Once Upon a Shire – building a book for a community – Part 1.

In November 2014, when a group of ink and paper artists got together to plan a comprehensive community project about the Golden Plains Shire, there were unexpected and delightful results.  The ideas flowed, as we considered how the diversity of the shires history would be reflected in our work.  Everyone agreed that writing and drawing …

Once Upon a Shire – an invitation

Once Upon a Shire,there were six artists and a bookbinder, whose work was inspired by time they spent with the Golden Plains community. Their musings and impressions were laid carefully and deliberately like stones in a dry wall across the hillside - tactile, honest, lasting. The work was bound, so that the wall we built can …

Choosing a book to rebind

I am often asked to rebind favourite stories into volumes worthy of inheritance. Perhaps as a birth gift, a wedding gift, or any number of other wonderfully creative motivations. It is a part of my job that I particularly love, as it is about preparing for the future and showing your family how much stories …

Leopold Bloom gets a new suit – the rebinding of ‘Ulysses’

Rodney came to my bindery with a project:"Here is a new copy of Ulysses - my favourite book. I killed the last one and I want this one to last, and to be a bit special. I think I want to torture my children with the challenge to read it, like my father did to me …