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Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild

To promote and exhibit the art of the hand-bound book.

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild
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Creating a Medieval Binding – 12 Nov

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 06/11/2022 by CCBG06/11/2022

When: Saturday  12 November 2022, 9.30am – 12.30pm Where: Room 3, (COTA) Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT.   Over the next four or so “Saturday Meetings” we will be exploring the binding structures of a Medieval book. By physically reconstructing the … Continue reading →

Taking a book apart – 10 Sept

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 04/09/2022 by CCBG04/09/2022

At our next meeting with Chris we will be taking the binding of a book (s) apart which is called ‘Pulling’.

When: Saturday  10 Sept 2022, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Where: Room 3, (COTA) Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT.

 

 

 

 

 

Pulling books – taking the binding apart

One source of books to bind is old books pulled apart.

The best books to start with are ones that are section-sewn and hollow back case bound (you can see the ends of the sections and can see light down between the spine covering and the bookblock when you open the book out).

Also good are paperback books that are section-sewn with a glued paper spine (such as pre-1960s Penguins), ideally where the glue is starting to crack apart. Some section-sewn paperbacks have old cracking glue and can be gently scraped clean; more recent books are hot glued on the spine, but most of these are single sheet. Removing the hot glue is possible but not as easy as older glues, and single sheets are rarely as good to bind as sections.

Book sources:  bookshelves; little street libraries; Lifeline and other book fairs; second hand bookshops.

What to bring:

  • A book or two or three to pull apart in preparation for binding
  • Your bookbinding kit
  • Bone folder
  • Retractable sharp knife with snap off blades
  • Boot knife or kitchen bread and butter knife with straight edge to be used for scraping
  • Cutting mat
  • Fine pencil and notebook
  • Camera/phone to take images

 

During the morning we will explore:

  • Extracting the book from its case by cutting or detaching the tapes or cords from the cover
  • Scraping off the spine linings either dry or dampened
  • Cutting threads
  • Gently pulling apart sections that are tipped together
  • Endpapers

 

Look forward to seeing you all there with your books!

Make a ‘Ten Minute’ Slipcase – 9 July

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 01/07/2022 by CCBG01/07/2022

At our next meeting Chris will introduce slipcases and chemises.

When: Saturday  9 July 2022, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Where: Room 3, (COTA) Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT.

 

 

 

 

‘Ten Minute Slipcase’  – Make your own slipcase. It is quick to make, but takes 40 minutes or more to allow for accurate measuring and cutting.

What to bring:

  • A bound book (hand bound or commercial) width 160mm or less
  • Your bookbinding kit
  • Bone folder
  • Metal ruler
  • Retractable sharp knife with snap off blades
  • Cutting mat
  • Fine pencil and notebook
  • Big scissors
  • Dividers if you have them
  • Camera/phone to take images

 

All other equipment and materials will be supplied including card, PVA, rollers, paper strips for measuring. A few dividers will be available for sale.

During the morning we will explore:

  • What is a slipcase ?
  • Why do you want a slipcase ?
  •  A slipcase within a slipcase.
  • Adding a ribbon to the slipcase design.

 

Show and Tell – We will also show and chat about other loose coverings for books such as chemises, wrappers and boxes – Please bring some to show if you have them.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Guild 22 – Exhibition entry details for members

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 25/06/2022 by CCBG25/06/2022

The CCBG Committee is so pleased to announce the entry details for Guild 22, our members only exhibition to be held Mezzanine level of the Civic Library in Canberra.

Find all the information on the website under Events and news. Deadline for entries 11 August 2022.

Image of a few of the 44 works in Guild 19 taken during ‘bump in’.

Guild 2020 we learnt how to use YouTube to showcase our members works to everyone. CCBG Guild 2020 exhibition – YouTube

Creating your own book cloth using fabric

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 23/06/2022 by CCBG23/06/2022

At CCBG meeting on 14th May we were treated to a fun morning of instruction into the old technique but still popular today of creating your own book cloth with Nicky.

So not able to find papers to your liking for your bookbinding ? Making your own book cloth using fabric could be the answer.

 

 

 

Here is the technique used.

Materials:

  • Japanese Washi paper approx. 60gsm was used on the day. This paper is extremely pliable and strong. This was used on the day and proved to be very cooperative. Your piece of backing paper has to be a bit larger than the fabric so it can stick down to stabilize the cloth in the drying process. Check the direction of the grain of the paper before starting. Note: If a heavier book cloth is required a good quality cartridge paper with no glossy finish can be used.
  • Material of choice – Nicky decided to demonstrate using silk to make her book cloth.
  • Choose one of these for the board glass or perspex sheet, or use the back of your cutting mat if it’s clean to lay fabric on to dry (possibly overnight).
  • Plastic sheet to lay the paper on to apply the paste.
  • Wide Flat Brush to apply the paste.
  • Roller – sponge or use lino print roller.

 

Book cloth paste recipe:

If you are not going to use all the paste at once, sterilise the storage jars you will be using and put in the fridge. The paste will last about a week in the fridge, don’t use it once it starts to smell fruity. Dispose in the compost and NOT down the sink of course!

Use 1 to 6 ratio of flour  to water.

Gradually add the water to the flour, first making a paste to reduce the chances of lumps and then continue gradually mixing in the remaining water.

Gradually cook the mixture, stirring it all the time until it is the consistency of mayonnaise. Ensure there are no lumps if there are use a sieve and filter them out before use.

Steps:

  1. Iron fabric thoroughly removing all creases. Place face down onto the dry board making sure there are no threads in the way.
  2. Use a squirt bottle with a fine spray to dampen the fabric, this sticks it to the glass, it swells the fibres of the cloth to help the paste bond.
  3. Place paper onto a piece of plastic that can be washed off.
  4. Apply paste to the paper spreading out evenly – first with a brush and then with a sponge roller.
  5. You can do this step by yourself by laying the pasted paper over a length of dowel. We however helped each other by holding the four corners of the pasted paper then laying it on the fabric from the middle slowly working out to the ends. Then from the centre of the work with a lino print roller and very gentle pressure, smooth the paste into the fibres of the fabric, ensuring the papers edges are also pasted to the board.
  6. Make sure that all of the fabric has been rolled out with no creases or dry spaces.
  7. Leave to dry on the board.
  8. Remove dried cloth off the board. Carefully easing off the corners of the paper using a blade, to safely lift the corners.

Make your own bookcloth – 14 May

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 04/05/2022 by CCBG04/05/2022

At our next meeting we will discuss, demonstrate and make our own bookcloth.

When: Saturday 14 May 2022, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Where: Room 3, (COTA) Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT.

 

 

 

 

Make your own Bookcloth

What to bring:

  • Your bookbinding kit
  • Fabric closely woven 100% cotton (we will be making up to A3 size)
  • Cutting mat to keep your bookcloth flat to take home as it will be damp
  • Pencil and notebook
  • Scissors and/or cutting knife
  • Apron to protect your clothes
  • Camera/phone to take images

All other equipment and materials will be supplied including paper, rollers, paste etc

During the morning we will explore these questions:

  • Why make your own bookcloth ?
  • What are suitable fabrics ?
  •  What would be ways to use the bookcloth ?

 

Show and Tell – Please bring along examples of books and boxes (completed and/or under construction) where you have used fabric.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Miniatures/small books – 12 March 2022

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 08/03/2022 by CCBG08/03/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For our first Saturday morning meeting for 2022. We are starting off small.

When: Saturday 12 March 9.30am to 12.30pm

Where: Room 3, (COTA) Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT.

Miniatures – the enchantment of small books

First up we will be exploring these questions.

    • Why would you make a miniature/small book ?
    • What is different about making miniature books ?
    • Are there different binding styles that suit miniatures better than a larger book?

 

Show and Tell – Please bring along examples (completed and/or under construction) of the small things you like to bind.

Activity: materials will be provided for the wee book we will make together with Nicky and Vicki.

What to bring Your bookbinding kit

Look forward to seeing you all there!

 

 

Case Binding 26 March- workshop Full, reserve list

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild

Saturday 26 March 2022

9.30am – 4.30pm

Members $70         Non-Members $110

More info …

Intro to Bookbinding 10 July – workshop Full, reserve list

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 02/06/2021 by CCBG12/06/2021

Saturday 10 July 2021

9.30am – 4.30pm

Members $60         Non-Members $100

More info …

Suminagashi – 8 May 2021

Canberra Craft Bookbinders' Guild Posted on 27/04/2021 by CCBG27/04/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When: Saturday 8 May 2021, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Where: Room 3 Hughes Community Centre, Hughes, ACT

Vicki, Ros and Nicky will demonstrate Suminagashi, also known as Japanese marbling.

A technique of decorating papers that has been practised in Japan for centuries.

Like a meandering stream or a feather floating on a gentle breeze, we will let nature form the patterns.

Use as end papers, book covers or  backgrounds for printing.

Materials  provided for people to try this technique.

What to bring

  • Container to put damp papers in to take home
  • Pencil, pad and camera to take notes

 

See you all for a relaxing morning of Suminagashi.

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