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!

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!

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.

Spotted in O Magazine: MyWalit!

One of O Magazine's top trends for fall? Color blocking. It's the mixing of chunks of bold colors, and it's all the rage this autumn. What better way to start than your wallet - MyWalit that is. Take a look at O Mag's picks below.

We're thrilled to see our line of MyWalit items made the cut over at O. Here's a sampling of some of our MyWalit Leather Wallets and MyWalit Leather Totes, available at Jenni Bick Bookbinding.

Don't be left behind this fall!

 

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.

Wallets: A Timeline

In Ancient Greece, wallets were stocked with provisions - enough so that Ancient Greeks could be seen eating directly out of them. With the increased use of metal as currency, the Renaissance saw wallets take forms conducive to holding coins. They were often leather pouches that attached to one's belt. 

By the time the 19th Century rolled around, wallets were being used to carry everything from dried meat to treasures to items that were not to be exposed. Furthermore, it was considered "semi-civilized" to carry a wallet on your belt and, as such, it was very uncommon. In Spain, wallets were mostly used as cigarette cases at the time.

It was not until the 1950s that wallets took forms similar to those available today. With the introduction of the first credit cards, designers quickly came out with the card slots we are all now familiar with.

With that, we're proud to introduce our line of Pinetti Leather Wallets.

Old world feel. Sleek, modern design.

All of our leather wallets can be found here.

New One of a Kind Leather Journals Posted

We have been busy making up a new batch of one-of-a-kind journals. It's an explosion of color! Priced to move fast, at 25% off. Starting at $18.75.

Jenni's Original One of a Kind Leather Journals

Get yours at Jenni Bick Bookbinding: Jenni's Original Leather Journals

Hooray! Cavallini 2012 Leather Planners are On The Way

 The ever-popular leather daily planners from Cavallini are back for 2012. What a great way to keep track of daily appointments in style!

These agendas are handsome and durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. Our shipment of 2012 Cavallini planners is on the way, and we expect to begin shipping on August 1st. Place your pre-order now and get free shipping!

 
Free Shipping on Pre-Orders for 2011 Cavallini Planners!

Free Shipping on Pre-Orders for 2011 Cavallini Planners!