From the Workbench

From the Workbench is a peek at what's happening between the bonefolders, paper stacks, and cat naps.

These aren't blog posts - they're notes in the margin.

Quick moments, small messes, good stories in the making.

Like peeking over our shoulders, minus the awkward eye contact.

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July 7, 2025

The Stitch That Starts the Story

There’s a moment in every project that I quietly look forward to: sewing the text block.

It’s repetitive, a little meditative, and just fiddly enough to keep my full attention. The paper is already trimmed and folded, the cover materials waiting in the wings — but this part, right here, is when the book finally starts to become itself.

Can’t show you much of this project — it’s a confidential commission — but I can say: This one feels really good in the hands.

Hand holding a needle with thread against a neutral background

Close-up of a hand pulling white thread through a punched hole in a folded paper signature during the hand-sewing stage of traditional bookbinding. The stitch is being tightened along the spine of a custom handmade journal.

Close-up of a curved bookbinding needle sewing through a folded section of lined paper during the hand-stitching process of a custom journal. White thread loops through the paper signature, showing a detailed step in traditional bookbinding.

Hand-sewn book text block resting on a wooden workbench, showing exposed binding stitches and stacked paper signatures before the cover is added.

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June 17, 2025

Restoring a Family Treasure

Every book tells a story, and every restoration is a chance to continue that. Recently, we received a book with a worn cover and pages that showed their age. The cover couldn't be saved, but the textblock was in great shape—proof of how well it had been cared for over time.

A detailed close-up of a book restoration process, showing the careful repair of an old book. The image highlights the careful handling of fragile pages, as a technician gently works to restore the vintage text. This repair ensures the book’s longevity while preserving its original charm and historical significance. A detailed close-up of a book conservator carefully working on a removing a textblock from the book cover. The conservator is using a specialized tool to do this. The image demonstrates the fine precision required in book preservation, ensuring that each page receives the proper care while maintaining its historical value.

Restoring this book isn't just about fixing the obvious. It's about making sure it’s still ready to be enjoyed for many years to come, while staying true to its original character. Whether it’s a book that holds history, memories, or simply the joy of reading, we make sure that it’s restored with care and skill.

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June 1, 2025

Workshop Prep: Pamphlet-Style (June 8, 2025)

We’ve been cutting paper and counting needles — which can only mean one thing: a workshop is coming.

This Sunday, we’ll be teaching an intro to bookbinding: Pamphlet Binding. It’s one of our favorite ways to welcome new hands to bookmaking — simple, satisfying, and sneakily elegant.

The best part? You walk away with a stitched-up journal that you made with your own two hands (and possibly a new appreciation for linen thread).

We’ve packed tools, prepped kits, and triple counted text pages. It’s a bit of beautiful chaos over here, but the good kind — the kind with linen thread tangles and teasing needles rolling across the workbench.

Join us!