a print, book, or whatever you’d like to bring. If you’ve made a photo based work, 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.

Hope you’ll join us.

Toronto Metropolitan University Archives & Special Collections.
Room LIB 404, 350 Victoria Street, 4th Floor.
Toronto

Thursday, May 1
6 - 8 pm

Please DM or email bigriverbindery@gmail if you think you can attend. #bookbinding #bookarts #torontoarts #bookartsmeeting

It’s a good day for wet books. I’m having fun

It’s a good day for wet books. I’m having fun at the @cbbagswo and @westernufims workshop on disaster recovery. These discards got a few more hours of life.

Taking apart another volume of this set of childre

Taking apart another volume of this set of children’s books. Taking the spine, covers, and endpapers off gets it ready for spine cleaning. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #cuttingupbooks

Now it’s time for some paper repair on this book

Now it’s time for some paper repair on this book. We use Japanese paper and paste to connect together tears in the pages. Bit by bit, it’s coming back together. #paperconservation #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #washi #bookarts #torontobookarts

I had a great tour of the Toronto Metropolitan Uni

I had a great tour of the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Graphics Communications Management today. They prepare students for jobs in printing using modern press and prepress equipment. They still have some older letterpress equipment around, but so many printing and binding options. Thanks to Art for the tour. #letterpress #printing #offsetprinting #digitalprinting #torontometropolitanuniversity

Time to clean another spine. This book had the cov

Time to clean another spine. This book had the cover removed and is getting the old paper, cloth, and glue removed from the spine. Letting the layers soak helps speed up the process, but not this quick. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #cleaningthespine @cac_accr #bookarts #torontobookarts

There’s still time to sign up for my bookbinding

There’s still time to sign up for my bookbinding workshops for @contactphoto in Toronto. Learn to make your first books or the long stitch book. See more at https://contactphoto.com/festival/2025/public-program. #bookbinding #bookarts #photobooks

Spent the afternoon disbinding this children’s b

Spent the afternoon disbinding this children’s book. The sewing was broken and loose, so it had to be cut away. Once the paper repairs are done, we’ll be ready to resew the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #sewnbook #childrensbook @cac_accr

It’s time for more tape removal. This book isn’t too bad, just a little to remove. Stay tuned to see the rest of the set for more. Please don’t use tape in your books. #bookconservation #bookrepair #taperemoval #tapeisevil #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

It’s not too early to plan for some bookmaking.

It’s not too early to plan for some bookmaking. I’ll be teaching two workshops for St. Michael’s College Continuing Education on the University of Toronto in the Fall. Join us to make sculptural books or try out bookmaking for the first time. See the courses on their website, link in the bio. #bookbinding #bookarts #carouselbook #tunnelbook #flagbook #accordionbook #pamphlet #torontobookarts

Putting down the inner tissue hinges on the family

Putting down the inner tissue hinges on the family bible today. This matches the original broken hinge colour, and adds reinforcement to the cover to board attachment. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #washi #endpaper #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

It’s tape removal day. This bible had lots of he

It’s tape removal day. This bible had lots of help from the owner, but now there lots of tape to remove. Please don’t put tape on your books and papers. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #taperemoval #tapeisevil #bookbinding @cac_accr

I’m getting the new spine on this family bible.

I’m getting the new spine on this family bible. The new spine sits under the original leather to be less noticeable. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts @cac_accr

Today in the book conservation workshop, we simula

Today in the book conservation workshop, we simulated common damage found in books, like bent and busted corners. Then we got back to work fixing books. A fun second day with great students in the shop. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookconservationworkshop #bookarts #torontobookarts

I’m having a great time in my Book Conservation

I’m having a great time in my Book Conservation workshop. The students are making great progress on their paper repairs and rebacks. Glad to have more people fixing books. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookconservationworkshop #japanesepaper #washi

Had a lovely evening at the @fisherlibrary tonight

Had a lovely evening at the @fisherlibrary tonight learning about the artists’ book collection at the library. We saw many great books, including from friends @marlenemaccallum and @printmakerliz. Great to explore the collection again. #bookartists #artistsbooks #bookarts #torontobookarts

If you missed the Canadian Artists’ Book Symposi

If you missed the Canadian Artists’ Book Symposium in February, it’s not a problem. You can now see all the presentations on our YouTube channel. See the amazing artwork and process from five Canadian book artists. There’s a link in our bio. #bookarts #artistsbooks #bookbinding #printmaking #photobooks #letterpress #woodengraving

I’m toning tissue for my bible repair. I adjust

I’m toning tissue for my bible repair. I adjust the colour to match the cover or spine. This one didn’t take too long to get right. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #toningtissue #japanesepaper #washi

Finishing up these repaired end bands. Made new co

Finishing up these repaired end bands. Made new cores out of binders board then glued them back together. Now they’ll be ready to go back on the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #endbands #bookarts #torontobookarts

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