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.
Howdy Booklovers! Spring is in the air and we have been stitching like mad to prepare for a fantastic line-up of spring shows. We’ll be in Texas mostly in March and April, but then heading to New Orleans for the 2nd weekend of Jazzfest in May! Love that!! 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.