Since then I completed two correspondence courses through the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild and worked with Christine Carr who established Cambria Craft Bindery in Nelson in 1994. As a fully qualified bookbinder, Christine has taught me many aspects of commercial bookbinding, book restoration and repair work. This training and experience have enabled me to take over Cambria Craft Bindery now that she has retired and to offer the same high quality and reliable service to our customers in Nelson city and across the Tasman and Marlborough regions. I am also a member of the Association of Book Crafts which offers invaluable advice, excellent resources, access to specialist materials and peer support. |
HANDS-ON
The bookbinder's craft requires a wonderful diversity of skills. These include preparing or mending the folds of paper that will make up the book; sewing the folds together using a specifically chosen stitch or resewing broken stitching; cleaning, gluing and rounding the spine; sewing end-bands using silk threads that complement the overall design; replacing and matching broken endpapers; matching a new spine to the old covers or designing a new cover according to specific requirements.
While each of these processes demands a lot of repetition and practice to perfect, each also lends itself to a wealth of creative exploration. I enjoy using a range of materials, different bookbinding constructions and sewing techniques, digital graphics software and my own drawings to create unique books that are strong, serviceable and aesthetically appealing.
The bookbinder's craft requires a wonderful diversity of skills. These include preparing or mending the folds of paper that will make up the book; sewing the folds together using a specifically chosen stitch or resewing broken stitching; cleaning, gluing and rounding the spine; sewing end-bands using silk threads that complement the overall design; replacing and matching broken endpapers; matching a new spine to the old covers or designing a new cover according to specific requirements.
While each of these processes demands a lot of repetition and practice to perfect, each also lends itself to a wealth of creative exploration. I enjoy using a range of materials, different bookbinding constructions and sewing techniques, digital graphics software and my own drawings to create unique books that are strong, serviceable and aesthetically appealing.