The Binder's Bench

Behind the Bindery: How We Make Our Heirloom Albums

A closer look at how our heirloom albums are made — from heavyweight pages to hand-crafted spines and leather-bound covers. Built to last, and made to hold what matters most.

Create Your Own Bookbinding Tool Kit

You don’t need every tool to get started — just a few essentials and the time to begin. In this guide, Simon breaks down what’s truly useful at each stage: beginner, mid-range, and dream kit. Pract...

Choosing the Right Paper for Bookbinding: A Beginner's Guide

Not sure which paper to use?Start here. This simple guide walks you through the essentials — plus a free printable swatch sheet to keep by your workbench.

Make Your Own Book Cloth

With the recent launch of our online course, The Beginner’s Bookbinding Blueprint we have been talking a lot about bookbinding materials. In our beginner’s course (both online and in person) we cre...

Starting Out in Bookbinding: A Few Lessons

I started bookbinding by accident — helping out at my dad’s bindery while recovering from a back injury. I watched, followed along, and slowly found my way. Here are a few things I wish I’d known b...

Why Learn Bookbinding (Especially Now)

There’s something about mid-year that makes you want to slow down and make something with your hands. If you’ve been feeling the pull, this is your sign to begin. In this post, we share what bookbi...

New to Bookbinding? This Is For You.

New to bookbinding?You don’t need fancy tools or experience — just a bit of time and the curiosity to try. Our free Beginner’s Guide to Bookbinding covers the basics: tools, stitches, and simple fi...

Join Me For a Day in the Bindery

No two days are the same up here. Some are steady and quiet, others more hands-on and full of conversations. But for the curious — here’s what a typical day might look like in the bindery. It often...

What Goes Into a Handcrafted Book? A Peek Behind the Press.

Imagine holding a handcrafted book in your hands. The quiet weight of it. The gentle ripple of decorative or marbled papers under your fingertips. A faint scent — leather, perhaps, or paper — rises...