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Big River Bindery

Practicing the Book Arts in the Greater Toronto Area

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Big River Bindery

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 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
The folds on these signatures were torn so I reinf The folds on these signatures were torn so I reinforced the them with Japanese paper. Once dry, they’ll get sewn back onto the rest of the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesepaper #washi
I’m back in the shop catching up after my trip to I’m back in the shop catching up after my trip to Montreal. It was great catching up with colleagues, but I’m happy to be working with my hands again. This tissue is getting toned to match the original covering leather. #bookconservation #bookrepair #japanesetissue #bookbinding
Made one last visit before heading home. I’d met t Made one last visit before heading home. I’d met the owner of Au Papier Japonais at my conference, but wanted to see the store in person. A lovely selection of papers and tools, in a fun neighbourhood. If @thejppofficial wasn’t nearby, I would have gone home with handfuls. Worth a visit in Montreal. #washi #japanesepaper #bookartspaper #bookbinding #bookconservation
While in Montreal, I spent a lovely morning visiti While in Montreal, I spent a lovely morning visiting with @feuilles.reliureartisanale, talking about her marbled papers. It’s exciting to find a Canadian source for these beautiful decorated papers. I look forward to using some on a book soon. #marbledpaper #decoratedpaper  #bookbinding #bookarts
One last stop before the conference in Montreal wa One last stop before the conference in Montreal was over. Heard about a Chinese art supply store nearby and now have a handful of brushes to take home. A last good visit of the trip. #artsupplies #brushes #bookarts #conservationsupplies
Join us in Toronto for a weekend of printing fun. Join us in Toronto for a weekend of printing fun. Learn to set type and print images to make your own cards, posters, or manifesto. Full details on our website, link in our bio. #letterpress #letterpressprinting #bookarts
While I’m in Montreal, I took a walk to the @mcgil While I’m in Montreal, I took a walk to the @mcgill_rare department to see their Book Arts Lab. I got a great tour by the librarians, and heard about the teaching of printing and book history to the students, and their apprentice program. A wonderful little shop and some great presses. Thanks for showing me around. #letterpress #canadianletterpress #bookarts #canadianbookarts
My trip to Montreal stared well with a visit to Sa My trip to Montreal stared well with a visit to Saint Armand paper mill. David and Denise have an amazing hand paper making operation, producing 100% cotton papers for artists, printers, and bookmakers. If you ever get to Montreal, you should drop by, just bring your credit card for all you’ll bring home. #handpapermaking #papermaking #bookarts #canadianbookarts
I’ve been tabling at the Grimsby Wayzgoose today. I’ve been tabling at the Grimsby Wayzgoose today. Took a quiet minute to document my table before I run out of stock. #letterpress #bookarts #wayzgoose
I wrapped up my trip to Ottawa with a visit to Wea I wrapped up my trip to Ottawa with a visit to Weathervane Press. Had a lovely chat with Steve and got a great tour of the shop. So clean and tidy, and so many projects on the go. A great morning of letterpress fun. #letterpress #bookarts
I’m happy to be back at the Book Arts Lab at Carlt I’m happy to be back at the Book Arts Lab at Carlton University teaching for @cbbag_bookarts Ottawa Chapter. We’re doing book repair, but it’s nice to be surrounded by such nice printing equipment. #letterpress #bookarts #bookrepair #bookbinding
I’m rebuilding the endbands for a big bible in the I’m rebuilding the endbands for a big bible in the shop. The original cloth was torn and weak, so I lined it with tissue and are wrapping them around new board cores. It’s nice to reuse the original materials of the book during a repair. #bookconservation #bookrepair #biblerepair #bookarts #torontobookarts
Join me at @g44photo this spring for some book and Join me at @g44photo this spring for some book and book and box making workshops. Located at the 401 Richmond building in Toronto, it’s easy to get to for some evening book arts fun. Link at their website and my bio. #bookarts #enclosures #photographybooks #torontobookarts
It’s time to clean and repair the endbands on this It’s time to clean and repair the endbands on this book. We soak and remove the original core. We’ll stabilize the tears and rebuild the emdbands to put back on the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts
We’re finally getting all the hide glue off this s We’re finally getting all the hide glue off this spine. More Methylcellulose and scraping gets it all clean and ready for the next operation. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleaningthespine #bookarts #torontobookarts
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