When The Student Is Ready…The Teacher Will Come

In my case this Buddhist Proverb couldn’t be more timely…

1.  I came across a book binder on YouTube that put together awesome instructional videos of various book binding and case making techniques  http://www.youtube.com/user/Ceropegia?feature=watch.
Sage Reynolds, the book binder, has an impressive list of videos, take a look.  While I knew (or have seen in the books I own) the processes for making most of the books and cases in his videos I’ve learned techniques, from his videos, on how to make them more efficiently and cleanly.

2.  My friend Tom let me borrow his precious, beautiful, leather bound antique book dated 1866.  Actually, I’ve had it for a couple months.  As a thank you, and in line with my quest to get more familiar with binding and box making techniques, I’m going to make a Slip Case for the book.  As luck would have it I came across a gorgeous piece of burgundy Italian leather that would be perfect to cover the Slip Case.   Now I need to learn how to work with tanned leather 😉

I’ve done a good job with Slip Case’s in the past but I’ve never covered one in leather.  The books in my possession didn’t have Slip Case instructions using leather.  I turned to the Internet and for the 2nd time in two days the Buddhist Proverb applied to my journey.

I found the Papercut Bindery blog by Roger Grech  http://papercutbindery.blogspot.com/.  He has generously blogged his process of creating a leather bound book. From #1 Choosing the Paper – to the latest installment #8 Paring the Leather.  It’s not a Slip Case – which is OK because I can make and cover a Slip Case.  He goes into detail in paring the leather.  Roger’s photographs and writing do a very good job to illustrate his process.

His blog makes me think I can make a large leather bound book like his.  If I can get away from making boxes (I love to build boxes) I might give this a shot before I go my class at Arrowmont.  It will give me some practice.

Cloth Covered Slip Case for a Vintage 1950 Montgomery Ward Catalog

It wasn’t difficult getting the stripes to align at the head and tail. The question is – how do I get leather to look as seamless?