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!

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!

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Experience

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  After almost a decade dedicated to her passion for art collecting, Gardner opened her museum in 1903 in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood; she insisted to her architect that the building be built to her exact specifications. Upon entering the museum, patrons are almost immediately transported to an extravagant 15^th Century Venetian style villa. The first floor contains a breathtaking courtyard and garden, complete with fountains and a tile mosaic floor.

The Museum's preeminent collection contains more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, manuscripts, rare books and decorative arts; Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler and Sargent are just some of the artists whose works are featured.  If you’ve heard of the Gardner Museum before, it may be due to the fact that one of the most famous art heists in history took place there. On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as Boston Police Officers entered the museum and stole thirteen works of art, including three Rembrandt works and a Vermeer painting. In the Dutch Room of the building, there are beautifully ornate, gilded and empty frames left to symbolize the artworks, which have never been recovered.

Perhaps my favorite items included in the collection were the rare books, particularly the ones that I found to be a bit, shall we say, stylistically familiar. Take a look!

Commisione of Doge Cristoforo Moro to Domenico Diedo as procurator of St. Mark, 1464, and our Paperblanks Gutenberg Bible Parabole Journal.

Commisione of Doge Francesco Donato to Girolamo Morosini as Captain of Brescia, 1547, and our Della Fattoria Leather Photo Album.

Commissione of Doge Giovanni II Cornaro to Giovanni Bollani as Podestà of Chioggia, 1718, and our Jumbo Nettuno Leather Journal.

Overall, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has quite a collection. The walk along the line between genius and eccentricity varies between delicate tip-toeing and raucous marching, which proves for a truly unique and amazing experience. If you’re in Boston and you’d like to visit the museum, check out their website,  http://www.gardnermuseum.org.

For a closer look at the items Jenni Bick Bookbinding carries that are inspired by such works, check out our Leather Photo Albums, Leather Journals, and Paperblanks Journals.

Museum photos via.

the truth behind Happy Mail

Our office email has a folder titled "happy mail!" We know it can be scary to order on the internet, and we strive to always exceed our customers' expectations, so we're really thrilled when customers take the time to write and us know about their experience shopping with us. 

This week, a truly beautiful piece of happy mail arrived via snail mail from a loyal and sweet customer, Pam. Take a look.

We also recently remodeled our staircase a la the family photo style by framing some of our favorite messages. 

We care very deeply about our customers' happiness, and these little reminders definitely keep our office a happy one.

Meet the JB Crew - Jen Talks about Journaling

What is your name and what do you do at JenniBick.com?

My name is Jen Dunham.  I prepare and pack all our shipments and get them on the way to customers.

What's your favorite product we sell, and why?

I like the One of a Kind Machu Picchu Leather Journal.  I like the color combination grey/blue and I like the name- it just sort of rolls off the tongue.  I like it cause I can use it for writing or placing photo's (with photo corners) or both, to an extent, but mostly for writing. And I like the ribbon wrap tie to keep my writings private.

Do you keep a journal? Can you share a bit about how you journal?

I've kept a journal since I was very small, almost since I learned how to write. Some years ago I published a book of my own poetry.  All of the poems I found in all of the different journals I've kept over the years.  I have many journals all in various stages of fill.  I usually alternate journals when I write to keep things interesting.  I use one small one that I usually carry for just little thoughts.  I have one that I use for really stressful days that I swear in or YELL!  And I use another for everyday ramblings.  It sort of fits my life like a puzzle.

Would you like to share a poem of yours? 

Off in the distance a fog horn wailed
Echoing the empty feeling I felt
Yet so comforting in its moaning.

Off in the distance a fog horn wailed
Guiding me home.
Welcoming me back to where my life began.
 
Off in the distance a fog horn wailed
Familiar, sweet sounds
Signaling I'm home once again
Warm, safe, and no longer empty.  

Nice day for a black&white wedding!

You may or may not know that we here at Jenni Bick Bookbinding contribute to our fair share of weddings by helping brides, grooms, and all of the above pick out wedding guest books & photo albums from our selection. This past weekend, one of our own tied the knot. It was a pretty amazing day here on Martha's Vineyard.

So here's to Laura and Brooke!

 

If you're in need of a wedding guest book, album, present, etc., take a gander at Jenni's designs on our Personalized Wedding Guest Books & Albums page. 

photograph courtesy of Katie Pietrowski Photography.