Custom Order

I completed an unusual and challenging custom order before Christmas. The customer wanted to print the contents of a traveller's blog and have it handbound into a gift book for the blog's writer. Once I made sure the customer knew about the commercial services available for this very thing, and she expressed her firm desire to still have it handbound, we proceeded to iron out all the details of the order.

She had the blog printed out on a lovely slightly textured paper (8.5 x 11") and sent it to me (I blurred the text in the photo here to maintain the customer's privacy). Because it was printed on single sheets, I decided a hardcover Japanese/stab binding would be a good option. The blog writer was traveling around New Zealand, so maps of the area were used for the covers. I hinged both the front and the back covers--I thought it would be easier to read this way. I made some coordinating cotton bookcloth and added a thin satin ribbon for embellishment.

This was the biggest stab binding I've ever done, so I measured everything several times and made sure all the layers were clamped really well before I drilled the holes for sewing. Once I got to the sewing, I was so relieved that everything was working out--the sewing was the easiest part of the order! I used waxed linen thread in a tortoise shell pattern. I was very pleased with how the finished book turned out and mailed it off to the customer.

Thankfully she was as pleased with the result as I was, and left me this very kind and generous feedback on Etsy:
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! STUNNING! Laura created a wonderful book, her choice of covers and inside paper were lovely! The craftsmanship is fantastic, especially her attention to detail with the ribbon on the cover. This exceeded my expectations! This is truly a wonderful keepsake my daughter will treasure.