Every piece of paper is counted to create a signature. A signature refers to a set amount of pages that have been folded together.
I use a leather punch and hand rivet each snap for my luxury lines of hand sewn notebooks.
Here I am using a wooden jig to hand cut a faux leather cover.
Every piece of paper is counted to create a signature. A signature refers to a set amount of pages that have been folded together.
ABOUT the BOOKBINDER Sara Brooks Charles
All the time I am asked how I became a bookbinder. So here is the quick version of my story...
I have always felt a connection to books, whether a blank journal or a novel. As a child, I enjoyed a visit to the library and spent countless hours at my neighborhood bookstore. In high school, I made and sold ‘zines and in college and graduate school I created artist books. The connection I felt to books early on in my life continues. Now in my early 40s, I run a business making handcrafted notebooks and journals.
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While studying photography at the University of Oklahoma, I was introduced to bookbinding. I immediately loved it, but my focus was on photography and my career path was to be an educator and artist. In 2010, I earned my MFA from Indiana University and started teaching full time at IUPUI. My contract ended after one year and I decided to travel for a month. After traveling for 1200 miles on a bicycle, I moved to Asheville, North Carolina. I had no access to photography facilities and so I picked up bookmaking again. All I needed was paper, a needle, and some thread. After taking a few workshops and classes to brush up on my skills, I started my own business.
Currently, I live in Lexington, North Carolina with my husband, son, and two dogs. When I am not making books, I am renovating my fixer-upper home.
ABOUT the BOOK BINDERY Original Brooks
In 2013, I founded Original Brooks Book Bindery. The bindery specializes in hand sewn journals made from reclaimed and vintage materials. In 2018, I relocated from Asheville, NC to Norman, OK. In 2021, I moved to Lexington, NC.
When I started the bindery eleven years ago, I made a conscious decision to minimize the use of new materials whenever possible. I buy most of my paper from estate sales and thrift stores. Not only am I diverting paper from the landfill, but it allows me to create one-of-a-kind books.
Original Brooks books are sold online through my website and in select retail stores across the country. I also travel in the region to art fairs and markets. My current travel calendar can be found here.
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