June 2016 will see the return of the Worthing Artists Open Houses to our seaside town. As a craftsperson, I have previously enjoyed the increased members of the public coming to say hello at The Book Hut, but never directly taken part. This year, however, I will be much more involved, with two projects on display and a workshop at the Worthing Library, it’s all go at this end. The first, and key project, is that which is introduced here – Treasure Island – a fine binding of my own creating, that will be on display at StudioFreer in June. It is the first fine binding I have made for approximately four years, and the very first which will be available to buy.
Cleaning up the spine 
Flattening the sections 
Cleaned sections 
Ready for sewing 
Sewing onto linen threads 
Sewn up. 
Gold and red endbands 
Tooling the cover
TREATMENT
- Initially the cover was removed from the binding and kept for future use in the design process.
- The textblock was then placed in the press and the spine lining and adhesive (animal glue) was removed manually with a spatular, having been previously softened with a wheat starch paste poultice.
- The sections were then cleaned individually and put in the press for flattening.
- The outer folio of each section was then guarded at the spine with a 12gsm tengujo tissue to reinforce them, and placed back in the press.
- Made endpapers were created using gold leaf and paint and sewn along with the textblock.
- Following pressing, it was sewn onto three tapes.
- All three edges were paired and gilded in gold leaf.
- Endbands were sewn in gold and black silk.
- The spine was lined with fray not and manilla.
- The boards were laced in and covered in a smooth cartridge paper and sanded.
- The binding was then covered in a light green goatskin.
- The cover decoration consisted of the first chapter of the book blind tooled onto the cover, and the title brought out in gold leaf.
BEFORE 
AFTER