Coptic bookbinding at MISSA July 2014

Some very fine work from my students at Metchosin International Summer School of Art. The papyrus text blocks were sewn in Ethiopian 2 needle, kettle stitch style and covered in leather decorated with a design cut out of thin goatskin onlaid and laced onto the base leather with strips of vellum. Designs varied from Christian to Cabalistic, pagan to peonies. It always amazes me how much application people bring to the making of these beautiful, personal and quite impractical book forms. 

2014 Griffin Poetry Awards

 The fabulous glamour of the bookbinding life made manifest in the best literary bun fight going.  The Griffins do not fool around when it comes to a party.  This one was no exception June 5 at The Distillery.  I forget who won.

mass production of paste papers

 a big order of paste paper requires teamwork.  Marie prepared the colour, Don applied the paint, Laura and Marie shared combing duties, and the results filled the hall with men's pyjamas!

sound advice

spotted at Jacob's Hardware in Toronto last week. no idea where to buy a copy

London May 2014

Spotted in London during my recent trip to visit the rellies and attend the opening of "Inside Out" Contemporary Bindings of Private Press Books, a Designer Bookbinders exhibition (with one of my bindings in it).  Above are a couple of pals reading the newspaper in a quiet spot in White Chapel and a poster for  a show that I would have walked a mile to see if I had had a chance.  I read all the "Biggles" books-my favourite was "Biggles Defies the Swastika!" Ripping stuff.

Below is a shot of the show currently on until August 22 at St Bride's Institute.  Worth a look if you are passing Fleet St. at Farringdon Rd.

 In other developments our intern from Paris's Ecole Estienne, Marie,  started slaving away for us this week.  She's here for a month and is doing nice work on a bit of everything.  This should be fun.  Today at lunch we all discussed the merits of McCain's curly fries.  Apparently they are quite popular in France.  Who knew? Welcome Marie.

Laura's fine touch..

this is important

sad news from the literary world.  Crad Kilodney, absurdist street poet and grumpy person of long standing has died in Toronto.

It was great fun in the '80's to run into Crad selling his books on the sidewalk, usually with an enigmatic sign around his neck- my favourite  said "POTTERY"- and I was able to purchase many of my favourites: Sex Slaves of the Astro-Mutants, Bang Heads Here Suffering Bastards, and "gainfully employed in limbo". Crad predicted in his 1973 book, "World Under Anaesthesia" that his death would be in Hungry Horse, Montana in 2025. He didn't make it.