In 2022, I studied bookbinding for three weeks (total) at the American Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride, Colorado. I spent a single week in June of 2022 to learn the Millimeter bookbinding structure and two weeks in July of 2022 to learn half leather bindings.

In a few days, I’m headed back for a solid 4 weeks – and I can’t wait! This time around, I’ll dive into the full leather binding structure and learn the ins-and-outs of edition bindings. I can’t wait!

study bookbinding at the american academy

Full leather bookbinding

My favorite books are those bound in full leather with ornate tooling. It doesn’t matter how many structures I’ve attempted or produced, the full leather binding will always be my go-to favorite and one I can’t wait to create on my own. You might wonder why I’ve never tried this binding style. The answer is simple: leather is special.

An animal has to give its life in order for us to have leather. I don’t take that very lightly. Before I’m willing to work with this material, I want to know enough to use it properly with as little waste as possible. When I took the half leather binding course in 2022, my suspicions about the intricacies of leather were confirmed. It’s definitely not a material for the inexperienced or unguided. It’s also quite expensive, so it makes sense to proceed with caution.

From August 10-21, 2023, I’ll be studying the full leather binding structure under an amazing instructor named Don Glaister. Don’s approach to binding is said to be highly visual and expressive. I’m a pretty technical person, so I can’t wait to study under such an artistic individual who has so much knowledge of the European binding structure. Don has studied with the greats, including Barbara Hiller in San Francisco and Roger Arnoult in Paris. I can only imagine what I’ll learn and – my dear reader and friend – I’ll be bringing his knowledge back here to the blog in my own way.

Edition bookbinding

I’ve always been interested in how bookbinders make a living with their craft. Binding multiple editions of a book is one of the major income streams for any professional bookbinder. Not everyone has the chops to do it, though. That’s because it might *sound* easy to create a bunch of copies of the same book, but it’s a lot harder than you’d think.

I’ve heard from fellow binders that creating 10, 50 or even 150 copies of a single book can leave them tired, drained and with aching backs, joints and fingers. It’s also quite expensive and sometimes nearly impossible to acquire the same materials for each book. This is especially true when many hand marbled papers are limited edition or exclusive and not all leather skins are created equal.

You need a good network

When it comes to a large number of editions, many bookbinders will ask for help within their network. By splitting some of the work and profit with other binders, you can increase the rate of production, reduce the risk of error and improve profit margins. Learning how to do this, as well as making material decisions and sourcing them successfully, are just a few of the lessons I hope to take away from this two week class.

Can’t wait to share my learnings on the blog!

More bookbinding goodness

✨ What tools do I need to get started bookbinding?

🌟 Looking for a simple way to start making books? 

Try a Complete Book Materials Kit. Each one has everything you need (+ tutorials & videos) to make a beautiful book without all the fuss.

Thank you for taking me along on your book making journey!

Misty