Making books with Anosina
Bookmaking looks super complicated, how hard is it?
It's pretty easy actually.
First, you bind your pages in groups, about half a millimeter thick per group (SEW THEM TREE SLIVERS TOGETHER!). Then bind those groups together. That makes all the pages of your book (COMPLETE YOUR PLANT MEAT ABOMINATION!).
Second, you adhere a paper or cloth bind to your spine (STICK ON SOME MORE TREE BODY FOR EXTRA GIRTH!) and then add a cover page to the front and back (MAKE YOUR HORRIBLE PLANT ZOMBIE PRETTY). Third, you make your cover, which is a firm material like cardboard, cardstock, hardened leather or soft wood (PUT THE PLANT BONES ON THE OUTSIDE). You'll need three pieces, one for the front, back and spine before you wrap them in a decorative paper, fabric or other material (SEND THAT EXOSKELETON TO THE BEAUTY PARLOR!)
Finally, adhere your bound pages to the book spine (STUFF THAT MEAT IN THEM BONES LIKE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY!) and then adhere your cover pages to the front and back covers (HIDE ALL THIS BIOLOGICAL SIN BY SEALING YOUR PRETTY PARTS TO YOUR OTHER PRETTY PARTS!).
What tools and materials do you typically use to craft a book?
That really depends on what kind of book you'd like to make. You can use basically anything as stiff as cardstock for your cover material and decorative materials can be as varied as you can think of.
Pages can be made out of paper or fabric or leaves or flowers or leather... pretty much anything you can bind [put together] in groups.
Your construction materials depend on if you're making a modern bound book or a primitive one. *Modern books use staples and glue, primitive books are sewn together and sometimes use natural adhesives like sap. *
Primitive binding methods vs modern binding methods.
Primitive binding methods dont hold up as well as modern methods but they definately make for some cooler looking books, in my opinion.
Modern tools are easier to work with over primitive tools and much easier to find. So sometimes you just work with what you got.
Paperback vs hardcover books.
Paperback books are much, much, MUCH easier to make and can be just as beautiful as hardcover books.
However, a hardcover book is much more durable than a paperback, so choose whats best for your current project. With that in mind though, it might be worth it for the extra effort.
What are some tips you would offer a first-time book crafter?
Make sure your pages are bound so tight that the gravitational pull of a black hole cant separate them.
Always, always, ALWAYS make sure your spine is adhered perfectly before moving on, check every seam a hundred times!
Adhere your cover page in sections working from the spine out, don't do it all at once. If something doesn't stick right near the spine you will not be able to fix it without ruining the materials trying to pull up edges and your book will squeak every time you open it.
What project would you recommend for a beginner?
Do a modern materials paperback first. It the easiest, skill-wise, and you can still get some really nice paper or fabric for your book. Use this just to get the steps down for crafting with primitive materials but go really crazy with the decorations. If you like scrapbooking you will love this.
What are some common problems you run into when crafting a book?
Folding the cover decor over a hardcover if you are using thicker material can really ruin your inner cover, so keep the material thin.
As I said before, double, tripple, quadruple check your seal on the spine. Nothing ruins a whole project like the spine coming undone.
How long does crafting a typical book take?
A simple one might take 4 hours, a more complex on might take two afternoons. It doesn't take very much time but it really depends on how crazy you are getting with your designs.
What does being an expert in the field mean to you?
I think being an expert means being able to work with pretty much any material and know how to get it into book form. The same thing with tools, an expert should be able to use a wide variety of primitive tools and modern tools. Also, a skill I have not yet mastered, making your own materials would be something I would expect an expert to be able to do easily.
What kinds of exotic bound books have you seen?
I've seen this awesome book series by a local artisan that has hand-pressed paper and dried plant matter covers, with a bamboo spine bound with some kind of reed. It looks durable despite being completely primitive in construction and it is absolutely beautiful.
Current project or goals?
Currently, drying plant matter to try and make a book like one I describe above and experimenting with different paperback materials and decorations. I'd like to be able to easily add built-in bookmarks to my projects but I keep forgetting that step and then it's too late to go back.
Do you make your own paper, if so, how?
I tried to make my own paper once. It's not terribly difficult but it stinks like a paper mill for days to do it so I gave up because my family was tired of my shenanigans. You get some wood pulp and cook it in water (You'll need a pot the size of a cauldron) for a whole day (Get ready to stoke a fire) then let it sit for a day or two and then cook it again. While that's going on you'll need to build a strainer and press.
Heres a guide that you can use with any materials but the fresher the material, the more processing you'll have to do to pulp it: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper
Online resource(s) for crafting books:
This is how I learned to make a book the first time: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/
Anosina is a craftaholic and loves dabbling in all the crafty things. Balancing her projects and her home life can be a challenge but its a fun one for her! When she isn't crafting you can find her gaming or promoting Amtgard in one way or another. While still considered a newer player in the Amtgard realm of time, with nearly two years under her belt, she brings a lot of awesome skills to the table!