Sometimes when I’m marbling I stop myself before taking out a comb or stylus. The design and color looks so good even before I’ve done anything to it. I take a pause…and consider my options. Should I print it right now or try and create something even more unique/interesting?

These are examples of the ones that I chose to print as they were.

This is my most recent design binding - Happy Abstract by William Blake. It was done for the OPEN * SET show put on by the American Academy of bookbinding. It will be submitted for jury review in September and if chosen, in 2020, will travel to:

New York City – The Grolier Club
San Francisco – The American Bookbinders Museum
Salt Lake City – Marriot Library, University of Utah
Austin – Austin Public Library

This book was printed with one line of text on each page and the bookbinder’s were invited to carry our work through to the inside pages of the book (photos of that coming soon). I chose to marble the pages with thin lines of intersecting color. I also added in gold leaf in abstract pattern.

Details on the design: black, marbled goat skin, marbled edges, hand-sewn endbands, black doublures.

This book is my go-to for cloth photo albums. I’ve been making them for many years and have really refined the design.

There are many choices for cloth and marbled paper end-sheets / accent on the box. Photos are mounted onto acid-free Stonehenge paper.

Re-binding of my signed copy of Rebecca Atwood’s book Living with Pattern.

Details: navy goat skin, blind tooling, shibori dyed fair goat, hand-marbled paste down, leather hinges, Japanese paper flexi end-sheets, hand-sewin endbands.

My Suminagashi papers are usually done on colorplan paper because it loves to soak up the color! Colorplan has a wonderful texture and is a heavier weight making these papers ideal for the cover of journals, bookmarks, gift tags or other craft projects.

For in-stock sheets visit my Etsy store at (EchoArtBindery).

Re-binding of Jess Brown’s book The Making of a Rag Doll.

Details: dyed goat skin, leather transfer, onlays, hand-cut letters, suminagahshi marbled edges, hand-sewn endbands.

The Art of Marbling - There are many different ways to achieve a "marbled" effect on paper or fabric. I marble with acrylic paint on a bath of water that is made thick by the addition of  carrageenan (the powder form of a type of seaweed).  Each of the paint colors is dropped onto the bath spreading out in a circle like oil in water.  After I add the paint I use a marbling comb or stylus to create a pattern. There are countless possibilities for color and design. 

All of my marbled papers are one-of-a-kind but if you see something that you’d like me to try and re-create I’d be happy to.

For in stock options visit my Etsy store (EchoArtBindery).

Uses: frame and display as artwork, end-sheets for bookbinders, stationery, various craft projects

This book is currently on tour with the Guild of Bookworkers FORMATION exhibition where it will travel to:

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
June 15 — October 21, 2018

Robert C. Williams Papermaking Museum
Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA
November 1, 2018 — March 7, 2019

Charles E. Young Research Library Lobby Gallery
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
March 15 — May 25, 2019

North Bennet Street School
Boston, MA
June 5 — July 27, 2019

University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA
August 1 — October 30, 2019

Details on binding: blue goat skin, leather onlay, painted edges, mylar lamination, edge treatment with acrylic wash and gold leaf, hand-sewn endbands, marbled paper paste down and fly leaves, leather hinges.

All albums are made to order using the finest materials available. Please call or email for a quote.

Do you have a favorite children’s book that was loved so much it’s in dis-repair? Let me re-bind it for you and turn it into a beautiful fine binding.

Details on this binding: brown goat skin, mylar lamination, circle inlay, leather hinges, paper paste down and flyleaves, custom clamshell box.

I love making these contemporary style marbled papers. When I’m doing them I think of street graffiti, Jackson Pollack, and other free flowing art. Often times I’ll over-marble patterns one or more times to add depth, and detail.

Please contact me with projects for your work place. Ideas for binding include longstitch, link stitch (as shown here), coptic bindings, screw-post binding, Japanese stab stitch…