more frequent basis. Quarterly newsletters will be refocused to concentrate on more in depth Kohitātea January technical articles; binding design, methods and techniques, learning 2021 opportunities and book reviews.

Our network of bookbinders is NEWSLETTER developing thanks to an increasing number of regional representatives. Regional activities will migrate from the newsletter to our website where @ they can be quickly updated and discovered by search engines.

It’s a new life A supplier listing will be created on our I don’t know about you, but it feels to website now that ABC no longer me that 2020 just flew by! Our 50 day supplies tools and materials. We hope lockdown now feels so simple and to build the supplier list up with your easy in comparison to what most help - perhaps you can suggest a good people on this planet are continuing to supplier or want to know where to experience with the worldwide purchase items? pandemic. Go early, go hard, be kind……delivered us from ongoing Sadly, our attempt at providing our io restrictions, economic recession and group as a forum for lively exchange of unnecessary deaths. ideas, opinions and information, as well as fostering a sense of Pandemics are not new and have involvement for our widely scattered afflicted civilisations throughout membership appears to have failed. human history. Many of these From the feedback we’ve had, it pandemics have had significant seems that many of our members feel impacts on human society, from overwhelmed by the thought of significantly reducing the global learning about how to participate. We population to causing humans to will continue to use our io group for CONTENTS ponder larger questions about life. advertising fast moving items for sale as this is one activity that has been Editorial……….…………………….….1 Not surprisingly, the pandemic got the very successful. New ‘members only’ Executive to think about doing things areas will be developed on our website Regional groups…….….……….….2 differently and in turn this has so that you can access newsletters delivered some benefits to ABC and bookbinding instructions. Library books……….…………….….2 members. We now have an MailChimp messages will alert you to Australasian Executive that ‘meets’ these and provide a quick link. Book review……….………..…….….4 virtually thanks to our Zoom subscription. We hope to use Zoom to It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a ABC fees..…….…………………….….5 offer on line workshops, new life for us. demonstrations and technical help. Binding Competition & Terrie Reddish, Editrix Exhibition…….…………………….….6 This year we plan to keep you [email protected] informed by using MailChimp on a Tool………….….…………………….….6

2021 Showcase.…….………….….7

Mariemont Atelier du Livre….….8

Karen Hanmer…..……………….….9

Throughout NZ………………….…11

Contact us………..…………………14

it’s a new day, it’s a new year…

1 of 14 and photos in the quarterly newsletter the Executive feel Regional activities that it would be better to have these featured on our Our ABC Constitution currently has a Bylaw governing the website. The website pages would be available to the set up of Chapters: public and provide a free showcase for the group. 1. Generally, where there are several members living in the same, they tend to get together for the sharing of So if your group would like to be featured please send your ideas. Very often these groups form as a result of information to our webmaster Chris Stewart: attending a course or workshop. [email protected] 2. If it is felt that the group should received some official ABC Executive recognition, then a Chapter of ABC could be established, providing all members of the group are From our library financial ABC members. Book 367 “People 3. Generally Chapters that have been recognised so far have been from already established groups of of the Book” - members. Geraldine Brooks 4. If a Chapter wishes to receive a grant from the While the library is Executive to cover administration costs, then there temporarily in my home I should be a minimum of ten (10) paid up members as have had the pleasure of a basis of a Chapter. They are then obligated to looking, sorting and account for the expenditure to the Treasurer each year rearranging the books prior to the annual balance and auditing process. belonging to the ABC. 5. Individual Chapters being part of ABC must abide by I have taken and read the Rules and By-Laws of the Society. one such book as it rather intrigued me and We know that setting up a Chapter of ten paid up ABC seemed out of place. members is a huge challenge and that ABC membership is not valued by many bookbinders who are fortunate to be The “People of the Book” able to regularly attend the activities of a local group. So we is fictional based on a are in the process of reviewing the concept of Chapters and few known facts of the have begun to set up regional representatives throughout Hebrew Codex known as New Zealand. the Sarajevo Haggadah. The story traces its history back to 1492 and the Spanish Inquisition and while the novel We welcome more regional representatives. It is not an includes fictional characters and plots it is nevertheless an onerous job - basically we publish your name and contact interesting read starting in the year 1492 to 1609, 1894 to details on our website and in the newsletter so that ABC 2001 when a restorer of the book was privileged to watch members and members of the public could approach you a book conservator working on the book at the European to find out what ‘bookish’ things are happening in your Union Bank . region. We do not require you to lead any groups, organise events or other tasks unless you particularly wanted to. I found it an excellent read. Lynne Fryer We also know that one of the biggest costs facing bookbinding groups is the cost of hiring a venue. Because Borrowing ABC library books regional groups are made up of ABC members and others, Our Library is temporarily at Lynne Fryer’s home while we and they choose their own meeting places, the Executive make some decisions on what books to keep and what to does not feel that it is appropriate to financially assist sell and where to house the Library in future. If you would groups with venue hire. What we can do is share like to offer the Library a permanent home, please let us suggestions on free or inexpensive places to meet: know! • Menzsheds While the books are with Lynne she has kindly offered to • Libraries act as Librarian. Lynne is taking a well earned summer • Art Galleries/ Museums break right now and therefore is not available to help with • Community halls Library book loans until February. Books can be borrowed • Churches individually or in bulk for regional groups. • University Contact: Lynne Fryer [email protected] • Chamber of Commerce • at the premises of a commercial binder or printer. A big welcome to these new ABC members: You may not have realised that on our ABC website there is a page dedicated to Chapters and their activities. We want April Llanes Wellington to open up this listing to all regional bookbinding activities, Stephen Gilliver Wellington regardless of affiliation with ABC. Rather than put articles ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 2 of 14 Bennington College and is a graduate Library books 324 & 416 Recommended of the bookbinding program at North Bennet Street School. She books recommended Kōjirō Ikegami’s book I often ask bookbinders - what single Japanese Bookbinding as her go to book would you recommend book. bookbinders buy? I get lots of different answers depending on the interests of Library book 3 the individual bookbinders but I thought it was worth sharing the answers, especially as some are available on loan from our Library. I don’t know about you, but I have often stared at the list of ABC library books and wondered what might be worth borrowing…..so here’s a few to start with.

Library book 388 Julz Henderson, our local regional representative recommends Alisa Golden’s books especially for beginners and the best collection is 100+ bindings:

The next book is a must because over the years, so many people have Library book 212 recommended our Patron’s book The Thames and Hudson Manual of Book Binding by Arthur Johnson.

Library book 38

Library book 401

In 2019 Kathy Abbott was lured away from a cold October in London to deliver a number of workshops to groups in sunny, warm Sydney. Those of us on her workshops all agreed that Many of these books can still be our new ‘favourite essential text’ was purchased online, often second hand her book. While ABC does not have copies can be found. Good places to this book in our Library you can still look include Book Depository, Abe My ‘flatmate’ at the American buy a personal copy. Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride, Books, Oak Knoll Books, Jackson’s Art, J Hewit and Sons, Ratchford, eBay, was Conservator Lizzie Curren. Lizzie Sometimes you just need inspiration Fishpond, The Nile and so on. received her BA in Visual Art from from a picture book, so try 3 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 A Southern California Society for the Alie Ward: DARK ARCHIVES: History of Medicine. She is actively https://www.alieward.com/ Librarian's Investigation Into involved in a number of ways in the ologies/ the Science and History of Medical Library Association and other anthropodermicbiocodicology professional organisations. Books Bound in Human Skin Alie’s review also contains interesting links you might wish to follow up on. By Megan Megan Rosenbloom is the co-founder and director of Death Salon, the event See also: Rosenbloom arm of The Order of the Good Death, Innovative treatment using tilapia and a leader in the Death Positive (fish) skin as a xenograft for partial Anthropodermic bibliopegy is a long, movement. She is part of a research thickness burns after a gunpowder fancy way of saying “books bound in team called The Anthropodermic Book explosion: human skin” and the study of Project that aims to find the historic confirming or debunking them is and scientific truths behind the world’s https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ known as Anthropodermic alleged books bound in human skin pmc/articles/PMC6565829/ Biocodicology. Yes, books were bound in human skin Fish skin for human wounds: Iceland’s pioneering treatment “It’s easier to believe that objects https:// of human skin are made by www.bloomberg.com/ monsters like Nazis and serial news/features/ killers, not the well-respected 2017-06-27/fish-skin-may- doctors the likes of whom parents want their children to be-the-answer-to-chronic- become someday,” Megan wounds Rosenbloom writes. Oh, and by the way, there’s no evidence that In the mid-1960s a type of Nazis made books from human leather was developed to skin. emulate human skin for testing of biomedical devices: Human skin leather looks exactly https://siegelleather.com/ like that of other mammals, and product/medical-leather/ it is only through recent developments in DNA Bookbinders wanting to use sequencing technology that it alternatives to animal leather, has become possible to tell a might like to consider: skin-bound book from one that is • Bonded leather - made not. from excess leather off cuts from the textile and In case you are wondering, the footwear industry which are Anthropodermic Book Project, of then ground down before which Rosenbloom is a member, being reconstituted with a has identified only 18 books to binding agent which is then date that live up to their claim of rolled and formed into a being bound with human-skin. new stronger leather. (By claiming a volume was bound • Vegan leather - a smooth in skin, book dealers could improve and her debut book about this vinyl coated paper with a slight their profit margins, creating a good practice, titled Dark Archives: A leather grain, covered with a clear, incentive to lie.) It’s likely there are Librarian’s Investigation into the waterproof varnish, favoured by more human skin books “resting in Science and History of Books Bound in Moleskine and other brands. library stacks, hiding in plain sight,” Human Skin, was published October Rosenbloom writes. “Even if you were 20, 2020 with Farrar, Straus & Giroux. • Faux leather - made from a thick holding one right now, you probably In a former life she was a journalist in thermo reactive material has a wouldn’t be able to tell.” Philadelphia and continues to write for soft touch finish, which is both academic and non-academic particularly suited to debossing. It Megan Rosenbloom is Collection publications. has a slight patina designed to Strategies Librarian at UCLA Library in look and feel like leather, and is Los Angeles. Megan served as a Reviews: available in different grains. medical librarian for many years, James Hamblin, New York Times: • Kraft-tex - made from paper fabric where she developed a keen interest https://nyti.ms/37wexOj that is strong and flexible. It can in the history of medicine and rare be pre-washed to promote texture books. She is Obituary Editor of the Connor Goodwin, NPR: and dyed to look like leather. Journal of the Medical Library https://tinyurl.com/y694rsff • Handmade paper, material backed Association and President of the cork…. ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 4 of 14 I am regularly asked to provide workshops or assist with Where does my ABC fee go? organising workshops for various organisations, so I have I often get asked, ‘what does the ABC membership fee get first hand experience of the time and expense involved. I used for?”. The answer is actually provided at the AGM thought it worth detailing some of the basics for a week each year, but if you are like me, figures make my brain long workshop: glaze over. Because I regularly get asked about Tutor $3,000 membership fees, I thought it was worth my taking a closer - 5 days @ $100/ hour look at the Financial Reports presented to everyone at the Travel $1,000 AGMs over the last couple of years. Here’s what I - to and from tutor’s location discovered: Accommodation and meals $1,000 - 7 nights and 20 meals ______Income TOTAL $5,000 In the past, ABC made an income of around $6,000 each year from the purchase and on sale of materials and tools. These are just the basic costs, additionally there may be a Now that ABC does not provide this service this will no myriad of other costs such as workshop consumables, longer be an income stream and this has to be factored additional travel, venue hire, advertising, bank transfer fees into the financial planning for 2021 and beyond. and so on. These expenses generally have to be paid in advance in full or at least with a substantial deposit. To Additional income was made from organising workshops make workshops financially neutral it would be necessary delivered by well known overseas tutors. Because to have 10 participants paying at least $500 each to attend Australian bookbinding guilds have traditionally invited a workshop. This income often does not come in until just overseas tutors to their biannual conferences this has before the workshop, so there has to be money in the bank enabled ABC to also engage those tutors before or after a to enable associations to organise workshops. conference. A flight from Australia is much cheaper than one from London or San Francisco. Some of you will have noticed that our bank balances total around $40,000, which looks to be a large sum of money. From 2021 our income will primarily be from members This money has been slowly accumulated primarily due to subscriptions which generate around $5,000 per year. buying and selling materials. But as mentioned before, this Additional income may come from donated equipment that will no longer happen. It is normal , and financially is sold, along with workshop and competition entry fees. responsible, for incorporated societies to keep this level of funds as a cash reserve to cover a wide variety of potential Expenditure expenses: Depending on the task, Executive members can spend • organising overseas tutors to provide workshops in NZ many hundreds of hours per year doing work for ABC, but (flights, travel, accommodation, materials etc) they all give their time at no charge. Only the Materials • undertaking a one off initiative such as posting out a Manager was paid an honorarium for all the work that had 2021 letterpress calendar to be done to purchase, store and distribute materials. No • touring an exhibition such as The Binding one is paid for providing services to ABC now. • paying expenses, sometimes in advance and/ or unforeseen Because of decisions made in the last year, we have some new expenses that have not featured in our accounts • purchasing materials or tools for on sale before. Our fixed costs, ie the ones we cannot change, will • purchasing books for the library now total around $1,000 each year. These cover the • covering unforeseen events such as buying equipment annual costs of: for on sale to members • website hosting and domain name • organising a conference as we did in 2014, and • Dropbox subscription • winding the incorporated society up. • Zoom subscription • depreciation and I am a member of a number of craft organisations. Their annual subscriptions ranged from $40 - $87 per year in • other sundry items. 2020. While I get different benefits from each of the organisations, I feel that the early bird discounted $30 for That just leaves us with $4,000 per year to undertake ABC membership is a good deal. After all, it’s only 6 cups of projects such as organising competitions, funding Chapter coffee. grants and undertaking new activities. It might sound like a Terrie Reddish, Editrix lot of money, but it doesn’t go far when you think about costs such as: • mailing cost - envelope and postage only $800 • printing a 20 page newsletter - $500 for black and white printing and $3,500 for colour.

It is easy to see why we no longer print and post newsletters!

5 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 The Binding Competition…and Exhibition Judges David Ashman and Damen Joe chose the winners of binders who entered a book. Hopefully our Auckland based The Binding Competition: members, saw all the books at the Wayzgoose. We have Craft binding: had a number of enquiries from ABC members throughout Gold Diane Harries top left New Zealand wanting to host The Binding Exhibition and Silver David Thoresen bottom second from right others wanting to see photographs of all the entries. The Bronze Diane Harries bottom centre binders all submitted notes about their creations and they make for interesting reading. Bookbinding: Gold Fleur Williams bottom second from left Chris plans to take photos of all the entries for a new Silver Rosie Anne Pinney top right section on our website and he is also making special Bronze Mark Elphic top second from left transport boxes so that the books can safely travel, before Other: they are returned to the binders. If you would like to host Gold Terrie Reddish top second from right the Exhibition, please contact: Silver Sam Chandler bottom right Chris Stewart: [email protected] Bronze Michael Dimoline bottom left ABC can assist with transport costs and promotional Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the support (posters, DLE brochures, exhibition invites etc).

Thumbscrew

Body depth Useful tool - ruler stop A ruler stop is an adjustable tool that is used together with stainless steel rulers to allow fast, accurate repeated markings. The thumbscrew is turned tightly to lock the stop in place - allowing repeat markings at a set length, or the ability to draw a straight, running line with a ruler. It is particularly useful for measuring turn-ins prior to trimming out and filling in.

Inexpensive brass ruler stops can be sourced from China and Bunnings sell a stainless steel Empire steel ruler depth stop at $30 which will fit on all widths of stainless steel rulers. Note: the depth of the ruler stop body (which goes under the ruler) can raise the ruler well above whatever is being measured/ cut. ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 6 of 14 members: $30 for the first entry and $20 for the second and third entry. Maximum entries = 3 • ensure completed books are delivered to The Treasurer, 8a Astrolabe Place, Gulf Harbour, Auckland 0930 by 31 March 2021. • allow any entries to be photographed and used by ABC for promotional purposes and agree that participation in the competition is at your own risk. All submitted bindings will be handled with the utmost care.

You have 3 months to decide what your Crisscross binding design and materials will be. If you have questions or need further information please do not hesitate to contact the ABC by email at: [email protected] We are looking forward to seeing your creations. The ABC Executive For more information about: • Anne Goy’s crisscross binding see https:// www.esperluete.be/images/Anne-Goy.pdf • how to create these bindings see https:// ABC Binding Showcase: www.ibookbinding.com/blog/top-10-secret- belgian-binding-tutorials/ The Crisscross binding • downloadable instructions on our website: http://abc- The ABC Executive is delighted to announce a nationwide nz.org.nz/The-Crisscross-binding/ binding ‘Showcase’! Our members have told us that while • other binders interpretations of this binding style see they don’t want more competitions, they do want more Terrie Reddish’s Pinterest board: https://pin.it/ opportunities to present and exhibit bindings bound by 6P2K8uZ everyone - beginners to advanced bookbinders.

We decided to start the Showcase series with a simple The story of the name... binding with loads of interesting visual potential that opens Anne Goy came up with this structure in the 1980s during well - the Crisscross binding. We’ve chosen the binding her student years at the school of La Cambre (Brussels). style, so you, the binder, can make the choices on the She presented it at various occasions; exhibitions, content (or leave blank), design and materials for your workshops, continued exploring it for a while, then left it off Crisscross binding(s). and went on to other areas of research. Little did she know that in the meantime, her invention was made popular in Some of you may know this binding as the ‘Secret Belgian the USA under the name 'Secret Belgian Binding'. Hedi Binding’. Contrary to popular myth it is not an historic Kyle, who had learned the structure from a student while binding – it was invented in the mid-1980s by Anne Goy, a teaching a workshop in Ascona in the nineties, had brought Belgian based bookbinder. She wanted a book that would it back to the States, where it became a hit. Virtually open flat but with the appearance of the Japanese stab nothing was known about the true origins of the structure sewing. Anne Goy calls this binding the “Crisscross binding" apart from the fact that it came from Belgium... and so shall we. In 2009, Anne Goy came across her structure on the Because we hope to tour the Showcase throughout NZ we internet. She was thrilled to see that it had travelled so far need to build up some funds for the creation of and sparked so much interest all around the world. By transportation containers, venue hire and postage - hence winning the first bookbinding research grant in 2010, she the tiered entry fee. got a chance to set the record straight. She renamed the technique Crisscross, and resumed work on this technique There are just a few rules for entering the Showcase: at the point where she had left off earlier. • create a Crisscross binding, using the techniques described by Anne Goy A new paragraph in the story of the Crisscross Binding was written at a meet and greet organised by Ben Elbel in June • be, or have as a sponsor, a paid up ABC member (until 2016 in Amsterdam when Hedi Kyle and Anne Goy finally 31 March 2021). met in real life for the first time. • enrol online at https://tinyurl.com/y9elkpn8 A PDF can be supplied to those who find the online aspect On the following page you will find more information about daunting. the Crisscross binding and how it was developed and the • pay the entry fee(s) (which includes the return of your book that has been published about it. In her book it is entry) to the ABC bank account: ASB Bank 12 3065 interesting to note that Anne sews the sections in last and 0145423 00. Fees for members: $15 for the first entry offers a second binding variation that takes longer but and $10 for the second and third entry. Fees for non gives a distinctive look. 7 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 set up her own workshop in Brussels, where she works Mariemont Atelier du Livre for bibliophile collectors, as well in the field of artist's You probably have not heard of the Mariemont Atelier books and small publications. Enjoying crossing du Livre before. Most of what is published about this techniques, she develops from her know-how, original Belgian book arts studio is published in French. forms and structures which she also applies to jewellery and objects. She is a teacher at the Cambre school in The Atelier du Livre (book arts studio), was established Brussels and exhibits regularly in Belgium and abroad. in 1991, and is based in the Royal Museum of More information: www.annegoy.be Mariemont, a scientific institution whose valuable holdings include prestigious book collections, both Denis Grégoire was awarded the second grant in 2015 historical and contemporary. The Studio is a centre for for his “À la Ligne” binding / The invisible stave; an training and design, organising courses, innovative bookbinding technique that is seminars and workshops. All aspects of both fast and reversible. Denis's research book arts are are taught; printmaking, into sewing with nylon thread on a book and layout design, illustration flexible cover led him to develop a new processes, paper decoration, box and technique for creating an attractive case making, pop-up and movable books, binding that combines versatility and repair techniques and simple restoration creative freedom. methods. The studio also publishes. It is one of the leaders in the biennial Marché Denis Grégoire was born in Huy in du Livre de Mariemont launched in 1997. Belgium in 1965. He started his This book fair has grown to become a key bookbinding and gold tooling studies at event for all publishers and writers La Cambre in Brussels in 1984. In 1989 involved in the small publishing scene. he set up his own bookbinding studio and became a teacher at the École des The Studio promotes experimentation in Arts et Métiers in Liège. His professional the techniques for constructing and experience as a studio director and assembling books via a book binding teacher has enabled him to explore all design research grant. Their triennial aspects of the profession, from the finest competition, launched in 2010, is open to book craft through to industrial binding all bookbinders from the European union techniques. More information: and Swiss Confederation. The brief is to develop an innovative research project http://denisgregoire.be/en.html focusing on book binding techniques, functions and concepts. Three books Julie Auzillon was the 2018 winner. Her featuring winners have been published research project focused on the central by the L’Atelier du Livre de Mariemont element of the binding, a wrapper of and Éditions Esperluète. All books are in folded paper that provides the support both French and English and feature for sewing the pages and attaching the clear, colour photographs and diagrams covers. This core principle echoes the throughout. While perhaps not suitable Japanese practice of origata - the art of for the absolute beginner, an wrapping objects in folded paper. intermediate or advanced bookbinder would find these books very useful and Born in Paris in 1982, Julie Auzillon is inspirational texts. The Atelier du Livre one of the new generation of French operates a Facebook page: bookbinders. Julie is inspired by the https://www.facebook.com/ Japanese culture and traditional paper working techniques (shibori, origata atelierdulivredemariemont/ etc.). Her work is infused with that alliance of rigour and harmony so typical Anne Goy, was the winner of the first of Japanese aesthetics. For more research grant in bookbinding information: www.julieauzillon.com (2010-2011). She had already developed the famous 'Secret Belgian Binding', which has now been renamed Crisscross Each book sells for €25.00 or NZ$45, binding in reference to the crossings and the best place I’ve discovered to generated by the sewing thread. This order from is Bookbinding Out of the binding structure is characterized by its Box. They also supply kits for Anne Goy’s three-part cover (the spine and two and Julie Auzillon’s bindings for an boards), and the use of thread to join and additional €25.00. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for hinge the separate elements together. delivery given the worldwide pandemic. https:// Anne was born in 1958 in Geneva, bookbindingoutofthebox.com/ Switzerland. She studied bookbinding at collections/books-from-others La Cambre in Brussels and in 1991, she ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 8 of 14 Online workshop with All the materials for the workshop I did were supplied by Karen. Thankfully they arrived before the workshop started. Karen Hanmer It was ideal to have materials supplied, that way Karen knew we were all working with the same quality materials. I have long admired Karen Hanmer and her bindings. I have Where possible were were given alternatives within the thought about going to do a workshop, especially when Air boundaries of the workshop which was good. We will be NZ announced regular flights to Chicago where Karen is producing a cut away model, so the materials were based. Then Covid hit and bookbinders like Karen got sufficient for that, not for a fully covered book. Our binding smart about how to hold workshops during lockdowns. called for wood boards which would have been difficult for On a recent visit to Susan Peacock in Wellington I me to source. Karen gets her’s from Colophon Book Arts discovered that Susan was in the middle of doing a https://www.colophonbookarts.com/paperboard/14- workshop with Karen and she was willing to answer my inch-white-oak-wooden-boards questions about her experiences. how much experience do you what made you sign up for Q need to have? Q one of Karen’s workshops? The workshops are not aimed at beginners, you do need to Now that we cannot travel overseas, I was looking to see have some experience and confidence and be prepared to what bookbinding workshops might be available on line. work at a fast pace if you decide to work along with Karen. However, if you just watch the session, you can do your own do the workshop times work work in your own time at your own pace. I preferred to just Q out for us ‘down-under'? watch and not try to work at the same time. For this particular workshop, Karen’s start time (in Chicago) meant a 6am start for me in New Zealand. Because the For our workshop we were also supplied with a 32 page States has four time zones, the start times for other B&W instruction booklet. This was a helpful addition and participants varied somewhat. The next workshop I am something you could write your own notes on as you taking will mean a start time for me of 12.30pm which will watched each session. be better than 6am. Timing isn’t really a problem because if you can’t take part live, you can always view the session There is a 10 minute break in the middle of the three hour later. sessions, just to give everyone time to gather their thoughts and organise themselves. Karen trained at the American do you need any special Academy of Bookbinding, so if you have ever been there, Q computer equipment? that will give you an idea of what to expect. You do need to have a Windows or Apple laptop with speakers, microphone and camera or a computer with I’ve heard that Karen has a wicked sense speakers, microphone and webcam so that you can be Q of humour - does that come through? heard and seen by Karen. At a pinch you could use a smart Yes, she does have a sense of humour! While doing a phone. She uses Zoom to connect, so you will need to workshop via Zoom isn’t like ‘being there’, you do get some download Zoom to your chosen device in advance. Of interaction with others and that’s often when you pick up course you also need a good internet connection as well. extra unexpected learnings.

what do you see on your You can ask questions through the workshop and you can Q screen? ask for feedback on your own work which is very helpful. You see Karen of course, but you also see the other workshop participants. We had 16 doing our workshop. what did you not like about Karen, as the Zoom host, can mute other participants, Q the workshop? which is helpful as some bookbinders choose to work Our workshop timing meant an early start but once you get alongside Karen. yourself organised, this is fine, but I would have preferred to have had more days between each session. Once per Karen demonstrates what she is doing and she will also week would be ideal. Some camera shots are not quite in hold her work up to her camera so that you can clearly see focus, but it wasn’t really an issue. I am glad that I have a what she is talking about in more detail. It sometimes takes large screen/ monitor for this workshop. I am going to try to a bit for the camera to focus. She records the sessions so watch the video on my smart TV for an even better viewing all workshop participants can watch the session over and experience. over again for 90 days. This is something that you cannot normally do at a workshop, so it is a bonus. Overall, it was hugely cheaper than flying to Chicago, organising what sort of bookbinding accommodation and food to do a Q equipment do you need? workshop with a world class tutor Karen gives you a list of tools you will need for each and I felt it was money well spent. workshop and they are typical tools for a bindery. You may I am looking forward to my next need to purchase some more. I found I needed a hand drill, workshop with Karen - I’ve already plane and chisel - items that I didn’t already have for the booked it, so that shows how I feel Medieval binding workshop I did. about these workshops. 9 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 Karen Hanmer, Chicago After talking with Susan, I reached out to Karen Hanmer and was delighted to receive a reply. Karen told me that show exactly what is being done much larger than only the she is already working on a number of improvements for most assertive in-person student standing way too close to her workshops, such as changing the frequency the instructor could see. And there is the video posted online so it can be watched again and again. “I’m going to be exploring how much of the tactile can be expressed and shared early in the new year when I teach a This is a video studio tour I did l for the San Francisco 12 session full leather binding class. It is with a test group I Center for the Book which your readers might find have worked with successfully in the past, we're all eager interesting: https://vimeo.com/492612104/10e5aaebf3“ to see what it takes to make this work. There’s obviously a time difference - Chicago is 5 hours We've just started administering vaccines here, but COVID ahead of us but the day before eg NZ 7am = Chicago is raging, and will get worse with the holidays. No one I 12pm. Most of Karen’s workshops start at 12pm Chicago, know can imagine teaching or studying in person any time so that’s a reasonable start time for us in New Zealand. soon. And we are all enjoying saving travel expenses and sleeping in our own beds every night when taking/teaching I have also asked Karen if she’d be willing to provide New a class. Zealand students with a dedicated workshop. So if you are interested in this idea, please let me know asap: It could possibly be argued that students get a better look [email protected] than in person with this method of teaching: the resolution is not always the greatest, but a well-placed camera can Top left & right: Karen’s studio set up Karen Hanmer’s upcoming online workshops Registration at Karen’s online store https://karen-hanmer.square.site/s/shop February 4-25 Thursdays, 4 sessions The Ethiopian Binding | Registration deadline Jan. 7 March 4-25 Thursdays, 4 sessions More Paper Bindings April 6-27 Tuesdays, 4 sessions Two Doublures: Leather edge-to-edge and sunken suede April 8-29 Thursdays, 4 sessions The Springback Binding May 4-20 Tues & Thur, 6 sessions Two Simplified Bindings: Simplified and more simplified June 1-22 Tuesdays, 4 sessions Decorative Techniques: Inlays, onlays and more June 3-24 Thursdays, 4 sessions Two Arts and Crafts Movement Limp Vellum Binding Styles: Doves Press & Kelmscott Press Self-guided study (ie no online sessions) The Medieval Girdle Book By appointment Private online instruction

ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 10 of 14 Knowing that many ABC members are not fans of social media, we are hoping to encourage regional groups to share their activities more on our website. Chris Throughout Stewart is creating new areas for our regional groups to advertise what they are all about - when, where and how often they meet, what they do and so on. We will let New you know once those new areas go live using MailChimp. This means that we will transition articles such as the following ‘Chapter Report’ from Christchurch to those Zealand pages in future. But in the meantime, enjoy reading what happened in Christchurch during 2020.

Christchurch As the year has progressed we have continued to have a different project each month. These have included copying a small wrap around book that was brought back from a trip to India. Even smaller versions of this have been a source of gifts to cover all sorts of occasions.

Patricia's Mystery Project had us dismembering magazines followed by lots of glue which in turn resulted in very satisfying collage cards.

An Asian Serenity book has also been tried. This is a little book with a wrap cover and fastened with a loop and skewer. Some of us achieved this with no trouble, someone else turned out something quite attractively different while diligently following the instructions and I just gave up in a far from serene state of mind!

A small lidded box was made with lots of folding and no glue finishing with very pleasing results. My one became a very suitable receptacle for small chocolate fish and was given as a birthday present.

A Crown book was made and those of us who are grandmothers now have very personal Nanna Brag books.

The November meeting will see us making a container for pens, pencils etc and then sampling a delectable shared lunch to finish off the year. Terry Park, Christchurch

Top: Judy’s Crown book Middle: Folded paper pen holders Bottom left: Terry’s Indian wrap book and folded box Bottom right: a selection of mini books and folded boxes from Sandy’s library

11 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 - type had to be kept upstairs accessible via removable Pompallier Mission ladder to prevent it being stolen for ammunition - the Gaveaux press has only ever printed te reo …and Bindery - leather was ‘persuaded’ to make it suitable for binding, a process that could take 9 months to 5 years While visiting Northland recently my husband and I visited - the Mission created 40,000 books in 7 years and they Pompallier Mission and while waiting for the tour to start were all given away! discovered ABC member Penny Beard in the little Bindery. Penny is slowly developing the Bindery resources so she Pompallier Mission is at Russell, formerly known as can expand the range of books she makes and sells on Kororareka. Members of Heritage New Zealand get in free. site. If the door is open Penny welcomes visitors and will Make sure you leave time to have a coffee and something chat to them about what she is doing, unlike the static to nibble on at the French Coffee House in the grounds - displays in the nearby Printery. you will not be disappointed. For more details: https://www.heritage.org.nz/places/places-to-visit/ Penny is desperately seeking bookbinding tools and northland-region/pompallier equipment to add to the Bindery collection. In particular she would love to borrow or purchase a bookbinding press - …and don’t forget to visit ABC member Key Neely at Village so if you know of one please get in touch with Pompallier Books in Waipapa if you are driving north. Mission Visitor Services Co-ordinator Kirsty Hofstetter at: [email protected] Top left: Penny in the Bindery On our tour we learned some fascinating history: Top right: Bindery at Pompallier Mission - supplies came from a variety of places: Bottom left: Kay Neely’s Village Books, Waipapa - local pub.s supplied the uric acid (urine) and wattle Bottom right: a trolley with the remaining books from trees were grown to provide the tannic acid for tanning The Binding Competition on sale in store - convent farms in Australia supplied the hides for the leather bindings

ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 12 of 14 style beers and we can attest to Michael O’Brien, their excellence having spent an extremely enjoyable evening with Bedmaker, Brewer, Michael as our host in his Brussels Bookbinder, Oamaru style cafe circa 1900. We can recommend a cheese platter and a On a recent visit to Oamaru my tasting ’paddle’(made by the local husband and I popped in to see trug maker) of Belgian style ales. what Michael O’Brien was up to. Thanks to the Dark Lord you will When I contacted him by email, he leave knowing the difference signed off with “Bedmaker, Brewer between a gueuze and a gose! and Bookbinder” which had me https://www.craftworkbrewery.co.nz intrigued. Interestingly, and perhaps also sadly, it represented Fans of Craftwork can contribute by the professions he is involved in - in drinking the beer or staying at financial order. Yes, he makes Michael’s lovely self-contained more money from renting his studio accommodation The Bookbinder’s apartment than he does as a Retreat: https:// brewer and he has no time left for www.holidayhouses.co.nz/listing/ bookbinding. Michael and his 25224 partner Lee-Ann have won many awards for their superb Belgian As we all know - it’s tough making a living from bookbinding so if you are interested in taking on a fully equiped bindery - contact Michael!

13 of 14 ABC & AHP Newsletter January 2021 We are moving away from the concept of About Chapters and towards supporting smaller In 1988 a small group of people met as a "bookbinding interest group!”, groups throughout New Zealand by namely Pamela Robson, Jocelyn Windsor, Marthin Mare, Jack O’Brien, having regional representatives - locals Peter Goodwin and John Sansom. Prior to this there was correspondence who can tell you what is happening in back and forth with Edgar Mansfield in the UK to establish if he knew of your area. a bookbinders guild in New Zealand. Edgar of course later began a If you are interested in becoming a movement in Britain which heralded the renaissance in bookbinding. regional representative please contact Edgar’s advice to John Sansom was “do your own thing and get on with Terrie Reddish forming our own guild”. This we did and from the 'Interest Group' the Association of Book Crafts (NZ) Inc. was finally formed. Marthin Mare was the first newsletter Editor and the first newsletter was produced in Regional 1989. On 13 May 1994 we became an Incorporated Society with 22 foundation members. representatives Arthur W. Johnson (1920-2004), author, binder, calligrapher and teacher Northland became our Patron and made a number of visits to New Zealand. Veronique Lautenslager (09) 407 3233 “I claim to have been a teacher first and a craftsman second. To my Dargaville satisfaction I have instructed many who have gained benefit from and Maria Higginson 027 213 8159 surpassed my own abilities. That, after all, is the reward for teaching.” Warkworth Merryl Houghton 027 600 9444 Our original logo was in much need of updating so in 2012 David Buck designed a new logo and Style Guide for us. Today we have over 200 Auckland members in New Zealand and overseas. Lynne Fryer 027 249 8245 Bay of Plenty/ Rotorua Our mission: Robyn Hunt (07) 346 0478 • To promote, encourage and practise the arts and crafts associated Hawke’s Bay with books Julz Henderson 022 307 9212 • To promote and support all facets of education and training in the field Whanganui of book arts and crafts and related subjects Di Harries 021 163 6955 • To preserve the traditional bookbinding skills and maintain high Wairarapa standards of workmanship. Jill Rose 0274 498 939 Email: [email protected] Wellington Website: http://abc-nz.org.nz Meredith Paterson 027 649 9926 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewZealandABC Nelson/ Tasman Rosie Ann Pinney (03) 548-3147 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcnzinc/ Christchurch Executive committee Liz Davison 021 181 9275 President: Stuart Reader [email protected] Southland Treasurer: Chris Stewart [email protected] Sam Chandler 021 1412 194 Communications Officer: Terrie Reddish [email protected] Executive Members: Tom Bichler Central Otago Jennifer Simpson Robyn van Reenan 027 443 1812 Lynne Fryer Australia Karen Vidler Karen Vidler 0061 458 572 168

Membership Manager: Stuart Reader [email protected] Webmaster: Chris Stewart [email protected] Newsletter editor: Terrie Reddish [email protected]

Home study, DVD and CD Libraries: Brendan Laing (09) 579 9162 [email protected]

14 of 14