A Passion For Handmade Books

We don't usually like to brag, but...

We are pretty proud of ourselves this week at JBB. Last Monday, we started a pretty intense project: 300 custom handmade leather journals. The steps of this project looked a little something like this:

1. Tear and fold almost 15,000 sheets of paper into neat 12 page signatures.

2. Cut 300 pieces of leather, from full cowhides to sheets about 7"x18", as well as 300 strap closures.

3. Hole Punch each sheet of leather for binding sticthes.

4. Stitch every book together.

5. Affix each strap, complete with color coordinated stone embellishment.

6. Individually wrap & package each book.

This may not seem like that big of a deal, but did I mention the six of us made all 300 journals in the span of three days, while maintaining our regular business duties? Like I said, we're very proud. Here are some photos of the final products:

Interested in some custom handmade leather journals, or possibly a One of a Kind Leather Journal? Drop us a line about your idea - we love new creative projects!

 

Once upon a giant gift wrap

I'm just going to say it...I have an addiction to gift wrap.

I love to do it, I love to collect it, and I love to learn new techniques of it.  This love has to stem from the early memories I have of going with my mom to those dimly lit Customer Service crevices in department stores that have their in-store gift-wrapping options hanging on the wall.

You know the places I’m talking about.

Even though the end products were never quite right, the shiny paper, assorted ribbon, and silk flowers called to me; I was hooked.

My interest in the topic has only grown since. I often daydream about a home studio that includes this wall:

While my studio does include an unmentionable amount of wrapping paper rolls, ribbon, fancy scissors, and the like, it has yet to turn into the previously pictured oasis.

While working at JBB, I have been fortunate enough to include gift-wrapping in my job description. I like to say that I gift-wrap professionally.  Cue this week’s order for one of our amazing Tiberio Italian Leather Weekend Bags. I was excited to see this order, not only because it is one of my absolute favorite items on the site, but because it also called for gift-wrapping! 

The Challenge: Gift-wrap 1 Tiberio Italian Leather Weekend Bag, dimensions 11” x 17” x 8”. 

The Outcome: Success!

Here’s our Art Director, Alison, with the finished product.

It wasn’t easy, but nothing that’s worth anything ever is! I have to thank the rest of the JB Crew for supporting my undertaking, especially Jen, our shipping manager, who had to then carefully package the gift for shipment.

Be sure to check back next week for some of my gift-wrapping techniques. Happy Friday!

 

 

 

And speaking of book artists..

Every once in awhile, a project comes along that sounds like too much fun to pass up. When a recent customer contacted our art department with the challenge of creating custom distressed leather hand bound books entitled "It Only Takes One,"  for the clothing company Cult of Individuality, we jumped at the chance to produce something beautiful.

You may not know that leather can be naturally distressed (i.e. if a cow had a scar, chances are the scar shows on the leather hide), or it can be distressed by hand. We honestly didn't know how difficult distressing leather would be! We started with this rich and supple charcoal leather.

In order to achieve the right look, our art director Alison went through some rough and tumble with the leather in our gravel parking lot.

This might not be the traditional leather distressing method, but the results were stellar:

Throw in a drill press, hand sewn binding, and French folded pages, and Voilà!

Needless to say, we were all very proud of the art department when the books were finished.

If you are in need of a custom leather book, or you're looking for some other examples of Distressed Leather Journals or Photo Albums, give us a buzz. We can't take on every custom project, but we're happy to listen and as always, happy to help!

Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!

Two-hundred years ago today, Charles Dickens was born. We'd like to join in with Google in wishing him a happy happy birthday! Check out their homage to Dickens and his wonderful characters.

Famous for works such as The Adventures of Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and my personal favorite, A Christmas Carol, the world has Dickens to thank for some of the best works to come from the Victorian Era.

There are various tributes to Dickens still alive and well today. A family tradition of mine as a child was attending Dickens on the Strand every first weekend of December near where I grew up in Galveston, Texas. Many festival volunteers and patrons dress up in traditional Victorian costumes for the event (yes, I did it. I was a kid, and you got in for free!). Bobbies, Beefeaters and the "Queen" herself are on hand to recreate the Victorian London of Charles Dickens, right down to the horse-drawn carriages and scotch eggs. It's really quite a treat.

We have our own tribute to Dickens here at Jenni Bick. We're happy to offer a Dickens Our Mutual Friend Leather Look Journal as part of our Paperblanks Embellished Manuscripts Collection. 

Perhaps it's the perfect journal for getting started on your next great masterpiece; You never know!

Book Artists are alive and well

They live everywhere. They work with a set of utensils that, to the unknowing eye, appear to be unusual torture tools. They're book artists, and there may even be one living in your neighborhood.

Some book artists specialize in one of a kind books, while others produce small editions. Ranging from "objects" to scrolls to printed & bound editions, the art of the book has been around for some time. Experts on the subject credit English poet & artist William Blake with the origin of the form. Together with his with Catherine, Black wrote, illustrated, colored and bound his pieces, and in addition to inspiring potential book artists everywhere, he integrated the world of self-publishing & self-distributing with the world of text, imagery, and art form.

Book artists today work with many different materials, styles, techniques, and purposes. Because we're such fans of journals, and of excellent craftsmanship, here are a couple of book artists making beautiful pieces, and giving all of us bookbinders a good name.

photos courtesy of Teo Studio

photos courtesy of Serena Olivieri

 

As for us, we're happy we get the chance to create One of a Kind Leather Journals, as well as Leather Photo Albums, Fine Leather Wallets & Accessories, and the like, every day. We even carry a collection dedicated to the father of book arts himself; view our William Morris Paperblanks Journals.

 

Big thanks to Etsy & Design*Sponge for bringing these talented artists to our attention!

There's nothing quite like a real book.

We couldn't agree more. This video, made by an ambitious couple in Toronto's TYPE Bookstore, provides a particularly charming glimpse into the secret lives of books. Enjoy!

 

 

What's your resolution?

  Happy New Year! Although some cringe at the thought of the new year, with its new obstacles, new responsibilities, and of course, the dreaded resolutions, I really love this time of year. The promise of new beginnings, new adventures, and most of all a fresh start are just plain exciting.

  If you're the kind that writes your resolutions with a shaky hand, fear not! We've found a list of seven pointers for setting and keeping your resolutions, courtesy of author Margie Warrell and Forbes Magazine.

 

1. Connect to Core Values. Go beyond superficial desires and connect with your deepest values.

2. Be Specific. Describe your resolutions in ways that allow you to track your progress and measure your success.

3. Design a Supportive Environment. Your environment can be a powerful source of support. Design it so it's hard NOT to do what you resolved.

4. Focus on one major resolution at a time. You have the rest of the year to pursue these goals and changes. Set yourself up for success and start with one.

5. View failures as temporary setbacks. Social conditioning often seems to lead us to believe that if you fail you should go home and never venture out again. Saddle up and climb back on your horse!

6. Focus on the process. Psychologists have found that it takes at least 30 days to establish a new habit of thought or behavior. If you stick with the process and embrace the learning that process entails, you will meet with success.

7. Do one thing every day. Make a commitment that every single day you will do one thing in the direction of your vision. While some actions may not seem significant, any action that serves your greatest good sends a message to your sub-conscious that you are still in the game, and that change is still in progress.

 

  Hopefully now you're feeling a bit more confident about the next 12 months. And what better way to keep track of your progress than with a brand new 2012 planner? Our stock is selling quickly, so don't hesitate - view all of our 2012 Planners & Agendas now, before it's too late!

Happy 2012!

Orange is the new black

In honor of Pantone's Color of the Year for 2012 winner, Tangerine Tango, we present some of our favorite bright & cheery orange items. I have to say that we have noticed a rise in orange items lately...I think Pantone is definitely onto something.

Luxury Desk Thesaurus in Crocodile Embossed Leather

Colori Italian Leather Refillable Journal

Pinetti Vintage Leather Photo Album

 

Congratulations again to Tangerine Tango - if you'd like more information on Pantone, check out their website. 

As always, all of our leather journals, leather photo albums, and Leather specialty books are available at Jenni Bick Bookbinding.

Look at these cute little guys!

Check out Moleskine's new line of palm-sized notebooks - don't you just want to eat them up?

Fun, festive colors and aptly sized for stocking-stuffing, just in time for the holidays!

All of the characteristics you already love about Moleskine Notebooks, in an adorable little package.

Stumped on what to get for your office buddies, your wedding party, or all of those cousins? These notebooks are economical and can be personalized with individual names!

Want to win a tiny personalized Moleskine of your own? Our friend over at No Pen Intended is currently sponsoring a giveaway for four lucky winners. Head over there to enter, and tell your friends!

 

Personalized Moleskine Notebooks and Retro 51 Pens are always available at Jenni Bick Bookbinding and Moleskine And More.

Malcolm Gladwell: Collected

Spotted this morning on TheDieline.com, a beautifully produced set of Malcolm Gladwell's works, Malcolm Gladwell, Collected. The set is bound in beautiful oatmeal linen, screenprinted, lavishly illustrated, and housed together as a box set in a lovely matching slipcase.

It's a blend of some of my favorite things! Great design, innovative book design, and Malcolm Gladwell's writing. 

Great work! by designer  Paul Sahre and illustrator Brian Rea

Buy it on Amazon