tools of the trade
tearing paper
template marking
cutting leather
poking hole in a leather with an awl
...and stitching
tools of the tradetearing papertemplate markingcutting leatherpoking hole in a leather with an awl...and stitchingIona Handcrafted Books is a studio where old-world-style leather books are made by hand with no machinery….only hand-held tools. This is the way that I was taught in Venice, Italy back in 1993. And though I have experimented with expediting the process, the end product is always most beautiful when the leather is cut by hand one at a time…when the paper is torn to size by hand one at a time….and, when each book is stitched and trimmed and strapped by hand it looks unlike any of the other 1000’s that I have made over the years.
Our books come with a Monk’s Lace… but since not everyone is an actual monk, we’ve put together a short video showing our favorite way of tying the knot.
Happy New Year folks! We’re back in the studio, and stitching like mad to prepare for a fantastic line-up of spring shows. If you wanna be kept ‘in the know’, join our mailing list ( look just to the right of this paragraph! ) to receive an email with a discount coupon when we come somewhere close to ya! Hope to see y’all soon!
There is a short article about Iona at BlissTree.com.
Also, there is an interview video with me (includes live behind-the-scenes action in my East Austin Studio!!)
No events scheduled.
Please sign up for our mailing list.