Learn to Bind a Book with Frankie Ridolfi, The Book Binding Guy

Anyone with a creative spirit can learn to make an impressive book. In this 90-minute DVD from LeMarche, Frankie Ridolfi reveals a simple, step-by-step process for creating elegant journals with common tools and affordable materials. From your very first book you'll add classic features rarely seen today. Make unique gifts or give the Video Workshop to artists in your life! It's easier than you think! [continued…]

How to Bind Books

Video Workshop

The Workshop Experience

There's a reason this ancient craft has been taught through apprenticeship—the best way to learn is to watch someone and then try it yourself. In this spirit, The How to Bind Books Video Workshop passes the secrets of quality book making on to you.

• It's Fun.  This Video Workshop is for anyone who enjoys making things by hand. If you're familiar with hobbies like scrapbooking or knitting, then you know how satisfying book binding can be. Share the fun. Watch the video with friends and form a book binding group. After your first book you'll be ready to experiment with your own designs.
• It's Easy.  No experience is necessary! This workshop covers all of the concepts, materials and tools you'll need. I experimented with countless techniques to develop a simple process that maximizes aesthetics. Forget about confusing instruction books or tedious research before starting.
• It's Convenient.  Go at your pace. Create a book in one sitting or spread it out over weeks to suit your lifestyle. Forgot a detail from your last session? No problem. Jump back to that step in the video for a quick refresher. You are in control.
• It's Affordable. For less than the cost of one hand-made book in a retail store or a one-time bookmaking class, this DVD teaches you to make as many books as you like. The tools needed are common and inexpensive—you probably own many of them already. Material costs are completely up to you and most are inexpensive (paper, book board, thread, etc.). Your finished book will be priceless.

What You Get. The Video Workshop includes all of the information you'll need to get started:

DVD Video (Runtime: 90 min).

• Follow along as Frankie demonstrates his book binding process to Ashley, a first-time book maker. Goingstep-by-step, you will learn the nuances of tearing down paper, stitching a solid book block structure, attaching hard covers, wrapping authentic end bands and finishing the exterior with leather and decorative paper. The finished example is a blank journal.

Bonus Materials

• Materials Checklist. Included with each DVD is a collection of handy reference materials that make it easy to get started. Book making starts with a scavenger hunt. Use this checklist to identify and gather all of the supplies you'll need. The Materials Checklist includes descriptions of each material and its use, explanations of important qualities to look for, suggested sources and suppliers, as well as estimated costs, ways to save, and alternative materials.
• Tools Checklist. There are many highly specialized book binding tools on the market. You could spend a fortune on them—unnecessarily. The Tools Checklist provides a list of affordable tools you'll need to complete our 5-part process. It also suggests a number of optional tools, also inexpensive, that will make the experience easier and more enjoyable.
• Templates. Although you can make a book of any size and thickness, two specific templates are included. The first is for the petite journal that Frankie and Ashley make in the Video Workshop. The second is for a larger book that could be used for journaling or digital scrapbooking.
• Cheat Sheets. It's not always practical to watch a demonstration and try it for yourself at the same time. Cheat Sheets keep you organized and provide step-by-step details. Print them out and keep them by your side when you begin working. Cross-referenced with the DVD chapters, Cheat Sheets make it easy to navigate to a specific part of the video for guidance.
• Printing Primer. Want to print text or photographs onto your pages before binding them into a book? This guide walks you through the procedure for using a typical word processor and desktop printer to lay out your pages correctly.

Why Learn to Bind a Book?

• Binding a book is an engaging experience. Your creativity and time results in a beautiful object that is a pleasure to look at and use.

Make Unforgettable Gifts.

• Hand-bound books are extraordinarily personal gifts that friends and loved ones will treasure. Mark important events with a thoughtful gesture no one will expect:

• Artisan Quality & Classic Style.  Make a keepsake that will last a lifetime. The Video Workshop provides techniques that result in books that exude beauty, durability and a human touch. Create distinctive features that will impress:
  

Watch a preview
of part of Frankie's DVD Workshop.