BOOKBINDING:

I have long been a chronicler of my experience. I still have stories I wrote as a child scribbled on little memo pads, and poems printed in little newsletters.

The first time I remember making a book was in third grade. It was a red accordion book with the letter A on the cover. I thought it was the most marvelous thing in the world. I couldn't believe I had made an actual book! It stuck in my mind for decades as something I enjoyed and got great pleasure from creating.

Fast forward 20 years when I finally found my way into a book binding class. That feeling of marvel and delight made my heart sing! I began learning about the materials, tools, book structures, and bindings I use in my work today.

Over time the materials and tools I use for my books have shifted as I've honed my skills and learned more about my craft. It's important to me that my books preserve over time, and that the materials I use have low impact on the environment.

For me book binding pulls together visual and design elements of art with crafting a functional object. The most special part of what I create is when one of my books become a space for someone to delve more deeply into their own inner world and the world around them, or a record of a celebration for friends and family that the celebrant/s can return to time and time again.

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THE PROCESS:

Each Coptic-stitch book takes from 2 to 4 hours to create from start to finish, although there are several days in between various parts of the process.

Whether working on a vintage or new book, I typically begin with the cover. For vintage covered books, I trim the cover to size, sometimes adding fresh end paper and a library-style pocket to the back. For new books, I cut bookboard and cover paper to size, adhere the cover paper to the bookboard, and press the covers for a week while they dry.

The next is generally true for all my books - I cut or hand-tear pages to size, fold them into registers, and press them for a week or more. Once all the parts are ready, I bind the pages into the cover, and press the completed book for a few more days. The completed book is then shipped to it's new home, or placed on my favorite bookcase while awaiting purchase.

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DISABILITY:

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2009 and Hashimotos in 2019. Looking back, it's obvious to me that I've been grappling with autoimmune disease for most of my life. In the past several years Lupus made it impossible to hold a regular full time job (there is always something about the work environment that encourages a flare). And Lupus has greatly impacted my ability to work in the mediums I first loved - for example, I can no longer create pottery due to the intensity of the chemicals and temperature fluctuations in a ceramics studio. I want to be productive and want to have a life in my community, and the best way I have found to do that is to create and share my art.

In 2011 and 2013 I had surgery to remove a rare breast tumor. I completed radiation treatment in March 2013 and weathered the immediate side effects pretty well. So far, I'm still cancer free!

In 2016 I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. It's rather difficult to say how long I've been coping with Lyme since the symptoms overlap with Lupus. Suffice to say it's been quite the blow. Because it was caught rather late, some of the neurological damage is permanent.

Despite these chronic conditions, I continue to create drawings for my greeting card line, develop my cartooning skills (I completed my MFA at Center for Cartoon Studies in May 2019), and craft high quality books. I am so appreciative for the support of my sweetie, friends, and family. And of course, you, my wonderful customers with whom I get to share my creations.