Expressive Handmade Books [Hardcover]

Alisa Golden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 2006

An increasingly popular craft trend receives awe-inspiring treatment by a major artist. Alisa Golden (Creating Handmade Books) has created a spectacular guide sure to enlighten both beginners and more advanced students. She provides invaluable instruction on structure--which is where newcomers will focus their energies first--as well as design and content, for those who already have some experience. From measuring and scoring to folding and cutting, from tools for bookbinding to useful media for writing and image-making, there's a rich store of information on the craft--and a wonderfully wide range of projects, too. Make accordion and flag books, including miniature volumes; side bindings, with cross stitching or laced edges; sewn signatures; portfolios; pop-ups; and other creative styles.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Golden takes an organic approach to bookmaking in her third how-to on the subject, an exceptionally attractive offering that encourages matching book content to book covering. With reference to her own handmade monotypes as well as to books designed and produced by several outside contributors (identified at the close of her book), she walks readers step-by-step through the creation of nearly 40 binding projects--folded, hinged, wrapped, and sewn. Several have fancy add-ons, such as ribbon decorations or multiple flaps and pockets; a few are shaped (a house, a rocket ship). Pleasantly chatty asides buttress the concise directions, which are accompanied by diagrams that clarify the assembly. Whether the content is a collection of poetry, original art, scrapbook memorabilia, or even a novel, Golden supplies the wherewithal for giving a favorite creative project the ultimate handmade finish. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (January 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402720513
• ISBN-13: 978-1402720512
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Printing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instructive and Inspirational, September 28, 2007

By 

J. Young (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Expressive Handmade Books (Hardcover)

After reading several books on bookbinding, this is one of my favorites that I find myself going back to again and again for both instruction and inspiration. On the craft of bookbinding, the instructions are clear and there are a number of interesting structures to explore. This book also moves into the realm of book artist, with the author explaining how she uses her experiences to develop content for her books.

After making blank books for some time, it's exciting to be inspired to develop books where both form and content work together.

Definitely worth having in your library.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really like this book, November 9, 2008

By 

trying to be greener "Jennifer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Expressive Handmade Books (Paperback)

This book is so easy to use and it has such wonderful ideas. I was shocked at how easy it is to make a book. This is a great idea book for homemade gifts. I love it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Technical Resource, December 17, 2010

By 

Dreamfisher (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Expressive Handmade Books (Paperback)

When I selected this book from my library database, I was particularly attracted to the word Expressive in the title. In my own artmaking, I access a good deal of intuititive direction, and have been expanding my painting and collage work into book formats. This book, however, is quite focused on specific structures, with thorough directions, illustrated steps, and photos of completed works. Sometimes, a book comes into your hands that turns out to be something you didn't realize you needed, and the project lessons in this book have been giving me that balance of technical knowledge, by suggesting formats and structures to house and showcase my artwork content.

Alisa's teaching style is clear and uncomplicated. And encouraging. In her own words: "The main thing is to begin. The next main thing is to finish. Anything can happen in between."

For purely inspirational images in modern book arts, I would suggest Lark Books, 500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form.