This post will have more text than usual. Here goes!
My
husband’s discarded work boots caught my eye last fall. “Wouldn’t this make a
great spine-piece!” I thought as I snagged them from the trash. Later, I added
his work-stained Levis jeans and a Faded Glory cotton shirt. The Samaritan’s
Purse T-Shirt came from his volunteer service in Biloxi, Mississippi, three
weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated that area. He and a group of
contractors from our church used their carpentry skills to repair blasted
homes.
I had
ordered BOOKS WILL SPEAK PLAIN, Julia Miller’s history of bindings that reflect
their eras, unbound from the author. I couldn’t wait to read it, so I slit the
foredges and read the book in sheets.
This
summer, I learned that the Midwest Guild of Book Workers would sponsor “Plainly
Spoken,” a juried exhibition of bindings for this book! Here was the motivation
I needed to create the binding I had in mind.
I
cut away the sole of the boot and as much of the icky lining as possible. I
spread the leather wrong-side-out in the sunlight for days to kill off bacteria
and get rid of odor. When I pared, cut,
and sewed the spine, I experienced the full meaning of “tough as an old boot.”
Then
I began the task of tailoring the shirt and jeans to a book. As I worked with
the well-made jeans and shirt, I measured and stitched and pulled out threads
and snipped 4, 6, and 8 layers from the seams.
I
had no idea what I was getting into (an all-too-common situation for me). I solved
problems at each step of the process, which took longer than I ever thought it
would. Thank heavens the deadline was extended. I pulled my first all-nighter ever
on the final night in order to complete the clamshell box and Fed Ex the book
to meet the deadline.
Throughout
the process, I reminded myself, “This is my
book. I can do whatever I want!” This binding is made from my husband’s
work clothing, honest materials stained and paint-spattered from honest work. The
earbuds bring this classic outfit—T-shirt, work shirt, Levis, and leather
boots—into the 21st century.
So
now Julia Miller’s wonderful book is truly clothed in the “just the Dress his
Century wore.”
Yesterday,
I learned that my binding had been accepted and will travel to five venues over
the next year and a half!
EXHIBIT SCHEDULE
Nov 2013 – Jan 2014 Spencer Research Library, University of
Kansas. Lawrence, KS
Jan – Apr 2014
University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI
Apr – Jul 2014
The Newberry. Chicago, IL
Aug – Nov 2014
University of Iowa. Iowa City, IA
Jan – April 2015
Minnesota Center for the Book. Minneapolis,
MN
PHOTOS:
The earbuds are a visual reference
to a “speaking book.” The long single-strand end (tucked into the pocket) doubles
as a “ribbon” place marker. (
Shirt fabric is “tucked” into the waistband for the
turn-in. The foredge can be buttoned. A bit of T-shirt peeks out from the front
cover, as if worn under the shirt.
Jeff Peachey’s paring knife
passes the ultimate test.
The drop-spine box is covered in
denim cut from the legs of his work jeans.
Classic clothing, stained and paint-spattered from honest work.
My husband sanded the head and tail of the text block. I didn't want to remove all the printer's marks.
