We thought you might enjoy this article Shepherds Bindery - London's Artisan Bookmaker from The Holborn, a blog and quarterly magazine that appreciates 'heritage, style and hard work'. Click the link for image of sumptuous bindings and a Titanic-related curse.
We hope our list of artist's books, altered books, bookbinding and zine events and exhibitions inspires you to see some handmade book work this season.
Re-Print, Re-Make, Re-Think: an exhibition of altered books
Bournemouth Library: 5 - 29 April 2013
Fine Art students at the Arts University Bournemouth have engaged with withdrawn stock from Bournemouth central library to create new work that comments on diverse subjects including genetic modification, xenophobia, bullying and current affairs. Includes an exhibition of monoprints in response to the work. Join in with an informal workshop to celebrate the exhibition on World Book Night, 23rd April 6:30 - 9 pm. Visitors that evening can make their own work from withdrawn stock, and their altered books will be added to the display. If you'd like to take part, contact AUB Visiting Tutor Laura Joy E: LJoy@aub.ac.uk T: 07765 681 592
The Art of Walking / Insect Theatre: publication discussion
Lecture Theatre Two, TheGallery, AUB: 11 April 2013 5-7pm
Tim Edgar and David Evans discuss the themes and ideas explored in their publications: The Art of Walking: A Field Guide (Evans, ed.) and Insect Theatre, Artist Book (Edgar, with text by Hugh Raffles) at their formal launch, book signing and publication discussion. To book a place contact TheGallery E: gallery@aub.ac.uk T: 01202 363 272
BABE 2013: Bristol Artist's Book Event
Arnolfini: 20 - 21 April 2013
Browse and buy work and chat to the 80 plus artists, dealers and small presses from Bristol and around the world at this friendly and popular weekend event. For pre-bookable workshops, book surgeries and tours call the box office: 0117 917 2300
Press & Release
Phoenix Brighton: 27 April - 9 June 2013
"An oasis for the bleary-eyed, screen-scorched reader" - artists books in their multifaceted, boundary-breaking glory.
Turn The Page Artist's Book Fair
The Forum: 3 - 4 May 2013
Showcasing 50 of the most innovative book artists from the UK and abroad with a programme of events including poetry readings, storytelling and Dolores, the artist's books Citroen bookmobile.
An Inventory of Al-Mutanabbi Street
The John Rylands Library: to 29 July 2013
A reassembly of reading material lost in the 2007 bombing of al-Mutanabbi Street, the heart of Baghdad's literary community. 260 plus works from international book artists reflecting the strength and fragility of books. Build-a-book workshop led by Guy Begbie on 26 April 1 - 4pm for adults and teenagers 16+
By The Book: an exhibition of illustration and book art
Hawthorn Contemporary Craft Gallery: 1 August - 12 October 2013
An exhibition by artists, illustrators and craftspeople whose work uses books or illustration as material, inspiration or both. Includes 2D and 3D work.
BOUND will be exhibiting at By The Book.
To list your event here, please email info@boundbyhand.co.uk
We update this list regularly and will publish an AW13 listing later this year.
It's cold and grey but thanks to Country Living magazine we're dreaming of brighter times. With our heart firmly in the country, we love Country Living and are so very pleased to see our Mini Journals featured in the April edition!
This spring BOUND's customers have been using Mini Journals for Easter treasure hunts with their grandchildren and as longer lasting gifts in addition to the much loved but quickly devoured Easter egg!
Check out the Emporium pages for 'inspiring ideas for simple country style'. There are gorgeous bird themed suitcases from The Oak Room, a quirky one-off teapot from Virginia Graham and lots of useful, pretty and highly individual ideas for home and garden.
Huge thanks to Celia Stuart-Menteth and the rest of the Country Living team for producing, month on month, year on year, such a well-loved and inspiring magazine and for featuring the work of independent designer makers such as BOUND. We think you're great!
Magazine images copyright Country Living Magazine.
Inspired by our recent feature in Dorset Magazine's All White Now piece on white interiors, we'd like to introduce our latest leather journals which feature white.
As you can see from BOUND's logo, white and grey is one of our favourite colour combinations.
Journal / Sketchbook: White & Grey
£99 shop now
Mini Journal: Powder, in White & Grey
£10 shop now
Leather Journal / Sketchbook: Grey & White
£70 shop now
These books feature beautifully tactile Fine Goatskin, which has a warm, soft feel in the hand.
They are available to purchase, or use our Bespoke Service to commission something similar, perhaps in your preferred size, with differently coloured thread, a personalised frontspage or with extra space in the spine as a Memory Book for your mementoes.
Back in 2011, British entrepreneur and Dragons' Den investor, Deborah Meaden, recommended Susan Green's "very stylish hand bound books and journals" as a quality Christmas gift in her Twelve Tweets of Christmas campaign, along with British stalwarts such as Neals Yard Remedies and Kent Brushes.
7th tweet of christmas goes to @susangreenbooks http://t.co/yhfQrc97 for very stylish hand bound books and journals #buybritishhelpjobs
— Deborah Meaden 🇺🇦 (@DeborahMeaden) December 12, 2011
Boosted by Deborah's support, Susan relaunched her bookbinding business in November 2012 as BOUND. (Susan's business was previously known simply as Susan Green Books, which she began in 2008.) BOUND's launch was covered by the Business Matters section of the Stour & Avon Magazine this month.
Famed and much beloved - along with its sister publication, the Blackmore Vale Magazine - for its enthusiasm for the arts and local economy, the Stour & Avon covers the part of East Dorset where our studio is located. We're fortunate to be very close to contemporary craft venue Walford Mill Crafts and hundreds of other designer-makers, artists, musicians and writers.
My thanks to the Stour and Avon Magazine and its news editor Marilyn Barber for their unstinting support of Dorset's creative economy. And of course, my thanks to Deborah Meaden for championing British creatives, entrepreneurs and manufacturers.
Susan Green
+44 (0)7748 759371
(Images copyright Stour and Avon Magazine 08.02.12.)
We're happy to have our Wedding Guest Book featured in Dorset magazine in a piece on contemporary white interiors, along with gorgeous items from fellow Dorset companies Hunter Gatherer and the Hambledon Gallery, also Farrow and Ball and John Lewis.
Our Wedding Guest Books are bound in the finest white goatskin with neutral accents and feature the words 'Happily ever after...' on the frontspage. Thanks to their special binding style, they lie open on a table to receive your guests' well wishes - perfect for the reception or gift area at your wedding.
We also bind these Guest Books in your choice of 26 leather colours to co-ordinate with your colour scheme and with custom text - our couples often choose their names, their wedding date and location. More information on our Bespoke Service can be found here or email info@boundbyhand.co.uk to discuss your requirements.
Our thanks to Interiors Editor Alexandra Richards and Dorset magazine, which is published by Archant Life. Dorset artists, makers and other small creative businesses are so grateful for the invaluable support we receive from our county press, especially from such a highly regarded publication as Dorset magazine.
(Images copyright Archant Life.)
Happy Valentine's Day from BOUND... hope you get to share part of your day with some one, or in some place, or doing some thing that you love.
New Year, New You? Top 10 Resolutions For 2013? Ten Reasons Not To Make Resolutions?
And so on... yes, everyone's talking about New Year's resolutions, and apart from vowing to complete all my Christmas shopping and tax return by the end of November, I'm planning to journal more. So that's why I'm binding myself a brand new journal, this year it will be an A4 ruled hardback journal in a Metallic bookcloth, probably Bronze, possibly Gold: practical yet a touch decadent and definitely right on trend - just what I need.
Keeping a diary or journal is a great way to stay on top of our plans and dreams, keep up to date with ourselves and take some time to reflect and join the dots. It's also surprising what new creative ideas pop up when you just drift off and doodle in the margins. Research shows that keeping a journal has positive effects on our wellbeing, so I'd like to offer a few prescriptions to see you through the start of 2013.
Feeling a little blue?
Green with envy?
Embarking on a new love affair?
Resolving to see the sunshine behind the clouds?
Giving up chocolate?
Whatever your resolutions, I hope 2013 proves to be everything you wish it to be, that your creative endeavours take flight and that your feet find interesting paths to travel. And don't forget to spend a little time writing, sketching, planning and doodling - it's good for you!
We're very happy to see our Mini Journals mentioned in today's Sunday Telegraph Life supplement in a feature on homemade hampers - what a great idea!
As well as oodles of delicious food and drink goodies, the Telegraph suggests a few 'bonus presents... a little something extra', which is where our Mini Journals are mentioned as "bonsai notebooks hand bound in goatskin" - such a delightful description.
Other interesting bonus gift ideas include a Christmas dinner vegetable seed box and an Himalayan salt plate (we might have to look that one up).
Whether you're going to slip one into a Christmas stocking or follow the Telegraph's lead and make your own hamper, there's still time to order a Mini Journal or two in time for Christmas, in a range of colour combinations from festive, to citrus to smooth caffè tones.
We're taking orders up to 19th December for standard delivery, but by special request we'll send them by Next Day service right up until the 21st if you're having a last minute spree.
Our thanks to journalist Harriot Lane Fox and The Sunday Telegraph for supporting independent designer-makers. Merry Christmas!
(Copyright to newspaper clippings held by The Sunday Telegraph).
Get your special gifts and stocking fillers in time for Christmas! We ship worldwide and can send directly to your gift recipient, if you'd like. Please order as early as you can to avoid disappointment, and here's a handy guide to your last order dates. We guarantee UK Special Delivery, other services are simply a guide, not a guarantee.
4 December - Asia, Australia, Far East, New Zealand
7 December - Africa, Caribbean, Central America, Middle East, South America
9 December - Canada, Eastern Europe, USA
11 December - Western Europe
19 December - UK First Class
21 December - UK Special Delivery (automatically applied to orders over £41 or by special request)
If you have any special requirements, including delivery directly to your gift recipient, please get in touch and let us know how we can help: info@boundbyhand.co.uk
I value sustainability and good value and I reckon you do, too. So when you decide on one of my leather Journals, Sketchbooks or Memory Books, you've made a sustainable investment in something that will give you years of pleasure, because I'll refill it for you at cost price.
This means you can keep on using the book that's become your beloved friend, not to mention save money and minimise your use of resources. How's that for sustainability?
How does this Refill Service work? Just email me at info@boundbyhand.co.uk. We'll discuss your options and work out a schedule, and I'll supply you with a returns address.
I'll refill your book with 192 pages of 130 gsm cartridge paper, typically what your original book would have contained. If you'd like some kind of speciality paper, please do ask. We can use the same colour thread as your original book, or you can choose an alternative - check your options here.
Carefully cut the threads from your book (use small scissors and cutting from within the pages of the book) and remove the pages from your book, putting them into a box for safe keeping.
Roll up the leather, carefully package it in something waterproof and padded, then pop it in the post.
I'll return your refilled book to you within a couple of weeks, ready to fill up again with your words, drawings and plans.
Happy days!