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Handmade Books

**The Witness (Structure: Piano Hinge)**
This piano hinge structure is actually a paper hinge constructed for a nail to slide into. The nail can be removed and the entire text block unfolded to view the picture hidden inside. Text block is cardstock printed on inkjet printer. Cover is handmade paper over cardboard.	The Witness Cover	The Witness Spine
The Witness Pages	The Witness Pin Removed	The Witness Unfolded

**Finding Home (Theme: House and Home)**
Stab Bound book has wordless pages which are a series of illustrations that lead from the galaxy to the heart of the home	Finding Home Cover	Finding Home Interior

**Cassett-o-pedia (Theme: Surprise - Do Something Unexpected)**
This signature book is mounted inside a real cassette case. The text is printed on text-weight paper. Content is an abcdeary of humorous musical terminology.	Case and Cassette	Cassette Opened

**Unlocking Your Memory: You Hold the Key (Theme: Memories)**
Hardbound signature book printed on text-weight orange paper. Cover illustration uses inkjet iron-on transfer applied to cotton fabric. Content is a collection of mneumonic devices useful for remembering a variety of things. Hole drilled through cover and pages allows installation of a padlock. Key is tied to a ribbon bookmark glued into the spine.	Memories Cover with padlock	Memories opened

**Snow Bound(Structure: Out of Shape - Non-Square or Rectangular**
Copper paper over foam-core is the medium used to frame a half-dome 'snowglobe' with real water and 'snow' mounted in the front cover. When the cover is lifted, scenes on comb-bound pages can be flipped to make the scenery change in the 'snowglobe'.	Cover frames a snowglobe	Showing how pages flip to show various scenes

**GenealoTree (Theme: It's a Game)**
This original game is constructed in accordion-book fashion on a base of foam-core covered with scrapbook papers. When unfolded it creates a gameboard with boxes of cards, a coin to flip and buttons as player pieces	GenealoTree an original game	With pages opened. .

**Tell Me About Yourself (Structure: Goodbye to Glue - No adhesives allowed**
Features wallpaper covers folded like textbook slipcovers from schooldays. Lined with tagboard. Signatures were sewn on sewing machine. A ribbon threaded through a long stitch is pulled back through slits in the cover and tied. Content is a series of 'storystarters' with lines for the owner to complete the thoughts.	Cover view	Interior view

**If Pigs Could Fly (Theme: If...)**
Sewn signatures of cardstock are inset into covers made of matboard. A fabric spine is glued to the outside. This is an original poem made as a children's picturebook illustrated in physical and digital collage. The original illustrations were duplicated on a color-copier.	Cover and Interior views	Click here to read text

**Scroll (Theme: Books In Time - Use a Historic Structure))**
A 1 inch dowel with wooden endcaps is the base for this double-leaf scroll. A decorative paper is the 'cover'. The 'page' is parchment run through the inkjet and immediately sprinkled with gold embossing powder which was then set with a heatgun.	Views with scroll wrapped and tied	Views of scroll opened

**Where in the World (Theme: Through the Window)**
This accordion book of heavyweight paper is encased in covers of scrapbook paper over cardboard. The pages each features a scene viewed through a mylar window. The window rubber stamp was handcarved for this purpose.	Cover view	Interior view

**Self-Preservation (Structure: Wrap-it-up - Enclose Your Book in a Container)**
A standard pint canning jar is lined with purple celeophane and a strip of wallpaper border printed with fruits. The book is an accordion of letter-shaped pages, each of which contains an item that one might preserve in the home kitchen. The original books were vacuum sealed so the first 'reader' had to pry open the lid.	Closed Jar view	Jar spilling out its contents

**Golden Opportunity (Theme: All That Glitters)**
A Japanese stab-bound book of gold fabric over cardboard. Pages are text-weight paper printed on inkjet.	Cover and Interior views

**Now Showing (Structure: Pop-ups)**
A Pop-up stage mounted in matboard covers is the centerpiece of this book. A 'Gibson Girl' is permanently resident on stage. Envelopes contain 'leading men' who can come out to star in "Phantom of the Opera", "My Fair Lady", "Beauty and the Beast", "Gone with the Wind", "Cinderella", and "The King and I".	Cover view	Interior view with "Rhett" onstage

**Whatta Lotta Watta (Theme: Water, Water Everywhere)**
This is a comb-bound book mounted in a fabric-covered case-binding. The pages of doubled cardstock are split in two so the halves and turn independently of one another. This allows a child to find the matching anumal pairs. Ttile refers to Noah's Ark	Cover view	Interior view

**Jabberwocky (Theme: Myths and Fables)**
Light cardboard covered are laid over with scrapbook paper in this accordion book featuring original drawings illustrating the classic poem by Lewis Carroll. The text of each verse forms a 'frame' for the drawing on its page.	Cover and Interior views

**Good Dog/Bad Dog (Structure: Dos-a-dos)**
Single sheet signatures are stitched into each side of this heavy paper cover. One side of the book contains anecdotes about the 'good' things our late black lab did, the other side is his 'bad' stories.	Cover view	View showing structure	Interior view

**Distorted Mirror (Theme: Mirror, Mirror)**
Lightweight drapery fabric covers this case-bound book with sewn signatures. Contents on text-weight paper photocopied. Content is 8 original poems.	Cover view	Interior view

**There are THINGS Out There (Theme: Unexpected Closures)**
The unique 'closure' on this book is the zipper. It is used to close this 'sleeping bag' containing a true camping story. The text was printed on injet transfer paper and ironed onto the lining fabric. Title and colophon were handled in the same way. All construction done on the sewing maching.	Sleeping bag rolled and tied	Bag unrolled	Unzipped showing the story

**Please Squeeze (Theme: Musicale)**
Yes, it really IS an accordion book! Constructed of marbled cardstock from an original design, this book contains an original poem. The keyboard is made of polymer clay, the bellows of cardstock with gold gel-pen trim, speaker of wire-edge ribbon on cardstock, chord buttons of Beedz on double-stick carpet tape. Closing straps are ribbon with velcro.	Accordion closed	Opened showing poem	Click here to read text

**Origami Book and Box (Theme: Make-a-Book Kit)**
This month each player had to write instructions and send with all the materials necessary for the recipients to construct their own book. I chose an origami box to contain a 4 leaf origami book in paper-covered hard covers.	Box only	Book closed	Book expanded	Page detail	Directions for the origami book

**On Pins and Needles: The Story of Her Life (Theme: On Pins and Needles)**
This is an envelope book with full-page sized flaps that feature illustrations. One lifts the flap and pulls out a card that tells a bit of the story.	Cover with giant pin piercing it	Interior with page flap closed	envelope opened showing insert card

**A Day in the Life of a Chocoholic (Theme: A Day in the Life of...)**
I made several models before I figured out how to make this book work like I wanted it. The hours of the day are represented on chocolate illustrations that run on an interior accordion. This interlaces with a larger accordion that has 'excuses' for eating chocolate along the frames.	Cover	Interior spread	Page detail	Directions for the interlocking accordionBook

**Got Flashlight? (Theme: Floor Plan)**
This was extremely difficult to photograph! I used clear embossing powder on black paper to illustrate someone leaving footprints throughout the house as they traipse through at night. A window, trapdoor, door, and garage all have moveable parts, exposing more details underneath.	Cover	Interior

**Signature Style (Theme: Signature Style)**
A portion of musical notation is known as the signature. I expanded on this theme to show how different types of music also have signature footwork, rhythms, and dance associated with them. The book is an accordion construction with a CD feature on the cover.	Cover	Structure	Page detail

**Did You Ever... (Theme: Sounds Fishy to Me)**
I did a japanese stab binding using wavy corrugated cardboard for the cover. Each page illustrates a fish based on a combination of the real fish of the same name and the head of its more well-known counterpart. Watercolor pencil illustrations include a Cowfish, Wolffish, Pigfish, Zebrafish, Sheepfish, and Clownfish.	Cover	Interior

**Star Attraction (Theme: Connect the Dots)**
The 12 constellations of the zodiac are sewn in irridescent beads on black paper. Each star-shaped page is punched with a star to facilitate the tied binding. Covers are of matboard.	Cover	Pages	Page detail

**In the Light of Mourning(Theme: In the Morning Light)**
Each page is printed on marble or granite finished paper. Each is cut at the top to resemble a headstone and dry-embossed for effect. Pages are printed with quotes and poems on death and dying.	Cover	Pages

**Necklace Book(Made as a gift)**
An origami folded book with pockets on each page is set in thin board covers and the spine covered with faux leather. An eyelet in the spine allows for the ribbon by which it is hung about the neck.	Exterior	Interior

**Popsicle Envelope Book(Theme: Make a make-a-book kit)**
I designed this 'skewer' book using envelopes and craft sticks to serve an assignment to make a 'book kit' for swapping.		Directions for this book

**Autographs(Theme: Old Friends)**
This post-bound book is covered with faux leather and contains a collection of sentiments from an actual autograph book of the 1800's. Printed pages were stained with tea and then color copied.	Cover	Pages

**40 Wonderful Ways to See The World(Theme: Travel Arrangements)**
This is actually a portfolio containing - clockwise from right: a travel itinerary detailing a round-the-world trip by 40 different modes of travel (including tram, dogsled, submarine, kayak); a pair of passports madeled after actual US documents; a packet of foreign coins from actual ports-of-call; faux currency - color copied and digitally altered in color and size; and a world map with the itinerary marked out.

**Deep Blue Sea(Theme: True Blue)**
Hard covers on a window-shade structure	Closed	Open

**Why Dance(Theme: May I Have This Dance)**
I found this 'patent leather' poster board to make these dress shoes. Real shoe laces lace up each side and tie together to close the shoe. A single quotation from my grandpa completes the content.	Exterior	Interior	Text reads: I never could figure the point of dancing; you never get anywhere and it just wears out your shoes!

**Heartstrings(Theme: Strings 'n Things)**
I used a heart-shaped paper mache box as the base, added a craft stick carved to shape the neck, covered with gold tissue and music. The I made the strings of stretchy beading cord which I cut and tied back together. The pages are an accordion folded strip of heart shapes with the text written in gold.	Closed	Open	Text reads: God mends broken heart strings and uses them to play His love song.

**Flag Book(Made to teach a class)**
Using a calendar page this book opens page by page when the front bow is untied, but lays flat to display the entire picture when the back bows are released.	Closed	Front Open	Full Release	Directions for Flag Book Structure

**Tunnel Book(Made in a class)**
Three layers have cutouts to view lower layers.

**Ribbon Stitched(Designed for class instruction)**
Multiple hand-stitched signatures attach by ribbons to portfolio covers made from wallpaper.	Closed	Inside cover	Directions for Ribbon Stitched Book

**Fold Upon Fold(Made for class instruction)**
A long strip of paper for the interior another for the covers and fold upon fold upon fold.	Exterior	First Opening	Fully Open	Directions for Fold Upon Fold structure

**Frame of Reference(Theme: Sight Unseen)**
A single post allows this book to open by rotating pages up. I used digital photos of my eyes and graphical glasses frames to illustrate different points of view. One lens from an old pair of glasses was glued on the cover.	Cover	Pages

It is really not difficult to make books by hand! There are, however, a miriad of styles of book. The most common books in the commercial publishing world we recognize by the names of hardbound, paperback and spiral bound. In the world of handmade books there are envelope books, stab-bound, accordian, stitched, and many others including the commercial styles.
I have participated in some swaps of handmade books and now host a monthly swap of 3 for 3 artist books (require content).
Here are some books I have made for the swap. In each case a "Theme" or "Structure" has been assigned and the books are an interpretation of that.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image

The Witness (Structure: Piano Hinge)
This piano hinge structure is actually a paper hinge constructed for a nail to slide into. The nail can be removed and the entire text block unfolded to view the picture hidden inside. Text block is cardstock printed on inkjet printer. Cover is handmade paper over cardboard.
The Witness
Cover
The Witness
Spine

The Witness
Pages
The Witness
Pin Removed
The Witness
Unfolded

Finding Home (Theme: House and Home)
Stab Bound book has wordless pages which are a series of illustrations that lead from the galaxy to the heart of the home
Finding Home
Cover
Finding Home
Interior

Cassett-o-pedia (Theme: Surprise - Do Something Unexpected)
This signature book is mounted inside a real cassette case. The text is printed on text-weight paper. Content is an abcdeary of humorous musical terminology.
Case and Cassette
Cassette Opened

Unlocking Your Memory: You Hold the Key (Theme: Memories)
Hardbound signature book printed on text-weight orange paper. Cover illustration uses inkjet iron-on transfer applied to cotton fabric. Content is a collection of mneumonic devices useful for remembering a variety of things. Hole drilled through cover and pages allows installation of a padlock. Key is tied to a ribbon bookmark glued into the spine.
Memories
Cover with padlock
Memories
opened

Snow Bound(Structure: Out of Shape - Non-Square or Rectangular
Copper paper over foam-core is the medium used to frame a half-dome 'snowglobe' with real water and 'snow' mounted in the front cover. When the cover is lifted, scenes on comb-bound pages can be flipped to make the scenery change in the 'snowglobe'.
Cover frames
a snowglobe
Showing how pages flip to show various scenes

GenealoTree (Theme: It's a Game)
This original game is constructed in accordion-book fashion on a base of foam-core covered with scrapbook papers. When unfolded it creates a gameboard with boxes of cards, a coin to flip and buttons as player pieces
GenealoTree
an original game
With pages opened. .

Tell Me About Yourself (Structure: Goodbye to Glue - No adhesives allowed
Features wallpaper covers folded like textbook slipcovers from schooldays. Lined with tagboard. Signatures were sewn on sewing machine. A ribbon threaded through a long stitch is pulled back through slits in the cover and tied. Content is a series of 'storystarters' with lines for the owner to complete the thoughts.
Cover view
Interior view

If Pigs Could Fly (Theme: If...)
Sewn signatures of cardstock are inset into covers made of matboard. A fabric spine is glued to the outside. This is an original poem made as a children's picturebook illustrated in physical and digital collage. The original illustrations were duplicated on a color-copier.
Cover and Interior views Click here to read text

Scroll (Theme: Books In Time - Use a Historic Structure))
A 1 inch dowel with wooden endcaps is the base for this double-leaf scroll. A decorative paper is the 'cover'. The 'page' is parchment run through the inkjet and immediately sprinkled with gold embossing powder which was then set with a heatgun.
Views with scroll wrapped and tied
Views of scroll opened

Where in the World (Theme: Through the Window)
This accordion book of heavyweight paper is encased in covers of scrapbook paper over cardboard. The pages each features a scene viewed through a mylar window. The window rubber stamp was handcarved for this purpose.
Cover view
Interior view

Self-Preservation (Structure: Wrap-it-up - Enclose Your Book in a Container)
A standard pint canning jar is lined with purple celeophane and a strip of wallpaper border printed with fruits. The book is an accordion of letter-shaped pages, each of which contains an item that one might preserve in the home kitchen. The original books were vacuum sealed so the first 'reader' had to pry open the lid.
Closed Jar view
Jar spilling out its contents

Golden Opportunity (Theme: All That Glitters)
A Japanese stab-bound book of gold fabric over cardboard. Pages are text-weight paper printed on inkjet.
Cover and Interior views

Now Showing (Structure: Pop-ups)
A Pop-up stage mounted in matboard covers is the centerpiece of this book. A 'Gibson Girl' is permanently resident on stage. Envelopes contain 'leading men' who can come out to star in "Phantom of the Opera", "My Fair Lady", "Beauty and the Beast", "Gone with the Wind", "Cinderella", and "The King and I".
Cover view
Interior view with "Rhett" onstage

Whatta Lotta Watta (Theme: Water, Water Everywhere)
This is a comb-bound book mounted in a fabric-covered case-binding. The pages of doubled cardstock are split in two so the halves and turn independently of one another. This allows a child to find the matching anumal pairs. Ttile refers to Noah's Ark
Cover view
Interior view

Jabberwocky (Theme: Myths and Fables)
Light cardboard covered are laid over with scrapbook paper in this accordion book featuring original drawings illustrating the classic poem by Lewis Carroll. The text of each verse forms a 'frame' for the drawing on its page.
Cover and Interior views

Good Dog/Bad Dog (Structure: Dos-a-dos)
Single sheet signatures are stitched into each side of this heavy paper cover. One side of the book contains anecdotes about the 'good' things our late black lab did, the other side is his 'bad' stories.
Cover view
View showing structure
Interior view

Distorted Mirror (Theme: Mirror, Mirror)
Lightweight drapery fabric covers this case-bound book with sewn signatures. Contents on text-weight paper photocopied. Content is 8 original poems.
Cover view
Interior view

There are THINGS Out There (Theme: Unexpected Closures)
The unique 'closure' on this book is the zipper. It is used to close this 'sleeping bag' containing a true camping story. The text was printed on injet transfer paper and ironed onto the lining fabric. Title and colophon were handled in the same way. All construction done on the sewing maching.
Sleeping bag rolled and tied
Bag unrolled
Unzipped showing the story

Please Squeeze (Theme: Musicale)
Yes, it really IS an accordion book! Constructed of marbled cardstock from an original design, this book contains an original poem. The keyboard is made of polymer clay, the bellows of cardstock with gold gel-pen trim, speaker of wire-edge ribbon on cardstock, chord buttons of Beedz on double-stick carpet tape. Closing straps are ribbon with velcro.
Accordion closed
Opened showing poem Click here to read text

Origami Book and Box (Theme: Make-a-Book Kit)
This month each player had to write instructions and send with all the materials necessary for the recipients to construct their own book. I chose an origami box to contain a 4 leaf origami book in paper-covered hard covers.
Box only
Book closed
Book expanded
Page detail Directions for
the origami book

On Pins and Needles: The Story of Her Life (Theme: On Pins and Needles)
This is an envelope book with full-page sized flaps that feature illustrations. One lifts the flap and pulls out a card that tells a bit of the story.
Cover with giant pin piercing it
Interior with page flap closed
envelope opened showing insert card

A Day in the Life of a Chocoholic (Theme: A Day in the Life of...)
I made several models before I figured out how to make this book work like I wanted it. The hours of the day are represented on chocolate illustrations that run on an interior accordion. This interlaces with a larger accordion that has 'excuses' for eating chocolate along the frames.
Cover
Interior spread
Page detail Directions for
the interlocking accordionBook

Got Flashlight? (Theme: Floor Plan)
This was extremely difficult to photograph! I used clear embossing powder on black paper to illustrate someone leaving footprints throughout the house as they traipse through at night. A window, trapdoor, door, and garage all have moveable parts, exposing more details underneath.
Cover
Interior

Signature Style (Theme: Signature Style)
A portion of musical notation is known as the signature. I expanded on this theme to show how different types of music also have signature footwork, rhythms, and dance associated with them. The book is an accordion construction with a CD feature on the cover.
Cover
Structure
Page detail

Did You Ever... (Theme: Sounds Fishy to Me)
I did a japanese stab binding using wavy corrugated cardboard for the cover. Each page illustrates a fish based on a combination of the real fish of the same name and the head of its more well-known counterpart. Watercolor pencil illustrations include a Cowfish, Wolffish, Pigfish, Zebrafish, Sheepfish, and Clownfish.
Cover
Interior

Star Attraction (Theme: Connect the Dots)
The 12 constellations of the zodiac are sewn in irridescent beads on black paper. Each star-shaped page is punched with a star to facilitate the tied binding. Covers are of matboard.
Cover
Pages
Page detail

In the Light of Mourning(Theme: In the Morning Light)
Each page is printed on marble or granite finished paper. Each is cut at the top to resemble a headstone and dry-embossed for effect. Pages are printed with quotes and poems on death and dying.
Cover
Pages

Necklace Book(Made as a gift)
An origami folded book with pockets on each page is set in thin board covers and the spine covered with faux leather. An eyelet in the spine allows for the ribbon by which it is hung about the neck.
Exterior
Interior

Popsicle Envelope Book(Theme: Make a make-a-book kit)
I designed this 'skewer' book using envelopes and craft sticks to serve an assignment to make a 'book kit' for swapping. Directions for
this book

Autographs(Theme: Old Friends)
This post-bound book is covered with faux leather and contains a collection of sentiments from an actual autograph book of the 1800's. Printed pages were stained with tea and then color copied.
Cover
Pages

40 Wonderful Ways to See The World(Theme: Travel Arrangements)
This is actually a portfolio containing - clockwise from right: a travel itinerary detailing a round-the-world trip by 40 different modes of travel (including tram, dogsled, submarine, kayak); a pair of passports madeled after actual US documents; a packet of foreign coins from actual ports-of-call; faux currency - color copied and digitally altered in color and size; and a world map with the itinerary marked out.

Deep Blue Sea(Theme: True Blue)
Hard covers on a window-shade structure
Closed
Open

r
Why Dance(Theme: May I Have This Dance)
I found this 'patent leather' poster board to make these dress shoes. Real shoe laces lace up each side and tie together to close the shoe. A single quotation from my grandpa completes the content.
Exterior
Interior Text reads: I never could
figure the point
of dancing; you never
get anywhere and
it just wears
out your shoes!

Heartstrings(Theme: Strings 'n Things)
I used a heart-shaped paper mache box as the base, added a craft stick carved to shape the neck, covered with gold tissue and music. The I made the strings of stretchy beading cord which I cut and tied back together. The pages are an accordion folded strip of heart shapes with the text written in gold.
Closed
Open Text reads: God mends broken
heart strings and
uses them to play
His love song.

Flag Book(Made to teach a class)
Using a calendar page this book opens page by page when the front bow is untied, but lays flat to display the entire picture when the back bows are released.
Closed
Front Open
Full Release Directions for
Flag Book Structure

Tunnel Book(Made in a class)
Three layers have cutouts to view lower layers.

Ribbon Stitched(Designed for class instruction)
Multiple hand-stitched signatures attach by ribbons to portfolio covers made from wallpaper.
Closed
Inside cover Directions for
Ribbon Stitched Book

Fold Upon Fold(Made for class instruction)
A long strip of paper for the interior another for the covers and fold upon fold upon fold.
Exterior
First Opening
Fully Open Directions for
Fold Upon Fold structure

Frame of Reference(Theme: Sight Unseen)
A single post allows this book to open by rotating pages up. I used digital photos of my eyes and graphical glasses frames to illustrate different points of view. One lens from an old pair of glasses was glued on the cover.
Cover
Pages

I have provided some instructions on how to make your own hardbound book and a miniature sticky note book.

For a list of resources on Handmade Books click here.

For links to other sites on Handmade Books click here.

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