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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

Getting the original spine back on this book. It’s Getting the original spine back on this book. It’s almost done and ready to go back to the owner. I love the finishing touches to a treatment. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #oldspine #torontobookarts
Ready to share your ideas and images? Learn how to Ready to share your ideas and images? Learn how to make DIY publications for sharing art and ideas with @glasscreature.editions . Learn to make one-sheet books and sewn pamphlets, then fill them using drawing, writing, and collage. See more on our website, link in the bio. #zine #onesheetbook #sewnpamphlet #collage #bookarts
When the sewing is broken, we have to clean up all When the sewing is broken, we have to clean up all the bits of thread before resewing the book. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #torontobookarts
Join us in the shop for a drop-in printing event. Join us in the shop for a drop-in printing event. Use our letterpress equipment to make your own valentines using the pressure printing technique. It’s a quick easy way to make images and text. It’s only $15 dollars and you get a beverage to sip while you make your prints. See more on our website on the workshops page, link in the bio. #letterpress #pressureprint #valentines #printmaking #torontobookarts
If it’s Wednesday, must be time to clean another s If it’s Wednesday, must be time to clean another spine. I love how Methylcellulose softens the adhesive for easy cleaning. #bookconservation #bookrepair #cleanspine #bookarts #torontobookarts
Casing in this book to finish off the day. The end Casing in this book to finish off the day. The endpaper gets glued out before the cover goes on. Now I let it press overnight. #bookbinding #caseboundbook #bookarts #torontobookarts
Spent the weekend printing, so had to clean up the Spent the weekend printing, so had to clean up the ink slabs when done. I used to use phone books for disposing of the excess ink, but have moved on to unneeded catalogs, since phone books are hard to find. #printing #inkcleanup #letterpress #torontobookarts
Following up the new years fireworks with this boo Following up the new years fireworks with this book cover. Getting back to work after the celebrating and remembering the midnight show. #fireworks #bookbinding #bookcover #bookarts #torontobookarts
Our winter and spring workshops are up on the webs Our winter and spring workshops are up on the website. Join us to learn about zine and book making, book repair, and letterpress printing. You can see more information on our website, link in the bio. #bookarts #bookartsworkshop #letterpress #bookbinding #torontobookarts
Working on one last book for the year. Didn’t get Working on one last book for the year. Didn’t get it done, but will get to it after all the new year festivities. Looking forward to new book projects in 2026! #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #torontobookarts
Taking a bit of time between the holidays to print Taking a bit of time between the holidays to print a project for the @canadian.letterpress.alliance. It’s good fun to get on the presses for a new print. More layers to come. #letterpress #p22blox #torontobookarts #letterpressprint
Preparing this book for a double fan adhesive bind Preparing this book for a double fan adhesive binding. I add hinges in the front and back to help attach the cover back onto the book. Ready for gluing. #bookconservation #doublefanadhesivebinding #japanesepaper #bookrepair #torontobookarts
I was so happy to visit @flycatcherpress and see t I was so happy to visit @flycatcherpress and see the new studio today. Such a lovely space, great light, and so many presses. Plus a well stocked retail space in front. If you’re in Toronto, you should drop by for some supplies, art, or take a workshop. I have serious studio envy. #letterpress #silkscreen #printmakingsupplies #newstudio #canadianletterpress
Getting as much done as I can before the holidays. Getting as much done as I can before the holidays. These two books are getting their new spines attached to the book. The new material gets sandwiched between the original covering  material and the board. #bookconservation #bookrepair #reback #newspine #torontobookarts
Sure, all that tape helps the parts of the book to Sure, all that tape helps the parts of the book together, but it’s a bear taking it all off. Removing the carrier and adhesive is important first the long term conditions of the paper. So off it goes, inch by inch. #bookconservation #bookrepair #taperemoval #tapeisevil #torontobookarts
This wedding album is getting a new cover, so we h This wedding album is getting a new cover, so we have to get the old one off the book. Luckily the endsheet is coming away from the boards without too much trouble. Next I can start working on the new leather cover. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #bookarts #leatherboundbook #endpapers
This week I finally got the chance to go see @cons This week I finally got the chance to go see @conservationplusculture and Vincent in the @401richmond building. Vincent recently moved to this lovely space and does amazing paper conservation projects in Toronto. I have a little studio envy, but it was great to saw the lab. Hope to come back soon. #paperconservation #paperconservator #fancystudio #canadianconservator
Covering the boards for one last binding of the ye Covering the boards for one last binding of the year. Gluing the cloth, attaching the boards, and turning in the edges. Soon it will be done and delivered. #bookbinding #bookarts #bookboards #clothbinding #torontobookarts
Today I’m creating an inset in the cover of a book Today I’m creating an inset in the cover of a book. We remove layers of board to create the shape, then it gets wrapped in cloth or leather for the finished board. #bookbinding #bookarts #insetboard #fancybinding #torontobookarts
Today I’m adding the cloth lining to these church Today I’m adding the cloth lining to these church registers. I want to be sure the spine holds up to repeated use and the boards are securely attached. #bookconservation #bookrepair #bookbinding #clothlining #bookarts #torontobookarts
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