Mayfly endbands...

 End banding and end banding silks. Part of the palette.

 End banding... the start. A simple, single core end band.

End banding. Unlike the more traditional approach to the sewn end band... 3 white 3 red 3white etc the contemporary end band can form part of design narrative. With the colour palette I have for this book I am looking for a multi coloured or banded look. The colours will jump and flow across the end band. Threads are added and taken away, grouped and spread. I work from the front of the book with the view of the finished end band in my eye and I tie down at each section. Please note, I am aware of other end band techniques and methods of working. I am using this particular technique because it is in keeping with my current approach to contemporary bookbinding. Please also note, I am aware of other contemporary methods etc.

BookArts. Lincolnshire College of Art and Design.

Back to college. Back to the beginning of many things. NOW and other books by the wonderful students on the foundation course (Arts) Lincolnshire College of Art and Design. For all but one of the students (the average age was about 18 with one mature student) this was the first book they made. All miniatures, all complete books and all done in an afternoon. We started the day with an introduction, then an illustrated lecture about the book.. past, now and possible futures. Just before lunch I showed some of my books to the students... all employing the same or similar techniques to the ones we were to explore in the afternoon... Enjoy. Please note, not all the students work is shown and there is no particular order to the work.

A new commission... Mayflies of the Driftless Region.

A new commission... Mayflies of the Driftless Region.

Mayflies of the Driftless Region. Wood engravings by Gaylord Schanilec. Identifications by Clarke Garry.   Midnight Paper Sales 2005.

Limited edition of 400. This being number 3 of 13 in sheets.

A wonderful book.

After a lot of thought of the design and colours, work begins on the endpapers. The endpapers are produced using a Flottage technique, colours are floated on water and transferred to paper. Similar to marbled paper, however the Flottage technique uses oil based inks and is far looser in the patterns formed.

Front end paper and possible Doubler

Back end paper and possible Doubler.


The end papers are "Made" and will be leather jointed. I have chosen to use these for a number of reason.  I think they work well with the theme, the colours being spring, light and full of undulations, waves and rivulets. the tiny spots a reflection of the myriad, the clouds of Mayflies that dance and delight the eye with a cacophony of colour.