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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

It’s exciting and dangerous at the @guildofbookwor

It’s exciting and dangerous at the @guildofbookworkers conference this week. The vendors room has beautiful and amazing supplies and materials. Luckily there’s only so much room in my bag. #bookbinding #bookarts #bookartssupplies

Andrew is away from the bindery this week attendin

Andrew is away from the bindery this week attending the @guildofbookworkers conference in the US. This morning’s session is on making a field book structure by @strongarmbindery. #bookbinding #bookarts

The spookiest thing in the shop is all the acidic

The spookiest thing in the shop is all the acidic paper and glue that needs to come off this book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleaningthespine

Spent the afternoon at the @fisherlibrary hearing

Spent the afternoon at the @fisherlibrary hearing about artists’ books by @lesiamaruschak. Beautiful but haunting work about Ukrainian children during the war. It’s was great to meet her and hear about this book and others she makes. You should take some time to go see this book. #artistsbooks #bookarts

It’s seems like it’s been ages since I started a n

It’s seems like it’s been ages since I started a new repair. It’s great getting back to work on this book of poetry with a missing cover. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding

I’m so excited to read the @guildofbookworkers jou

I’m so excited to read the @guildofbookworkers journal and the article by Elijah Harrison at @glasscreature.editions. The article talks about a symposium that I helped happen here in Canada with some amazing book artists. #bookarts #canadianartistsbooks

When you get new (to you) wood type, its often nee

When you get new (to you) wood type, its often needs a little TLC. This type is getting the dust vacuumed off then will get a little hand cleaning. Thanks to @glasscreature.editions for the help. #letterpress #woodtype #shopcleaning #bookarts

When you wake up early on Thanksgiving weekend, yo

When you wake up early on Thanksgiving weekend, you might as well catch up on making tuxedo boxes. I’m wrapping accordion books by a local photographer. It’s a nice project for a quiet morning. #tuxedobox #preservationenclosures #bookbinding #phasebox

I had a great time last night at @contact_pbl hear

I had a great time last night at @contact_pbl hearing about photo books and the Contact Photobooklab from @briandstdenis. A great presentation and show and tell. Thanks to the @alcuinsociety for organizing the talk.

Time to trim out the cloth going in the inside of

Time to trim out the cloth going in the inside of the trays. The cuts make for a smooth and finished box. #clamshellbox #bookbinding #bookarts #preservationenclosures

It’s good to be back at the shop and working on so

It’s good to be back at the shop and working on some clamshell boxes. The cloth gets turned under the edge and glued to the bottom. #clamshellbox #bookbinding #bookarts #preservationenclosures

We had a great first day at the book arts workshop

We had a great first day at the book arts workshop in Fernie, BC. Our tunnel books came out amazing, and the students all worked so hard. Today we move on to Carousel Books. Can’t wait to see what the students make today. #carouselbook #tunnelbook #bookartsworkshop #bookarts

While in Fernie, I was delighted to visit the stud

While in Fernie, I was delighted to visit the studio of Mike Hepher of @clawhammerpress. A converted garage holds his collection of presses and type, where he makes amazing prints with linoleum, wood, and type. He even let me try out the Vandercook. Thanks for the great tour Mike! If you’re ever in BC, be sure to make a detour to visit. #letterpress #vandercook #woodtype #printmaking

I’m out of the shop and away from Scarborough for

I’m out of the shop and away from Scarborough for the weekend, teaching in Fernie, BC for the Fernie Fibre Arts Guild. I’m excited to be teaching on the road again and can’t wait to meet the students and make some books. Plus we don’t have views like this back home. #bookarts #tunnelbook #carouselbook #fernie

Over the weekend I had a chance to visit @kozostud

Over the weekend I had a chance to visit @kozostudio in Toronto. It was an amazing shop with so much type and so many presses. They’re making lovely prints and I can’t wait to see what else they make. #letterpress #printmaking #studiovisit

I just finished an amazing week with a great set o

I just finished an amazing week with a great set of students at my @cbbag_bookarts workshop. We decorated paper, made two hard cover books, and make a preservation enclosure. A busy but rewarding week. #bookbinding

Unexpected bonus when one of your students is a ma

Unexpected bonus when one of your students is a machinist and tool maker. He’s getting some sticky tools working well again. My Kensol hot stamper had some parts that were bent and unused, but are ship shape again. Thanks Don.

Having a fun Sunday afternoon teaching for @cbbag_

Having a fun Sunday afternoon teaching for @cbbag_bookarts. We’re starting a week long class by decorating papers for our case bound books. Paste paper is easy and a fun way to start the week. #bookarts #pastepaper #cbbag #torontobookarts

Our fall workshop list is up on our website. Join

Our fall workshop list is up on our website. Join us to make a book, box, or conserve your collections. Flip through to see what is coming up and register at the website. #bookarts #bookbinding #torontobookarts

Last step is getting the original spine back on th

Last step is getting the original spine back on the book. We try to reuse and retain as much original material as we can in a treatment. #bookconservation #bookrepair #reback #torontobookarts

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