Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books
by Mary Kaye Seckler
List Price:
Our Price: $15.90
You Save: $1.09 (6%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $14.90 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Mary Kaye SecklerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-01
ISBN: 1574215302
Number of pages: 51
Publisher: Design Originals
Book Reviews of Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books
Book Review: A plethora of ideas
Summary: 4 Stars
Ever since I turned from journal connoisseur to journal maker, I've been trying to find those rare books that teach me how to make interesting styles of books without the technical jargon and confusing stereo instructions written in some language requiring babel fish to decode.
I prefer reading instructional art books that contain numeric step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures. After reading a few books in the stores on the subject and finding that most of them seemed to be written in that stuffy, old, college text book style with vary little pictures to reference, I was glad to find this little gem.
Book Arts follows a project structure, meaning that it doesn't spend too much time on the history or rhetoric of bookbinding. Seckler drops you right into the process by quickly going over a few common terms (in list format, similar to my first introduction article) and giving you a general overview of common tools used in the process. After these 3 brief pages of introduction, she starts right on on the first project. There are a total of 12 different book projects, utilizing a few different types of binding techniques, ranging from easy (the first project is a no sew) to hard (two needle Coptic stitch binding). By name, these books are:
* Memories of Paris (no sew)
* Atlas' Secret Pages
* Tag Flag Book
* Chinese Star Book
* Asian Serenity Book
* Sewing Over Tapes
* Long Tail Sally
* Raven's Foot Binding
* Geisha's Hideaway
* Serengeti Piano Hinge
* Two-needle Coptic Stitch Book
* French Tunnel Vision Book
So what makes this book so much better than many others? Well, for starters, it meets my top 2 criteria for instructional art books. The book is printed on glossy, full color paper and includes more than ample pictures and samples of hand made art books using the instructions within. Each project gives a complete materials list as well as easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions (some numeric and others not) that help you create the featured book from scratch. She also includes any corresponding templates for many of the binding projects. Seckler wrote the book in plain, friendly English and she offers many friendly suggestions while you attempt the projects. Depending on what my mood is, I can create a simple project and be done within a few hours or spent a lot more time on a more complex project.
My favorite projects in Book Arts include the Asian Serenity and the Piano Hinge Books. I also enjoy the no sew book as it's one of the nicer hard-bound book projects that doesn't require sewing with needles and a steady hand. On a side note, a great thing to do and use for the piano hinge books are chopsticks. They make perfect binding sticks! I'll frequently go to Chinese restaurants and horde everyone's chopsticks so that I can use them as the sticks that get bound into the piano hinge books.
Another big benefit to this book is its reasonable price. At $16.95 USD, it gives you a broad and artistic look at how to make several different styles of books with minimum knowledge and tools. Doug and I were talking the other day about how some books out there are written in such a way that they expect you to have nothing but the best tools and the most expensive leathers or materials to put into your books, not to mention the time and dedication needed to make such a tome. With Book Arts, you can start creating your own books with tools and materials that fit within your own budget.
I will admit that this book is geared to the art crowd, so many of the projects may look and feel a bit more artistic or "different" than your average everyday journal. But don't let that turn you away from looking at the book for what it is, an instructional device that gives you a quick overview of all the different types of books you can make and how personalized creating these books has become. The projects are standard enough that you can select the materials that you want to use to make each of your books personalized; you can either tone it down or spice it up, however you desire.
[...]
Summary of Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books
The term 'book arts' is used to describe handcrafted books of all types. When we think of books, the standard case binding is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Those are the books that you find in libraries and book stores everywhere. They have a charm and richness all their own. This book is a must for everyone who loves the creativity of paper. Learn how to make books from scratch with this "how-to" guide and idea book. The binding process is broken down into simple terms with an abundance of clear illustrations and diagrams. All the most popular bindings are featured... piano hinge and accordion, stab binding, concertina and more! Ingenious closures, beads, papers, and personal treasures highlight every project. The book arts world is waiting for your creativity, so let it fly!Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Book Arts Supplies
Marbling on Paper Using Oil Paintsby Anne Chambers
Search Press; Published: 1993-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.92
Marbling Techniques: How to Create Traditional and Contemporary Designs on Paper and Fabric (Practical Craft Books)by Wendy Addison Medeiros
Watson-Guptill Publications; Published: 1994-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $173.71
How to Marbleize Paper: Step-by-Step Instructions for 12 Traditional Patterns (Other Paper Crafts)by Gabriele Grunebaum
Dover Publications; Published: 1984-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.14
Price in other shops:
The Ultimate Marbling Handbook: A Guide to Basic and Advanced Techniques for Marbling Paper and Fabric (Watson-Guptill Crafts)by Diane Maurer-Mathison
Watson-Guptill; Published: 1999-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $130.00
Creating Handmade Booksby Alisa Golden
Sterling; Published: 2000-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.66
Price in other shops:
Expressive Handmade Booksby Alisa Golden
Sterling; Published: 2006-01-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.89
Price in other shops:
Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Booksby Mary Kaye Seckler
Design Originals; Published: 2004-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.95
Price in other shops:
The Penland Book of Handmade Books: Master Classes in Bookmaking Techniquesby Lark
Lark Books; Published: 2004-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.74
Price in other shops:
500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form (500 Series)by Lark
Lark Books; Published: 2008-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.36
Price in other shops:
How to Open a Business Writing and Publishing Memoirs, Gift Books, or Success Stories for Clients: Make Hand-Crafted Personalized Historyby Anne Hart
ASJA Press; Published: 2005-12-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.80
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Making Books by Hand: A Step-by-Step Guideby Mary McCarthy, Phillip Manna
Quarry Books; Published: 2000-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
The Book as Art: Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Artsby Krystyna Wasserman, Johanna Drucker, Audrey Niffenegger
Princeton Architectural Press; Published: 2006-10-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $34.60
Price in other shops:
Japanese Bookbinding: Instructions From A Master Craftsmanby Kojiro Ikegami
Weatherhill; Published: 1986-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Pockets, Pull-outs, and Hiding Places: Interactive Elements for Altered Books, Memory Art, and Collageby Jenn Mason
Quarry Books; Published: 2005-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Expressive Handmade Booksby Alisa Golden
Sterling; Published: 2007-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
Books Unboundby Michael Jacobs
North Light Books; Published: 2006-02-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form (500 Series)by Lark
Lark Books; Published: 2008-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.62
Price in other shops:
Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instructionby Aldren A. Watson
Dover Publications; Published: 1996-07-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.09
Price in other shops:
More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objectsby Peter Thomas, Donna Thomas
Quarry Books; Published: 2004-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.25
Price in other shops:
Bookworks: Books, Memory and Photo Albums, Journals and Diaries Made by Handby Sue Doggett
Watson-Guptill; Published: 1998-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.45
Price in other shops: