Today is the 3rd anniversary of Black Oak Bindery! Here are a few pictures of some of my favorite things I made this past year.
Looking back over the year, I: got really into endbands, entered my first bookbinding show, vendored at a convention for the first time with books, took several binding workshops, started a bookbinder's meetup, and started doing rebinds.
“The real story isn't half as pretty as the one you've heard.”
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
I loved the folktale quality to this book and sought to reflect that in the design by using a lot of pattern. The story also has motifs of silver turning into gold and ice & fire.
“I will serve you ’til the end of days.” ✨
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
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This started as a burst binding and I converted it to sewn on flat cords. I was reading this during my off time at a recent class at the American Academy of Bookbinding and decided I wanted to take a swing at breaking down this type of binding since so many of the books I enjoy are published this way. There are signatures after all...there's just also A LOT of glue...
Bound in black goat leather with hand-painted edges,
hand-painted endpages, and a foil design on the cover.
I did a write-up on my blog about my design choices
and techniques for this bind. If you're ineterested head
on over to my website (blackoakbindery.com)!
I wasn't sure at first how the navy blue dye would turn out on these books, but I absolutely love it! It's a perfect match for the gold and gives a night sky feel.
I used gold paint for the designs and metal studs for the starbursts in the corners.
Hey friends! Just a heads up that everything in my shop is 25% through the end of November. I won't be remaking anything until next year so this is your chance to grab something while it's available. Unless you're on my email list, this is the only sale I have!
I spend entirely too much time in fabric stores looking for cloth to make boxes with. I created 4 new tarot box designs recently so here's the first one!
I'm having a 25% off sale in my shop right now! That's on my D&D inspired handmade journals, tarot card boxes, and some art. All of it is very witchy and fantasy themed. ☺️ Examples below!
I went on a tarot card box making spree last week and I'm now getting caught up with pictures. I have 6 new designs available including this cute mushroom pattern! 🍄
@slyflourish
This! Simple battles can get you in a lull. Getting hit with something crazy once in a while really lets you stretch your legs as a player.
I'm Holly, a bookbinder who specializes in leather bindings that are inspired by #DungeonsAndDragons classes.
I currently make journals, but I'd love to get into commissions of rebinding novels or working with authors to create special versions of their work.
I'm also open for custom journal designs.
@toplesstopics
Thank you! They are all hand painted.
I print out my drawing then use a metal stylus to trace it onto the leather using some tracing film. Then I paint the lines in with a paint pen.
I don't think the process has a name, it's one I developed to get around the expense of traditional gold tooling.