Hello From Bristol, Uk

[BristolBowgirl]

Hello,

 

My name is Andrea and I live in Bristol in the south west of England.

 

I have used FP off and on since school in the 1980s and have a fondness for an old plastic Waterman that I purchased on the school French exchange whilst in Brittany in a small place called Ploudalmezeau.

 

My best pens so far are a Waterman Hemisphere, bought in approximately 2005 and a Cross Century II given to me by my fiance.

 

I also have an interest in paper, having completed a BSc in industrial paper manufacture from UMIST in 1994. further to my interest in paper, more recently I have taken up bookbinding and have mastered a variety of binding types. My favourite binding is Coptic which leave the stitching at the spine exposed and I like to use a coloured linen binding thread to complement or contrast with the bookcloth of the cover.

 

Andrea

[Wahl]

Hi Andrea

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!!

[PaulS]

Hi Andrea - welcome to FPN - hope you enjoy your time here Gosh - someone here beside myself who enjoys bookbinding!

I've done the odd Coptic sewing example, so understand what's involved, though I'm unsure as to whether it's legitimate for the method to be called real bookbinding …………….. as you'll obviously know, the style lacks any rounding and backing, there's an absence of a hollow or tight spine. neither is there any adhesive - though that might count as a blessing - perhaps in the C4 the Copts couldn't find the p.v.a. But as a style it does have one big advantage in that when opened, the book will lay 100% flat, unlike many of my books that seem to have a dislike for opening………. but I'm humbled by your having 'mastered a variety of binding types - you sound very accomplished.

I'm notorious for going off-topic, but of the library, full leather or case binding styles, which do you prefer? ………….. and you thought you came here to discuss pens

 

Coincidentally, I bought a Cross f.p. today - though no idea which model, but the nib is gilt coloured, so hopefully it's 14 ct.

[BristolBowgirl]

Hi Andrea - welcome to FPN - hope you enjoy your time here Gosh - someone here beside myself who enjoys bookbinding!

I've done the odd Coptic sewing example, so understand what's involved, though I'm unsure as to whether it's legitimate for the method to be called real bookbinding …………….. as you'll obviously know, the style lacks any rounding and backing, there's an absence of a hollow or tight spine. neither is there any adhesive - though that might count as a blessing - perhaps in the C4 the Copts couldn't find the p.v.a. But as a style it does have one big advantage in that when opened, the book will lay 100% flat, unlike many of my books that seem to have a dislike for opening………. but I'm humbled by your having 'mastered a variety of binding types - you sound very accomplished.

I'm notorious for going off-topic, but of the library, full leather or case binding styles, which do you prefer? ………….. and you thought you came here to discuss pens

 

Coincidentally, I bought a Cross f.p. today - though no idea which model, but the nib is gilt coloured, so hopefully it's 14 ct.

 

Hi Paul

 

My favourite style so far is Smyth Sewn, it is really satisfying to construct a book that you could find in a bookshop and will last for years. My sister self published a book that was only printed in paperback so as a birthday present I bound it for her as a hardcover using the Smyth Sewn method sewing the signatures onto linen tapes and attaching headbands.

 

I have got a pair of backing boards that make rounding and backing the spine relatively easy. I hold the bookblock between the backing boards in a black and decker workmate and then I have a cobblers hammer to round the spine. I have only worked with bookcloth so far and must look into leatherwork sometime.

 

I can also produce hardcover perfect bound books but I do use a hacksaw to cut shallow notches into the spine into which I lay linen cord whilst gluing the book block reinforcing the spine. This style is the most unsuitable for notebooks as they are more resistant to opening until the spine has been broken in.

 

For my recent university studies (postgrad diploma in software engineering) I made all my own notebooks using Coptic method.

 

Another tip for a nice hard-wearing cover... Waitrose sell a Kraft paper wrapping paper that's printed with designs (mine has several different shades stars). Glued onto 2.5mm grey board it makes quite a modern looking book.

 

My favourite place in London is Shepherds and is so conveniently located just round the corner from Victoria coach station!

 

Andrea

[ThomasB]

Hello and welcome from Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Enjoy your time here

[PaulS]

Andrea - we must be wary of digressing excessively, and my apologies for chatting too much about binding!, but I understand all that you say about techniques - it's an absorbing and therapeutic craft, until something goes wrong and the air turns blue. But - have to say I've never heard of Smyth Sewn - my work is almost always sewn on supports of linen tapes, sometimes using book cloth and sometimes with leather. Have you yet tried sewing the end bands instead of using pre-sewn strips ? and you must invest in a lying press - much better than a B. & D. Perfect bound books lack traditional sewing and presumably don't incorporate a hollow, so not built for lasting a couple of centuries, and grey board is softer than millboard, though cheaper to buy of course. Are you a member of S.o.B. or D.B.?

I do buy from Shepherds - I'm in the Greater London area so the journey doesn't take long, but they are a tad expensive.

We have a sub-forum here for ''whatever else do you do with your time'', or similar - you must show us some of your binding work, soon, and of course your pens, too.

We must now desist - best of luck.

[OCArt]

Welcome to this friendly little corner of the universe from a fountain pen user in San Diego.

[jar]

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell.

[mitto]

Greetings and welcome to FPN.

[CrimsonBlood]

Another person from South West! Welcome

[ardene]

Hello and welcome to FPN! Congrats on making your own codices!

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[Henricum_Tropen]

Hello Andrea and welcome to FPN, from Cape Town, South Africa.

[SchaumburgSwan]

Welcome Andrea,

 

handmade books and fountain pens! Great combination... :-)

 

Greetings

Jens

[Stompie]

Hello from Portsmouth.

 

Book binding, what a joy! No need for you and Paul to stop talking about it, just wander over to another more relevant thread/topic board!

 

However, without pictures how on earth are we meant to really appreciate what you guys are talking about eh!