Customer Reviews

Making Memory Books by Hand: Memories to Keep and Share

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was very highly recommended by many very experienced and respected multi media/rubber stamp artists and I'm glad that I've finally own it after a lot of deliberation whether to purchase it or not. I have found it more to be a source of inspiration and constant ideas. The photos are detailed and clear. There are step-by-step projects throughout the book however, it assumes you are not a complete newbie at bookbinding. When I read this book - I was new to bookbinding though an experienced craftsperson and if you are fairly quick to learn or work things out - you would be able to follow. I was able to create my first "Coptic Binding" book by modifying the project in the book and I was very impressed. I can see this book as a tool of reference for many years to come, as it features over 90 memory book - however, not just standard books - ones of different shapes: houses, hand/palm prints, the various custom made "boxes" enclosing/presenting these memory books. And the they're not just made from cardstock/paper they also include creations from clay, cloth, natural elements (twigs, bark) etc ... showcasing the brilliant artistic creations from creative minds. Should you want ideas and inspiration for drop-dead fantastic artistic and stunning memory books (and I don't mean your normal cutesy scrapbooking memory books) - you have to get this book. On a scale of 1-10 to me it's a 15! .. I would definitely buy it over again.. most inspriational and worth every cent of it's A$43.00 (Australian currency) - and for me - to purchase such an expensive book - it must be REAL good.... enjoy it!

This book is one for both reference and INSPIRATION. The title alone would not make you pick up the book but, ignore that, and buy it if you are a paper arts enthusiast. All books are creations of an artist and are eye candy. If you like Somerset Studio Magazine, Shereen LaPlantz's books and Michael Jacob's creations... you'll love this!

"Make yourself comfortable in that sofa and take a look at this book." That's an invitation I want to extend to visitors who find their way to my studio. I want them to sit at their ease in that sofa and turn the pages of a book that attractively tells how I came to transform a dilapidated 1920s garage building (the "carbarn") into a fully renovated and well equipped hand bookbinding studio. At last I have a book that will guide me for making MY memory book. MAKING MEMORY BOOKS BY HAND is the only book making book I have seen that presents the concept of turning your memories into a book whose very structure contributes to the story you are telling. This well illustrated and well conceived book introduces you to presentation techniques that will surely awaken stories that you should tell and will give you ideas for how to select a book form to make the telling worthy of the tale.

While this book is attractive, and the projects beautiful and inspirational, I want to warn anyone who is looking for accurate instructions to stay away! After a brief examination, I can give several examples of incorrect or unclear directions. For instance, on page 100, step one for creating an accordion book reads "First, cut a 5 1/2" x 4" (14 cm x 10 cm) strip of paper and fold it accordion style." An accordion book made according to these instructions would look like one of those paper fans you used to make as a child, not what is pictured in the book! What the author meant was cut a strip of paper that is 5 1/2" x (4" x the number of pages you want). Urrrrgggh! Or how about on page 52 when the author tries to explain the creation of signatures: "Note that the spines for the first and last signature should be cut differently, with a full page on the outside of each to be used for a title sheet at the beginning or for a decorative page at the end." Huh? Cut differently how? Is she really talking about endsheets? And what does that have to do with the spines? Anyway, inspirational: yes; accurate: no way!!!

Nothing against the previous reviewer, but thankfully this book is NOT designed for the average crafter. There are more than enough books for beginners in my opinion and so I was thrilled to see the talent of the artists in this book. It has a large gallery section and is wonderful inspiration for those of us who can pretty much look at a project and figure out how to do it.

I agree that if you are a complete beginner to making art books and journals, it would be helpful to get a book like Cover to Cover to explain the basics.

I bought this book on the premise that the projects would be inspiring, well planned, and beautiful. One out of three is bad.

The projects were indeed beautiful, but I found them to be complicated, not well documented and entirely difficult for the average crafter to recreate. I found the projects in Creating Handmade Books by Alisa Golden and Bookworks by Sue Dogget much more approachable and desirable.

I'd borrow this book from the library rather than buy it--nice to look at, but completely unusable.

Love this book. One of the best craft type books I ever brought. Does not show you the basics. In fact it does not give you much instruction at all (You could buy "Creating Handmade Books" by Alisa Golden, which complements this book well by teaching the stiches, bindings, etc.) "Making Memory Books" makes for a great inspiration book. One to pick up and flick though when you want new ideas. I have sticky notes all through my book with notes to my self about what I can do when I get around to the project. Its going to take me several years to get through it all.

This is an absolutely beautiful book. I wasn't especially looking for a step-by-step guide; I was, however, looking for inspiration. And this book gives that and more. The photographs are very clear. The page layout is quite nice, not so cluttered that you can't see precisely what is being shown. The book is a little expensive. But I feel it was worth every cent. I refer to it over and over for new ideas.

I agree that the projects and samples in this book are gorgeous and inspiring, but I wouldn't recommend buying this book unless you already have some bookmaking experience. I'm a beginner, and this book doesn't explain how to assemble signatures, etc. They just assume you already know bookbinding techniques. I recommend Cover to Cover for a good description of how to do basic techniques, and this book for the intermediate book maker who wants to make some beautiful art.

Not for the beginner, unless seeking inspiration, this book is an awesome find for those of us who already have learned basic bookbinding skills. Not every book needs to be at the basic level to be any good! This book is a gem. I've opened it often!