Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms Paperback – Import, January 4, 2011

I found this title through my local library, and checked it out until I exceeded the number of times I could check it out. At that point I knew I had to get my own copy for my home library. I have several other titles on binding books, each with its own reasons to recommend it, and I am not a beginner in making handmade books. The thing I enjoyed so much about this volume is the number of new ways to bind, fold and construct paper into interesting kinds of books. That was something not as present in my other books, and a welcome addition. Some methods require sewing, some need glue, and there are several other methods that need neither! These books could be made by children, but some are brain teasers that are enjoyable to work through and learn, making a book result that's unique.I found the diagrams and photographs to be just what was needed, not overwhelming but with enough information visually to guide me through the instructions. Some things do need to be worked through manually to be totally understood, but I found that interesting and challenging, not a problem.I liked the suggestions for uses that were made for the different forms of books and cards, but expanded on them for some of my own individual projects, which didn't narrow me down to a narrow channel I felt I had to choose.I have made six different design styles of books from this volume so far, and have ideas to keep trying on other forms. Journaling, printmaking, drawing and painting will all find their way into results from this book by Alisa Golden. I find myself re-reading it from the beginning even after finishing the whole volume, and finding new nuggets of useful information the second and third time through. The narratives and stories about the origins of some of the designs make it seem more personal and less like a textbook, and I enjoyed reading them as much as the instructions for the volumes.In short - buy and enjoy this book no matter what your level of knowledge or your plans for creating and you will find your own useful bits to try and interesting things to encourage your creativity. Thank you, Alisa Golden, for the original volumes and for this compiled union of your earlier books, I love it and I know I will continue to enjoy it in the future!

I am enjoying working my way through this book as it has simple instructions, starting with a logical progression of difficulty. The photos of finished books are inspiring, giving one's creativity a boost.

Well designed, well photographed with good descriptions

No sé si es el mejor libro pero me encanta tenerlo para coleccionar

perfect overview

Good

Making Handmade Books sits here on my desk beckoning me to open it and to make one, just one tiny thing a day. Right now I am fascinated with the envelopes made with circles. I am a mixed media collage artist who makes artist books, envelopes, enclosures, pockets and lot and lots of mail art from found papers. There is plenty for me to work from in this book, more challenging projects and then quick and easy ones I can do with my teens on a quiet evening. This book is so well organized with instruction and inspiration. I really appreciate the tone in the instructions, clear with a sense of a real person writing them- not a remote master of technique who expects the reader to follow his example. I am kind of obsessed with paper and books. Reading Ms. Golden's book is the best kind of book for me, dense and well populated with gorgeous examples and clear instructions.Thank you Alisa, for writing it!

Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms is reprint of past books by Alisa Golden. Whether the book is useful depends on what you seek.Helpful for those who already know bookbinding, Alisa Golden's Making Handmade Books 100+ Bindings offers various binding styles.The best introduction to bookbinding for beginners exists in Cover To Cover: Creative Techniques For Making Beautiful Books, Journals & Albums by Shereen LaPlantz with detailed stitch by stitch, step by step illustrated instructions. Her writing is clear, easy to follow, gently encouraging and kindly. The Art & Craft of Handmade Books: New Ideas and Innovative Techniques presents genuinely inventive and creative book styles for advanced bookbinders.For a personal approach Live & Learn: Real Life Journals: Designing & Using Handmade Books (AARP) by Gwen Diehn provides guidance in identifying a book style to match your specific needs (gardening, shared collaboration, music, food, photos, fishing), how to assess journal suitability to improve subsequent book binding planning. There is more guidance for thinking about the bookbinding process than contained in Making Handmade Books.For integrating bookbinding with content (pop-ups, writing, illustration), Paul Johnson's Literacy Through the Book Arts, A Book of One's Own: Developing Literacy Through Making Books, Pictures & Words Together: Children Illustrating and Writing Their Own Books and New Pop-Up Paper Projects: Step-by-step paper engineering for all ages contain explicit directions for folding the single sheet book forms seen in Making Handmade Books, for making 3 dimensional forms, for using the book form to support perspective drawing. Johnson has been teaching bookmaking as a vehicle for literacy since 1985, his literate writing is a joy to read and his information is comprehensive. Fully detailed instructions for the folded forms are included. Making Handmade Books has photos of bindings but does not contain complete instructions as in Johnson's books.For visual inspiration without instruction The Penland Book of Handmade Books: Master Classes in Bookmaking Techniques offers stunning spreads from a renowned crafts school, Masters: Book Arts: Major Works by Leading Artists master craftsmen's contributions, 500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form (500 Series) contains 500 ideas. Any one of these 3 books is more inspiring than Making Handmade Books; all 3 together contain a lifetime supply of ideas.If you have never bound a book and want to thumb through these few pages to see what might appeal, borrow Making Handmade Books from the library before you decide to buy. Unfortunately I bought from Amazon before actually seeing the book. The other books recommended above are far superior in writing content and display.