Stopped by a library sale and saw a bunch of hand-bound books

I was at the local library sale last Saturday in Portland, digging through old paperbacks, and I noticed a small table in the corner with a stack of books that looked different. They had exposed spines, colorful threads, and some handmade covers. I picked one up and saw it was bound by someone local, probably from a workshop or a hobbyist. It made me think about how often we focus on new materials or fancy tools, but here were these simple, sturdy little books that someone made with just paper, thread, and glue. The librarian told me they get donated sometimes and people don't always know what they are. Has anyone else found hand-bound books at a thrift shop or sale, and did you check if they were done with a specific stitch or method?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_hannah2d ago

People get so caught up in buying the newest gadgets and tools that they forget the basics still work just fine. A needle, some thread, and a sharp bone folder can get you just as far as a hundred dollar press if you know what you're doing. It's the same with most things in life, people go for the fancy solution first without realizing the simple one works better. Finding those handmade books in a pile of mass market paperbacks is a good reminder that sometimes the stuff made by hand has more thought put into it.

drew_thomas92d ago

Wait, someone's actually out there finding handmade books in piles of mass market stuff?