Get together for conversation and tips

We had an unusual meeting for the group this month in that we were not making anything, but simply sharing some of our work and best tips. 

Members brought along their favourite book, mostly made in 2025, and we were able to have a more in depth discussion about what we liked about the books, why they were a  particular favourite and what we had learned.  It made for an interesting session, and was followed by a round up of useful tips, which included the following:

Nuovo deluxe glue. Very precise nozzle, good flow and some slippage

Crease paper or card both backwards and forwards if the paper will allow, especially when using origami techniques

For card with colour all the way through for tearing and cutting  try Florence card on Amazon

Using poetry
Try poems in the public domain for copywrite-free poetry

Liquitex satin finish for varnishing, especially useful for collage. Matt also useful

Maquettes are worth making, especially if your book will use expensive or scarce paper

 ‘Mr Sheen’ polish sprayed on top of varnished collage, then wiped off will help avoid pages sticking together

File book edges with sturdy emery board to smooth

Use a bread knife, or butter knife, for cutting paper to achieve rough/ lightly deckled edging of pages. Bread knives give a rougher edge

Nori paste is good for precision glueing (available online or in good art shops). Can be let down with water, and if dampened can be lifted.

To transfer  text into made  books, you can use a gelli plate. Type or write or print onto copy paper. Trace,  then put tracing onto gelli plate face down.. No need to reverse text. Burnish. Put a thin layer of paint onto a roller, remove tracing paper, and roll onto the plate. Add the final page . Burnish. Leave 10 minutes or so before removing paper.

Our bring and buy table added some useful funds to our ‘pot’.

Frances will be leading the February meeting, template  to follow. We will be making: