Skip to content

Big River Bindery

Practicing the Book Arts in the Greater Toronto Area

Home
Conservation and Restoration
Custom Bookbinding
Boxes and Enclosures
Letterpress Printing
Workshops
Movie Props
The Equipment
What’s Happening in the Shop
Press
Book Arts in Canada
About
Contact

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

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

I’m guarding together some detached leaves to make

I’m guarding together some detached leaves to make sections that can be sewn back into a book. Japanese paper and paste connects the leaves together without adding too much bulk. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #washi #guardingsections

Starting the morning with some tape removal. The c

Starting the morning with some tape removal. The carrier is off using some heat, now to clean up the residue. #taperemoval #tapeisevil #bookconservation #bookrepair

Flattening out some tears and folds before paper r

Flattening out some tears and folds before paper repair on this title page. A little moisture relaxes the fibres before unfolding. #bookconservation #bookrepair #paperconservation

Sometimes days a spine lining comes off easy, and

Sometimes days a spine lining comes off easy, and some days are like today. This lining took its sweet time coming off, with multiple layers of methylcellulose and scraping to remove the old paper on the spine. Now it will be more flexible and strong. #bookconservation #bookrepair #removingspinelinings #bookbinding #torontobookarts

Today I’m lifting the endpapers from this well lov

Today I’m lifting the endpapers from this well loved book. I’ll be able to reuse it and keep more of the original book when I make and add a new cover. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #torontobookarts

After traveling and conferences, it’s back to work

After traveling and conferences, it’s back to work in the shop. Getting this book started by removing the covers and cleaning off the spine. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleaningthespine #methylcellulose

Made a delightful visit today to see Kevin at @pap

Made a delightful visit today to see Kevin at @papertrail_book_arts today. It was great seeing his Monotype caster, presses, and studio. I loved seeing new type cast in Canada. #bookarts #letterpress #leadtype

As part of a conference on book labs in universiti

As part of a conference on book labs in universities, I made a trip to the @fisherlibrary to see a talk on independent publishing in Latin America. A great set of talk and a great set of books to look through. #torontobookarts

I’m finishing up the new hinge on this book by rem

I’m finishing up the new hinge on this book by removing the extra Japanese paper and blending it in. We try to make the repairs as sympathetic as possible so people look at the book, not the repair. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #newhinge #torontobookarts

I just taught for a week at the @americanacademyof $I just taught for a week at the @americanacademyofbookbinding and was happy they’re getting one of my favourite tools for tape removal. The 858D is an electrician repair tool that works like conservation hot air tools, but at a fraction of the cost. I hope the students enjoy how useful this tool is in the shop. #bookconservation #bookrepair #tapeisevil #taperemoval$

Come see Andrew’s artists books and prints in Toro

Come see Andrew’s artists books and prints in Toronto at this new book festival. There’s a great lineup of book artists tabling and presenting, hope you can make it. #artistsbooks #photobook #letterpress #torontobookarts

If you’re near Toronto, join me for this tuxedo bo

If you’re near Toronto, join me for this tuxedo box workshop at @g44photo on June 3. This preservation enclosure is great for books, papers, or photographs. See all the details on their website. #preservationenclosures #tuxedobox #rarebooks #archives

This original spine is about to go back on the rep

This original spine is about to go back on the repaired book, but first the old acidic paper lining has to come off. It’s always fun to lift it all off. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #bookbinding

I’m attaching this family history page back onto t

I’m attaching this family history page back onto their bible. It came loose and is getting a Japanese tissue hinge to reattach it. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #japanesetissue

Follow on Instagram

Follow Us!

Sign up for email notices of events and classes.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Proudly powered by WordPress