Customer Reviews

Handmade Books And Cards

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book starts out with a brief history and then goes on discusses materials, tools, typography, & printing methods. Instructions for making patterned papers & adding extra decorative touches are also included.

Beginners will love the easier projects with clear step-by-step instructions accompanied by detailed illustrations, while advanced bookbinders will find plenty of unique and challenging book designs & techniques.

You learn to make 6 different cards, hardcover albums, scrolls, fans, blinds, French doors & much more. Many bindings are also covered including the pamphlet, Japanese stab, crossed ribbon, concertina, & coptic.

The many color & b/w examples are beautiful & imaginative. They really helped inspire me. A resource list of suppliers, groups & workshops is a nice bonus. If you can only buy one bookbinding book, this is the one to get.

Kropper offers an interesting take on books and cards. Her Freida paperdoll is beautiful and interesting, and would make a beautiful gift. Kropper offers lots of techniques including sewn bindings, scrolls and concertinas with a good preface on the history of the book. However, I found that most of the books used for illustration were not functional but simply artistic. Some of the photoraphs show large books permanently open with curling pages, bark covers, etc. I prefer books I can actually write it after completion.

The logical layout and organization of the "how-to" information make this a well rounded book. The excellent photographs of many one-of-a-kind books make this a stunning resource.

Over the last six months I have taught myself simple bookbinding and Kropper's Handmade Books & Cards has been one of my best resources. The diagrams for stitching bindings are excellent--clear and complete--and really have been useful to me as a novice bookbinder. If you're looking for well articulated techniques, as well as great ideas, this is a book for you.

This book covers areas and ideas that I have not seen in other books. Very original ideas and applications with found objects. A must in the library of a bookbinder, card maker or artist in general!

I am sorry to say I did not write a review till now, but I'm glad I finally am doing it. This book is very good and I learned a difficult bookbinding technique and even sold a few books I made. I will be using this book for many years to come. Thanks.