The Silver Rose Bindery

A coptic-stitch binding of Oscar Wilde's novel, using a text from Project Gutenberg.  The front and back are covered in a suede-like paper I found at the craft store, and the stitching is done using silver embroidery floss.  Both front and back covers are embellished with stitchwork called catepillars or centipedes at the top and bottom.

My daughter attended kindergarten at a Catholic school.  When the time came for end of year presents for her teachers, she suggested I make books for them.  I immediately agreed, and started looking through fabric stores.  Because fabric with the right pattern matching the Catholic school's uniforms is difficult to obtain, I sacrificed one of her jumpers to the cause.  Purple ribbon bookmarks completed the look, as purple is her favorite color.

This journal features a cover of light blue, in a pattern reminiscent of leaves.  Endpapers in a pale blue woodcut pattern set off the heavy-weight cream-colored parchment-style paper inside.  A golden ribbon bookmark, with a faux antique-gold bead, is attached at the top of the spine.

This journal features a glimmering cover of golden dragons on a royal blue background, in which an Asian pattern shimmers in the light.  Textured endpapers in gold set off the heavy-weight pale blue parchment-style paper inside.  A golden ribbon bookmark, with a faux antique-gold bead, is attached at the top of the spine.

This journal features s cover of deep green, reminiscent of foliage.  Patterned endpapers in gold set off the heavy-weight tan parchment-style paper inside.  A golden ribbon bookmark, with a faux antique-gold bead, is attached at the top of the spine.

This journal features a cover of blue, in a pattern reminiscent of leaves. Endpapers in a pale blue woodcut pattern set off the heavy-weight cream-colored parchment-style paper inside. A golden ribbon bookmark, with a faux antique-gold bead, is attached at the top of the spine.

Binding custom editions is a much more difficult and time-consuming process.  For those I have done, I've gotten electronic versions of public-domain texts and formatted them using Adobe PageMaker or InDesign.  These documents I then print to PDFs, which I can then laser print onto the appropriate paper.  The individual pages and the signatures must all be kept in exactly the right order during the binding process for the book to come out properly.

I have, on occasion, taken commissions to bind specific types of books.  Some of these have been blank journals with certain types of covers, others have been items such as wedding guest books.

The bulk of the books I've bound have been blank journals.  The covers are done either with fabric or scrapbook papers, and the interiors are usually good-quality resume papers.