What We’re Reading: Re-Bound

Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials by Jeannine Stein (Quarry Books, 2009)

Lately, I’ve been in need of a creative work-break, so I’ve turned to my shelf of DIY books. Re-Bound is where I landed. I’ve been lucky enough to learn a few simple book bindings through my apprenticeship with Scott King at Red Dragonfly Press, and this book takes those bindings and gives them a fresh new twist: made with recycled materials. I love bookbinding because it’s a craft with my hands that requires all of my attention and problem-solving. I can push all the things on my to-do list out of the way, thanks to the methodical and careful focus given to the binding. Binding re-purposed books adds a whole new dimension, created new pathways in that creative part of my brain.

The beautiful part about this book is that you don’t need to know anything about the subject before picking it up. Stein starts with the basics: the terms for the different physical parts of a book used in binding, the tools you’ll need, guidelines to keep in mind when working, the simple bindings that you can apply to found materials. Then, Stein divides chapters by categorizing the places you can find excellent materials to repurpose into your next book project: your home, flea markets, hardware stores, dumpster divings, and free swag. Within each of these chapters, she gives specific instructions on how to make three to four books out of those materials. There are books with potato chip bag covers, felted sweater journals, cabinet card sketchbooks, paint -sample photo albums, game-board travel journals, pocket gift-card books (picture on the cover), and much, much more. She breaks each book down by their binding style, size, and materials used. Thanks to her excellent guidance and resources, she sets up a framework that is easy to follow, yet also easy to spark new ideas, once you’re comfortable with a binding or material.

The book is an easy read, with clear instructions (accompanied by illustrations to help clarify), and is beautifully designed. The last chapter of the book are a mouth-watering gallery of repurposed books made by different book artists. Stein asks us to view these pages both as “an art gallery and a launching pad for more ideas.” Finally, Stein leaves us with templates, patterns, and guides for the books she walks through earlier. This is a one-stop shop for anyone looking for a creative outlet that they’ve never tried before (and also just as useful for those who have bound before, but are looking for new inspiration). I can feel another Press Here how-to column coming on…

What books do you turn to when you need a creative work break? If you’re a book arts nerd yourself, what are your book art “bibles?”