Shelly has published one of the most detailed and complete tutorials that I’ve ever seen on chain stitch binding.  I’m not sure if this would be considered a Coptic binding style or not (I think it is), but Shelly has photographed and stepped through each stage so clearly that I’m totally convinced that I can do this!

While you’re there, you also need to visit Shelly’s gallery, where you will spend some happy time drooling over her collages, altered books, doodles, and artist trading cards.  This is a mixed media artist with wide and varied skills!
Image: Cat Sidh

The newest issue of the bookbinding and book artist online journal, The Bonefolder, is now available for downloading.   This spring issue has several articles on bookbinding tools, including how to make some of your own.  There’s also a special feature on doing gold tooling and several reviews of exhibits and publications.

Artist: Mychal Mitchell
Website: Iona Handcrafted Books
My story is one of blessings in disguise…back in 1992, upon graduating from Arizona State University School of Architecture and Design, I took off on an adventure through Europe…5 months into the journey I had my backpack stolen in the train station in Rome. My friend, Cristiano chased the young boy through the crowd to no avail! Gone were my camera, walkman, passport, money, plane ticket and several rolls of film I’d shot along the way…but most devastating was the loss of my journal!

Days later, in Venice, I was talking with a street …read more

I’ve loved making hand-made books for years, whether it’s decorating the cover or building one from scratch.
I just found this fantastic site with step-by-step instructions for making a handmade book using Coptic binding, a technique that’s been around for almost 2000 years!
Like I needed another project