Over the past year I have been working on submissions to both the International and U.K Designer Bookbinders Competitions. On Thursday I attended the private view for the U.K Designer Bookbinders Competition where I was excited to have two books on display. The Set Book was Vita Nuova by Dante and my Open Choice entry was In Smoke by Canadian Printmaker and Wood Engraver Alan Stein. I was thrilled to receive the St. Bride Foundation Prize for Finishing for my Set Book and The Clothworkers’ Company Prize for Open Choice Book 2^nd Prize. I am honored to have my bindings exhibited along side such a talented group of Bookbinders and Book Artists and I look forward to participating in this competition again in the future.

 

 

Open Choice Book Description

IN SMOKE Ten Variations on Eugenio Montale

Poems by Gary Michael Dault. Wood engravings by Alan Stein

Ultra flat back book construction. Unsupported link stitch secondary sewn with full linen board attachment and skirting with ¾ hollow. Hand sewn endbands with hand sewn Manhattaning to tail. Hand printed leather jointed endpapers with edge-to-edge doublures.  Hand dyed fair goat. De-bossing to back board and cold gold de-bossing to front board with leaves.  Design inspired by reoccurring theme of the natural world and imagery of forests, foliage and gardens in relation to growth and the fragility of love.

 

Set Book Description

Vita Nouva - Dante

Unsupported link stitch secondary sewn with full linen board attachment and skirting with ¾ hollow. Book and three-dimensional figure covered in hand dyed fair goat. Full Sunago decoration.  Sewn silk endbands. Handmade digitally printed leather jointed endpapers with edge-to-edge doublures.

Design inspired by Dante’s dream of Beatrice in flames. The female figure represents earthly love while the gold flames rising into the night sky illustrate darker themes of mortality and religious transcendence.