the gold tooling was quick and easy to do with 3 singular florettes on the spine, and quite economical as it used very little gold. The blocked design on the covers was beautiful but also very efficiently done. Made possible by the very soft boards.

the endband sewing was extremely quick due to the doubling up of the threads, but any time saved from minimal tie downs was off set by how fiddly the process was because the core is never properly secured!

the sewing structure was a little different from other book models I've made. Firstly no measuring, and no pre-slitting or pre-piercing. The entry and exit points of the needle was either side of the sewing supports, which built up some bulk from the increased amount of thread.

Some highlights/insights from the binding process: - using pulp boards for the first time. The softness of the board made it both easy and frustrating to work with. - minimal leather paring!

Speed, efficiency of production & material economy were crucial to production, so there was a lot of "eyeballing" of measurements. The final result is full of wonky character, but we sure did finish these models much faster than we completed the Romanesque bindings!

Last week, @JimBloxam taught us abt Cambridge bindings as we made a copy specific model based on a 16th C book from CUL (Bassingbourn 122). it was insightful to see in action changes in binding practices as mass production of printed books was taking off (100 yrs post Gutenberg).

New book model incoming... This time, we are making a Coptic binding structure! I absolutely love this Endband.

I've also loved seeing the chevron pattern show up on the various sewing patterns. It's a motif very familiar to me from Norman architecture and one of my favourite things about Romanesque art! 🔰

It's a slower, more methodical process, which is fitting for the monastic context, equally contemplative and meditative. The sewing was decorative but add so much construction to the entire structure. Much of the mechanical movement of the book is made by the sewing.

We had @Shaun_Thompson_ from @theUL back with us this week to help us make a copy specific model of a Romanesque book from Pembroke College, Cambridge! The medievalist in me enjoyed every minute.

Working on something exciting this week...

First Year Study Trip is back!! 31 of our BA Carving and BA Conservation students travelled to Paris for a study trip with Tutors. We are thrilled to have it back on the calendar. Find out more about the amazing sights they got to see... https://t.co/iTspZXpLZN

Once the paper has been washed, repairs were made to support the weak folds and infill areas of loss, using toned Japanese paper.

It was my first time treating iron stains, which was challenging. Following some research & consultation with tutors, I tried a 2-step approach using a chelator & a reducing agent to remove the metal ions & reduce the oxidation stain from the paper, which worked very well!

Returned this print to Portobello Print & Map Shop yesterday, who kindly gave permission for me to share the treatment of their etching of the Great London Exposition of 1862. The large print had tidemarks/iron stains + deep creases which had weakened the paper at the folds.

Spent Saturday learning all about #medieval endbands with @greens_books and @SoBLandS! We looked at Arthur's beautiful models and even practiced making some ourselves. Very interesting to learn about their structural function and ways to adapt them for endband repairs.

The hollow is working perfectly! 🤩

It's reading week at City & Guilds, so I spent the week @bainbridgecons studio! We worked on a lovely artist sketchbook & hope to finish a family bible by today. Thanks for hosting me, Abby! It's been great to learn abt your studio practices/design + learn some new techniques!

Quite the leather-tastic day today with a class trip to Harmatan Leather, the Leather Conservation Centre, and the Leathercraft Museum! We learned everything from the tanning/manufacturing process, to the history of the craft, to its conservation issues.

Went to the BM for a talk by Christopher de Hamel about his new book. Always a delightful storyteller. And what a treat to see the BM without the crowds!