Historic Book Structures for Conservators 2015: One month, seventy-two books, seven students, and one tired instructor
L-R: Jeff Peachey, Emilie Kracen, Catherine Stephens, Fionnuala Gerrity, Katherine Le, Diana Avelar Pires, Amber Hares, Valeria KremserCat Stevens spokeshaving an alum tawed skin. You need a very sharp spokeshave, modified for leather work, to tame this abrasive material.
Katherine Le ploughing on a vintage Hickock “Amateur or Small Size” press and plough. Oddly, in a catalog ca. 1940 the regular and small size are the same price. I would be happy to trade my small one for a regular size!Fionnuala Gerrity using a low angle block plane to shape her wooden boards. She is using a Lee Valley Veritas Apron Plane, which is a great value at less than $100.A model of a ca. 1500 Italian long stitch book made with guest Instructor Maria Fredericks.Elissa O’Loughlin giving a demonstration of semi-traditional Japanese paste making. Wait, how did she get into this class?!?Val Kresmer carving some channels in her wood boards. In front of her are some of the bookbinding, woodworking and metalworking tools for the class.Amber Hares sewing a primary end band with a back bead on a 16th C. German model. This will later be covered with a secondary two color front bead.
Diana Avalar Pires cutting through pasteboards with a reproduction 18th C. pointe for her full calf French model.Emilie Kracen fraying and pointing slips.
2 Replies to “Historic Book Structures for Conservators 2015: One month, seventy-two books, seven students, and one tired instructor”
That picture is worth a thousand words. The looks on the students faces and the knowledge they receive was priceless. I first heard your name while taking my second class with Don H at Hollander book store a few years back. He praised you for your tool making and how easy they were to use. Now that you have done this. Will there be another. Great work passing on your talents. Bev MacKenzie
Brilliant class!!! I learned buckets. Thank you, Jeff, for the sound instruction in bookbinding and in administering a pellet gun. 🙂
Peachey Conservation 
That picture is worth a thousand words. The looks on the students faces and the knowledge they receive was priceless. I first heard your name while taking my second class with Don H at Hollander book store a few years back. He praised you for your tool making and how easy they were to use. Now that you have done this. Will there be another. Great work passing on your talents. Bev MacKenzie
Brilliant class!!! I learned buckets. Thank you, Jeff, for the sound instruction in bookbinding and in administering a pellet gun. 🙂