Cordbound Bookbinding Workshop

Cordbound Bookbinding Workshop
Length of class time: 6 hours

All materials and a few tools are provided for each student.

Each student will make a traditional quarter leather hardcover book with raised cords, Italian leather spine and paper cover (your choice of printed and handmade papers from around the world).

Tools students need to bring:

*Cutting mat, cutting board or magazine to cut on
*Bonefolder
*Metal Edge Ruler
*Scissors
*Xacto Type Craft Knife
*Pencil

For this class a rotary cutter and clear plastic ruler are helpful. I'll bring mine to share but if you happen to have these useful tools, please bring them.

The style we are learning is the traditional 1/4 leather rounded spine hardcover raised cord book. They date back to the 5th century and were introduced when Byzantium monks established their firstscriptorium, Byblos, in modern Lebanon. The Arabs were the ones to bring this style to life with all sorts of decorative work, gorgeous gold embossing and clasp closures. They still make the most wonderful cordbound books in the world.

Below are a few of the cordbound books that Daniel and I have created in the last year.

8" x 10" Full Leather Cordbound Book

6" x 6" CordBound in Butter Yellow Italian Leather

6" x 6" Purple Cordbound in Purple Italian Leather with 500 pages

Cordbound 12" x 12" Photo Album with Metal Name Plate Inset

Close up of 12 x 12 Cordbound Album with Raised Letters

Two 8" x 10" Photo Albums with Leather Spines and Grey Lokta Covers

8" x 10" Photo Album

1/4 Leather with Black Leather and Peacock Blue Lokta

Cordbound Books with Raised cords all over cover

Curved Cords on Spine instead of traditional straight cords