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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

Using my new handmade book cloth to add a replacem

Using my new handmade book cloth to add a replacement spine to this book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #reback

Here I’m strengthening the toned Japanese paper we

Here I’m strengthening the toned Japanese paper we use for new spines with cloth. Laminating the two makes a book cloth that matches the cover exactly and will hold up to repeated use. Wheat starch paste and some pounding begins the two together. #bookcloth #laminatingpaper #japanesepaper #bookconservation

A little weekend tape removal in the shop today. C

A little weekend tape removal in the shop today. Catching up on projects and this masking tape needed to get off this endpaper. A little heat removed the carrier, then the leftover adhesive can come off. #bookconservation #paperconservation #taperemoval #tapeisevil

Make a trek to Oakville, Ontario to visit @pomelet

Make a trek to Oakville, Ontario to visit @pomeletterpress and see their sweet shop. Both the print shop and bindery were fun to explore, and we had a lovely conversation about letterpress bookbinding. Thanks for the great visit. #letterpress #bookbinding #canadianletterpress

Time for a new bible in the shop. I’m cleaning off

Time for a new bible in the shop. I’m cleaning off the old paper and cloth lining from the text block today. Removing the old hide glue and avoid paper will help this book in the long term. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleaningthespine #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I had a lovely studio visit and chat with @somepri

I had a lovely studio visit and chat with @someprintstudio about an upcoming project. It’s great to see the experimental printing and artists’ books they produce. I can’t wait to come back to see more. #riso #artistsbooks #torontobookarts

Finishing the bottom turn ins on this tray today.

Finishing the bottom turn ins on this tray today. Cloth gets wrapped around all the edges of the box for strength and to look good. #clamshellbox #boxmaking #bookbinding

It’s assembly day for some clamshell boxes in the

It’s assembly day for some clamshell boxes in the shop. The parts get glued together with PVA and will be covered in book cloth. #bookconservation #bookrepair #clamshellbox #bookbinding

After rebinding this soft bound book, we needed to

After rebinding this soft bound book, we needed to reattach the original covers. A hinge on the book gives us secure place to add the cover, and the book is almost done. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts

Today we’re adding a double fan adhesive binding t

Today we’re adding a double fan adhesive binding to these loose pages. The original perfect binding failed so we’re adding a better and stronger option. It will go right back in the original cover and almost no one will know. #bookconservation #bookrepair #doublefanadhesivebinding #bookbinding

Laying down the hinges on these children’s books.

Laying down the hinges on these children’s books. The endpapers had split but we still wanted to keep them in the book. These toned Japanese paper hinges connect the boards to the text block. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #newhinges

Last week I had a delightful chat and studio tour

Last week I had a delightful chat and studio tour with @jenn_rose_law. I got see their amazing prints and art projects, and we talked about printmaking and letterpress projects they have in process. Thanks Jenn for the great time, and I hope to come visit again soon. #printmaking #letterpress #bookarts #studiotour

It’s great having the guillotine in the shop. Toda

It’s great having the guillotine in the shop. Today we’re trimming off the old adhesive from a paperback so we can make a new adhesive binding for the pages. Saves so much time. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I love when the turn ins get finished on a reback.

I love when the turn ins get finished on a reback. It means most of the work is done and just a few steps left to get it back to the client. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #torontobookarts

I’m lifting the cover paper on this board to make

I’m lifting the cover paper on this board to make room for the new spine on this book I’m repairing. A good lifting knife makes it much easier. #bookconservation #bookrepair #liftingpaper #reback #torontobookarts

Sometimes you have to take apart a book to put it

Sometimes you have to take apart a book to put it back together. I’m cutting out the sewing so we can repair the folds and resew the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #sewnbook #loosethreads #torontobookarts

I’m in summer school again, but at least I’m teach

I’m in summer school again, but at least I’m teaching here now. All set up for my summer Bookbinding classes at the @ischool_to. I would have been much happier if I’d been able to bind books for summer school as a kid. #boookbinding #bookarts

In honour of the Canada Day holiday tomorrow (and

In honour of the Canada Day holiday tomorrow (and for a project in the shop) I’m toning some white Japanese tissue red with acrylic paint. They should match the red endpapers nicely after a day off to celebrate with my family. #bookconservation #bookrepair #toningtissue #japanesepaper #washi

And some days we cut board. Preparing for an upcom

And some days we cut board. Preparing for an upcoming class by cutting down boards for book covers. Lots of cutting board here today. At least I don’t have to do it by hand. #bookbinding #cuttıngboard #workshopprep #bookarts #torontobookarts

Andrew is teaching a letterpress workshop in the s

Andrew is teaching a letterpress workshop in the shop this weekend, so we were poking around in the type cases, looking for fonts to use. So much fun looking through the wood type and lead ornaments. #letterpress #woodtype #leadtype #ornaments #borders

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