Celtic Braid Journal

[GatzBcn]

Hi!!

 

Some of you may know I am a bookbinder. The thing is as a bookbinder I realize there are so many different styles out there in the world. For this reason, I introduced Creative Friday. In these Fridays I try things I have never done before.

 

Today I'd like to show you the results of last weeks Creative Friday: Celtic braid journal. I used a tutorial by Manuel Valero which can be found here: http://reinoartesanal.blogspot.com.es/2014/02/variacion-del-trenzado-celta.html . I only made a braid, unlike Manuel, who made two. The tutorial is in Spanish, however, Manuel takes many, many pictures so even if you don't know Spanish I am sure you can follow with just the photos.

 

First, the signatures with the covers I made. I blind printed an arabesc on the cover. Also, you can see my book of tutorials. I printed all of Valero's tutorials and bound them to check them every now and then, since I don't have my computer on my workshop and it would be very annoying to go upstairs-downstairs everytime I wanted to check the next step.

 

Then you can see the covers with the papers and the holes. Everything ready to sew! I went fast for all the cover making process, because it is the same everytime and the interesting part, for me, was the sewing.

 

First step of sewing.

 

Half sewing.

 

And the final results.

 

I am not entirely happy with the results. The binding is quite weak, specially in the last signature, but I think it can be solved in the future. I also think the braid might have looked better if there had been a longer separation between the points, noted reference for the future.

 

Thanks for reading!!

 

Anna J. Bach

[Thuja]

Hi and my first post here by the way. I'm a binder and also a book conservator from Finland. Thank you for the link, interesting tutorials.

 

Your book is absolutely beautiful but I would like to make a couple of suggestions if I may to make it more solid. There would be less room for movement if you made the cover without squares and if you made the cuts smaller the sewing would stay on top of the spine instead of disappearing into the sections.

 

Can't wait to see what you make next!

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

Beautiful!!!

[Yaakova]

Beautiful! The art and craft of bookbinding is one that fascinates me. I love the idea that a work of literature can also be a work of art.

[TMLee]

NICE !

 

Thanks for posting ...

 

I like Celtic motifs - they are just so apt for journal covers ...

 

 

 

 

 

I especially like your embossed emblem (how did you do that?)

 

and

 

the shade of that orange bookcloth .... simply sweet !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must

 

 

 

 

try

 

 

 

 

 

 

this .......

 

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

http://www.bookartsforum.com/index.php?sid=bb166fd5e93b67ff33a15446b9abd782

 

 

this may interest all you wonderful bookbinders ....

[bassmannate]

Oh, now you've done it by showing the way to a whole forum of people who do this.

[GatzBcn]

Hi and my first post here by the way. I'm a binder and also a book conservator from Finland. Thank you for the link, interesting tutorials.

 

Your book is absolutely beautiful but I would like to make a couple of suggestions if I may to make it more solid. There would be less room for movement if you made the cover without squares and if you made the cuts smaller the sewing would stay on top of the spine instead of disappearing into the sections.

 

Can't wait to see what you make next!

 

Hi! Nice to meet you, Thuja!!

 

Thanks for the suggestions!! I just am not sure what do y ou mean by making the covers without squares. What squares are you referring to?

 

I'll be making a post after I reply everyone in this thread, if you'd like to check .

[GatzBcn]

Beautiful!!!

 

 

Beautiful! The art and craft of bookbinding is one that fascinates me. I love the idea that a work of literature can also be a work of art.

 

Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I love the books that combine great literature and great binding! They are a joy in one's hands!!

[GatzBcn]

NICE !

 

Thanks for posting ...

 

I like Celtic motifs - they are just so apt for journal covers ...

 

 

 

 

 

I especially like your embossed emblem (how did you do that?)

 

and

 

the shade of that orange bookcloth .... simply sweet !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must

 

 

 

 

try

 

 

 

 

 

 

this .......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! I have a hot stamping machine, and I bought some stamps and voilà! I just put the stamp under the machine and the cover before sewing and pressed the stamp on the cover.

 

Thanks! I love these motifs too!

[GatzBcn]

http://www.bookartsforum.com/index.php?sid=bb166fd5e93b67ff33a15446b9abd782

 

 

this may interest all you wonderful bookbinders ....

 

Oh, thank you!!

[Thuja]

 

Hi! Nice to meet you, Thuja!!

 

Thanks for the suggestions!! I just am not sure what do y ou mean by making the covers without squares. What squares are you referring to?

 

I'll be making a post after I reply everyone in this thread, if you'd like to check .

 

Squares are the "overhang" part of the cover. So without squares means that the covers are the same size as the text block.