Cornell. Bookbinding with Shadows. Leather and covering.

After much sanding to smooth out the small lumps and bumps the spine and tail of the boards are leather bound.

The leather was then worked over with a 400 carbide paper and placed vertically in a finishing press.

When working with mixed media I prefer to have the book in a canvas like state. I can see all of the surfaces, how the relationship of the design to the book and the transition of the design in 360 degrees. 

Next is the layering of paper for the head and tail of the boards.

Though seemingly random, the paper is placed with considerable care.

Cornell. Bookbinding with shadows.

Cornell. Bookbinding with shadows. The boards have been attached with full aero linen along with the spine piece. This will be left to dry for a number of hours and then the sanding can begin.
 The forwarding process is critical to the finish of the book, get it wrong now and it will never be right.

Cornell. Bookbinding with shadows.

After a little searching I have found the cabinet for the Cornell book. 5 glass panels, doors that open... very Cornell.

Last night was the C L P E Award

Last night was the C L P E Award. A fine evening. The heat of the day radiated from the buildings and pavements around the revitalised Kings Cross area. Birds darted in the evening air and children played in the fountains. One of those perfect UK evenings that linger well past dusk.
Poets and other literary bods gathered at the House of Illustration, followed the Kings Cross Poetry Trail, chatted, listened to readings and drank Pimms.
The evening moved on with the sky moving through shades of pink, a hush fell and the speeches began. The usual thanks, ripples of claps and the knowing nods of agreement. Finally, Roger McGough took the stage........ The runner up.....Bookside Down by Joanne Limburg........ The winner of the 2014 C L P E Award goes to... Wayland, The Tale of the Smith from the Far North by Tony Mitton.

A Charming evening.

The presentation binding for Bookside Down.

The presentation binding for Wayland, bound in pewter with a swans feather.

Joseph Cornell, Bookbinding with shadows. End papers, edge decoration and prep for the end bands.

After sewing and rounding and backing Aero Linen is applied to the spine with adhesive and secondary sewing. The edges are sanded in preparation for the edge decoration.

The contrast of the finished edge decoration and the end papers highlights both.

Sections are flagged to the middle of the sections in readiness for the end banding. This will be in white silk over a laminated core of vellum and fairish goat.

Joseph Cornell. Shadowplay Eterniday.

One of my favourite artists.

End papers for Cornell.

This book promises to be something else. I just hope I can do it justice.

The paper has been hand dyed after the print work.