Creating Handmade Books [Paperback]

Alisa Golden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2000

Everyone has a story to tell--so make your own book to tell it with! From the scissors that snip the pages to the glues and stitches and ties that bind them; from elaborate compound structures with pockets to multiple signatures in a thick, sewn volume, here are the techniques you need and the styles you want. Cut and fold pages in a simple accordion, or hide a second book inside. Create pop-ups, fan, and slot-and-tab books. Construct handscrolls and hanging ones, soft- and hardcovers, even portfolios and boxes. Hundreds of illustrations and diagrams will guide you, and dozens of striking pictures will seize your imagination! The author lives in Berkeley, CA. 128 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10. NEW IN PAPERBACK

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Handmade books can speak volumes (pardon the pun) about the person who created them. Some see the process as a craft; Alisa Golden treats it as an art form. Unwilling to make a choice between writing and art, Golden discovered that by making her own books she could do both, each enhancing the other. Her meticulously constructed creations are intricately folded; cleverly cut; carefully bound; adorned with letterpress, linoleum cuts, silkscreen, acrylic paints, rubber stamps, collage, decorative papers, and other ephemera; and filled with poetry, stories, images, or sometimes just snatches of words and abstract streaks of color. After nearly two decades of making books, she's still excited by each new production. That excitement comes through as she leads us on a journey of discovery from inception to finished book. Extensive directions and detailed diagrams teach us how to construct cut and folded books, sewn and/or glued structures, soft- and hardcover bindings, and variations such as portfolios, presentation boxes, and Jacob's ladder books.

Golden's own very interesting works are amply illustrated, but they are there for inspiration, not to be slavishly imitated. Beginners therefore may be somewhat intimidated; despite the thorough instructions, readers are called upon to use their imaginations when envisioning their own books. But Golden provides plenty of suggestions on finding content to fill these creations, advising us to experiment with words as we do with art materials. With her loving encouragement, even newcomers to the field will be rewarded--probably even more so than if they had simply copied someone else's designs. --Amy Handy

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806988258
• ISBN-13: 978-0806988252
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Find For Aspiring Book Artists, April 21, 2000

By 

Mary H. Hubbard (Oswego, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Handmade Books (Paperback)

Although this book may not be well-suited for the advanced book artist, it's a fabulous find for anyone interested in learning the art of bookmaking. And the directions are clear and concise, allowing the reader to fully comprehend and produce the many wonderful projects that are outlined in this book with ease and amazement.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY WELL done book!, April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating Handmade Books (Paperback)

This is one of those books you are glad you invested in. The book ideas/photos are inspirational, instructions very clear and the reading interesting; just a VERY WELL done book. Good reference book. Good for both beginner and experienced book maker. Includes mini-books.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars try something else, July 14, 2003

By 

Erica (N Richland Hills, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Handmade Books (Paperback)

I would not recommend this book if you are trying to learn how to create your own journals/books. I found this book to be more about the "artist" Alisa Golden and what she has created than about teaching me how to do it. There are examples of books you would never want to create. It does provide some useful instruction, but I thought "Handcrafted Journals, Albums, Scrapbooks, and more" by Marie Browning was much more helpful for what I wanted.