The Book of Honesty Mo17
27cm H x 22cm W x 2cm D
bradel binding, relief sculpted spine, Moulin de Laroqque handmade watercolour paper over boards
it’s almost finished!
here’s a link to see all the double page spreads of Honesty
I love making books, this is the most elegant one yet!
here’s how it went together
each double page spread was first sewn onto 5 linen tapes
a paper stitching pattern with an arrow indicating the top of the page
the spine is strengthened with acid free PVA & muslin between the tapes, then gently rounded with a hammer
the tapes are frayed and glued down to make a smooth interface then cut the text for the spine casing
preparing the covers
the front cover attached, inside edges need trimming and sanding before lining
(those red marks on the white lining are the bit of blood that all my work seems to require)
back cover attached ready for trimming and sanding
front & back covers are lined
there’s still some finishing to do, will post the finale when it’s ready!
binding the Book of Honesty
Posted: April 2, 2017 by Mo Crow in It's Crow TimeTags: bookbinding, Honesty, illustration, works on paper
Comments
It's Crow Time 
Oh my gosh Mo!! Your work is so beautiful, beauty-filled…so precise and well thought out. I absolutely love the peek-a-boo covers and the raised letters of the binding, perfect choice of binding style. It is so elegant, so classy and simple. It is exquisite! Congrats.
(((Nancy))) thank you for these good words, it’s not perfect but it’s getting close!
i went through the photographs, reading, looking at the image, reading again, looking again,
and i forgot to breathe, realized when i felt suddenly lightheaded that i was holding my breath
this is just stunning
(((Grace))) it works and there is so much more to explore both with this beautiful plant & the binding
Beautiful, wonderful cover construction; love seeing your process. It will be magnificent to see the finished product, I am sure.
Kristin
(((Kristin))) it’s such a beautiful way to put a book together, am busily dreaming up variations on the theme in my sleep…
OH! It’s going to be very elegant,Mo.Understated elegance.Come to think, that is honest, isn’t it/ 🙂
(((Di))) was aiming for pared back elegance, it’s getting close, the next one will work even better!
Yes – The most elegant ever.
Such careful crafting, such beautiful images.
(((Michelle))) I love that first moment when it becomes a book that can be held in the hand, the opening, exploring each of the pages, then the closing…
Wow- it speaks for itself, in a quiet calm way.
thanks for the good words (((Louise))) love the work you are doing with stitching & books!
Beautiful cover, so elegant and fits so well with the pages
(((Debbie))) this morning I will start stitching the pages together so the back sides of the stitched stems of Honesty are protected and strengthened by the drawings
It’s gorgeous Mo. Love the little windows on the covers.
(((Beth))) me too, love how XIII Mk2 ended up being perfect for the title page and afterword
It’s so beautiful!
(((Sarah))) this one is the most beautiful yet!
Love how the front cover reveals the actual and the back the drawing, absolutely gorgeous Mo.
(((Bronwyn))) am very excited about exploring the possibilities with this form
Mo, the craftsmanship is stellar. So wonderfully lovely to bring all the beautiful pages together. It has been a delight to watch it all come together. Thank you for sharing it with us.
(((Dana))) & it feels so good in the hand, the paper is very soft, still sampling how to stitch the little x’s into the corners of the pages so they work both front and back…
Oh, my, you have skills to crow about! Love the peek-a-boo cover. Can you tell more about the spine, how the relief sculpting is done?
(((Hazel))) re the spine, I printed out the text on thin card, cut out each letter with a no 11 scalpel blade, then printed the same text onto some of the same thin card cut to the width of the spine with a little extra to make room for the covers, then glued the raised lettered spine stiffener to a piece of 240 gsm Stonehenge paper, then covered the spine with grey bookcloth using a 50/50 mix of acid free PVA and starch paste pounded into the cloth and worked in well around all the edges of the letters with a bone folder, finally wrapped it around a piece of dowel to dry to form the curve, once dry the spine is pasted to the outside of the frayed linen tapes on the text block leaving the back hollow so the book opens freely, here’s a link to Peter D. Verheyen’s detailed article about the Bradel Binding
here’s a link to my detailed process photos for relief sculpting the lettering on the covers of An illuminated Book of Cats
Elegance…………….yes, thats the word for this beauty……………….
(((Martine))) namaste
This one is very special……..love the little windows into the soul of the Book of Honesty…beautiful!!!
(((Eliene))) just realized it’s part of the Braille for the Soul series!
Beautiful and so beautifully crafted
thanks for the good words and having a look Diane
wow. so cool to see the tools, the process. elegant and spare, it is. Glad Hazel asked about the spine, because I was blown away by that too… so beautiful, Mo!
(((Dee))) spare elegance is what I was hoping for, slowly & carefully stitching the pages together with tiny x’s in the corners & evening up the edges so they are contained within the covers for the next few days, am loving working on this book so much!
ah, i am so happy for you and the birth of this book. well done!
(((Velma))) I have been binding books 2003, this one is the most beautiful resolve yet!
I have no words, my breathing is all there is.
(((Jude))) I am in love with this one!
I have nothing to add. All is said and I wish I have words which are as outstanding as your work. Doris
(((Doris))) thank you for these good words, I love making books!
Stunning work Mo. Love that tooled spine,
(((Leonie))) Kevin & Rosemarie of Amazing Paper & Bookbinding in Marrickville helped me find the perfect color for the bookcloth to work with the grey Moulin deLarroque paper, the pages are stitching together beautifully it’s a very soft paper to work with but with care it stitches well
Oh I haven’t heard of that shop. Must check it out. I get my supplies from the bindery in Berrima.
Wow. Wow again. I just love everything about this book Mo. Congratulations! It is very fine.
(((Dana))) is it a bit too narcissistic to fall in love with your own work?
magnificent poetry of human hands…your beautiful work fills me with wonder and awe
(((Nancy))) thank you for these fine words, working on this book is keeping me focused on Honesty as our beautiful cat Ariel is declining (we just got back from the vet and his blood count is getting low) a beautiful bittersweet time
All that honesty should be!! Sublime
(((Jan)))
((((Mo, Rod & Ariel))))
(((Carol))) we’re staying close to home this weekend spoiling our beautiful Ariel as much as we can