Karen McGuire Bookbinder | Interest

Karen McGuire Bookbinder

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25.01.2022 Latest book just finished today. Half bound with marbled paper sides and end papers. Full run up gilt back with 22.5 carat gold leaf. Lovely restoration of this old book, before pictures included

25.01.2022 Sewing I’m in the process of restoring a beautiful family album that has been written and drawn in through the ages. The binding will be sympathetic leaving the boards as they are, and rebacking with a new spine. All will be housed in a custom made box to keep it safe for future generations. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #handsewnbooks #bookrepair #bookrestoration #toowoombabusiness

24.01.2022 I had to share this. I don’t know how many of you other finishers out there get word blind from time to time, but I know I do especially doing a lot of lettering! Sisyphus of the Myth seemed perfectly fine to me until I delivered it back . Thanks @thebookmerchantjenkins for pointing out the errors of my way!! . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldtooling #handtooling

24.01.2022 The poor book covered in duct tape is finally free! Unfortunately I couldn’t save the end papers as they were too brittle. Simple gilt lettering with carbon tooling on the spine. I’m really happy with this restoration and pleased I’d managed to blend the colour of the new spine with the existing boards. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldleaf #handtooledleather #bookrestoration #raretradesaustralia #toowoombabusiness

21.01.2022 Just in the process of rebacking an old vellum binding from the 1500’s. It had been previously bound, but the binder used tape headbands and false raised bands on the spine. It’s now restored with rope headbands and it’s original raised bands . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #oldbooks #vellumbooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness

20.01.2022 Just finished repairing this old May Gibbs book. It needed a fair bit of page repair and had to be resewn. I very gently lifted the old paper cover to reback and touched in all the missing bits of the picture . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #childrensbooks #maygibbs #toowoombabusiness

20.01.2022 I just thought I’d share my parents amazing bookbinding career starting from the 60’s. Starting off at @georgebayntun where both of my parents worked. The beautiful #coswaybinding finished by my father. . . . #bookbinding #georgebayntun

20.01.2022 A bit of Bible restoration will be happening over the next few weeks. I also found a helpful little note on how to preserve them. Unfortunately these missed memo! . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #biblerepair #oldbooks #bigbooks #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsqld

20.01.2022 As you’ve probably worked out I’m not the best instagrammer, but there has been a hive of activity going on around here! I’ve had lots of rebacks to do recently (ones I’ll show individually eventually), but here’s just a few as the others are boxed up. I also invested in a drop saw and built myself some benches. I’m no master carpenter but they do the job, and my youngest and I had a great time building them. Finally, @interiors_by_riley set up this lovely shot of my Lily’s and the gorgeous hand marbled eggs by @merrindalmarbling a few days ago, so happy belated Easter everyone, hope you had a lovely time oh, and I also built my son a little kicker ramp to launch himself off . . . #bookbinder #bookbinding #womenthatbuild

19.01.2022 The before and after pile It’s simple tooling but still takes a lot of time. From setting up type, paste washing, glair, laying on gold and having to wait for the first two processes to dry then tooling. There is no rushing when it comes to gold finishing no matter the spine design. The 3 vol set does line up, just didn’t arrange it in the photo . . .... #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinishing #goldleaf #handtooledleather #raretradesaustralia See more

19.01.2022 I’ve had a productive few days I had a few problems with the gold, but got there in the end . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinishing #leatherbooks #goldleaf #oldbooks #bookrestoration #toowoombabusiness

19.01.2022 Creating something new! This is just the test run to make sure the gouges fit the pattern. Now I know what tools I’m using, I can recreate the pattern on the book.

19.01.2022 I’m really proud and a little apprehensive showing these books... I had the honour of rebinding this beautiful edition of The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White. The brief was to produce a picture scene on the spines and I’m hoping I’ve done them justice? With the limited tools I have I was able to sketch out a scene, obviously it would’ve been nice to add further embellishments but overall I’m chuffed to bits with the design. I used two rolls on the inside, with... the outer being the acorn and finished off with the beautiful end papers from @jemmalewismarbling. This has been a massive step for me with my gold finishing journey and getting creative with gold leaf, and looking to offer other styles than just standard run up gilt backs. Thank you @thebookmerchantjenkins for trusting me with your beautiful books. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinishing #goldleaf #goldleafsupplies #goldtooling #beautifulbooks #prettybooks #leatherbindings #leatherbooks #handtooledleather #finebindings #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsbusiness See more

19.01.2022 This is something a little different I’ve been working on and I finally finished the tooling today. I’ve had the binding completed for sometime but was struggling to come up with any creative themes. The crescent moons is something I’ve been dabbling with in another project, but decided to go for it on this book in a gilt dot theme. I just wanted to see where the book would take me, and what I could do in a more contemporary design (which is very hard when you have only 17/18th century tools). I’m really pleased with the overall look Bound in black @jhewitsons pentland goat, with @jemmalewismarbling marbled papers to complete the space theme. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldleaf #finebinding #leatherbook #toowoombabusiness

18.01.2022 I found this beautiful album today whilst browsing in an antiques store. Full of so many beautiful cards from the early 1900’s, lovely drawings, plus some old articles from the Courier Mail dated 1958. Looking forward clearing the decks and restoring this old beauty. . . . #bookbinder #bookbinding #bookrestoration #oldbooks

18.01.2022 Thank you @merrindalmarbling for these gorgeous marbled papers and all the little extras I can’t wait to use these wonderful pieces! . . . #marbledmonday #merrindalmarbling #marbledpapers #supportlocal #supportlocaltasmania #tasmania #toowoombabusiness #toowoombasmallbusiness #karenmcguirebookbinder

18.01.2022 I recently completed this lovely little half leather binding with @jemmalewismarbling paper sides. Swipe for before photos . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #leatherbooks #oldbooks #bookrestoration #bookrestorer #goldleaf #goldtooling #antiquarianbooks #rarebooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness #darlingdowns #queenslandbusiness #raretradesaustralia

17.01.2022 Last two Bibles finished and they’re about as good as I’m going to get them. These required an awful lot of work, the large one was missing its back board but still had the original spine. The smaller one had both boards but the spine was gone. Both required lots of page repairs. I’ve repaired the pages I can, but the owner will need to see a paper conservator for the rest as it’s out of my range of expertise. Both had custom made boxes made to fit. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #biblerepair #bookboxes #toowoombabusiness

16.01.2022 After leaving Bayntuns and working at Cedric Chivers, my Dad moved to Period Bookbinders in 1975.

16.01.2022 Another restoration completed on this set of 1700’s books. From the bindings presented they looked like they may have been rebound late 1800 early 1900’s? They have now been rebound in old style leather with hand sewn rope headbands (not perfect and dirtied up by me) to give them a more authentic look. I used a neutral skin of leather and sprinkled it to give a lovely old effect. Swipe for before pictures. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinisher #goldtooling #oldbooks #bookrestoration #oldbooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombasmallbusiness

16.01.2022 I’ve just finished the tooling on this lovely old photo album I recently restored. I’ve repaired many different albums, but never one like this! I’m not sure what material the boards are made out of, but the figures have beautiful inlayed features. Swipe left for before photos . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #oldbooks #goldtooling #leatherreback #karenmcguirebookbinder ##goldfinisher #goldleaf #goldleafsupplies #raretradesaustralia

15.01.2022 My Frankenstein book Beethoven Studies (1853) finished. Considering the age of the book, the boards are in remarkable condition! Binding aside, it’s been fascinating finding out that this book was owned by an Australian violinist and professor of music called William Laver (1866 - 1940) who attended the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. During his time in Frankfurt he was admitted into the intimate circle of Brahms, Clara Schumann and other notable musicians of the time. For someone who is interested in music history I’m pretty chuffed to own one his books! It will be cherished along with all my other Beethoven books. Thanks @thebookmerchantjenkins . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrepair #bookrestoration #bookrestorer #oldbooks #clothbook #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsqld

15.01.2022 Can’t wait to clear the back log and start on a new project! This is going to be the combination and I can’t wait to get going. Beautiful papers from @sb_libris . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #newbindings #janeausten #sblibris #leatherbinding #toowoombabusiness

14.01.2022 Bible restoration complete. The bible had been previously rebacked, but with this repair the owner wanted a nice gilded spine. It’s always tricky getting the balance right when gilding spines with the original sewing ropes as they are not always equally spaced with a larger panel at the bottom, but I think this one worked out ok. I did put a bit of stain over the gold to bring it down a shade or two . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #biblerestoration #biblerepair #bookrestoration #goldleaf #handtooledleather #giltspines #gildedbooks #toowoombabusiness

14.01.2022 I’m on a cloth reback run at the moment, but excited to start on these soon. The Bible was rebacked back in the 70’s with a very basic repair, but as the Bible has beautiful boards and brass clasps the owner has opted for a run up gilt back (finally some tooling ). The History of Queensland will all have new leather spines, and the Mrs Beetons a sympathetic repair. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #biblerepair #biblerestoration #mrsbeetonsbookofhouseholdmanagement #karenmcguirebookbinder

13.01.2022 A big thanks to the Toowoomba Chronicle for coming out to see what I do . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinisher #goldleaf #toowoomba #toowoombaregion #highfields #highfieldsqld #toowoombalocalbusiness #karenmcguirebookbinder #finebindings #bookrestoration

13.01.2022 Haven’t had to use the press for a while to stand on! Plus a full day of tooling gives me ever so feminine hands . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinisher #goldleaf #craftswoman #handtooledleather #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsqld

13.01.2022 Tape removal time. #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsqld

13.01.2022 Gold finishing on an old bible. One line panels and they take a few goes to get across the wide spines! Please excuse the strange faces, I was eating my lunch between the tools warming up

13.01.2022 With my parents following my sister and I out to Australia in 2007, the rest is history so to speak!

12.01.2022 Simple cloth binding with gilt leather label for this little book. . . .... #bookbinding #bookbinder #oldbooks #bookrestoration #clothbooks #clothbindings #bookrestorer #goldleaf #goldtooling #antiquarianbooks #rarebooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness #darlingdowns #queenslandbusiness #raretradesaustralia See more

12.01.2022 I had the pleasure of restoring this lovely old set of Salmons Modern History. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the title page, but they were early 1730’s and the pages were in superb condition for the age! The boards were extremely difficult to lift and I was a little worried they might’ve been a little rough, but through a lot of patience and speckling the new leather to match, they came together really well. I hand tooled them as the originals. . . . #bookbinder #bookbinding #oldbooks #bookrestoration #goldleaf #goldfinishing #handtooledleather #antiquarianbooks #toowoombabusiness

12.01.2022 These are the tools used to create the pattern.

11.01.2022 I’ve tried to push the boundaries with these. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Hand sewn headbands, inside gilt rolls, gilt spines and gilt boards. Beautiful papers from @sb_libris in Bendigo Australia . I love gold finishing and this has to be the most sumptuous work I’ve divulged into thus far. Can you really go over the top with Alice in Wonderland?!?!? Binding and finishing completed by myself. . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinisher #goldfinishing #goldleaf #handtooledleather #prettybooks #beautifulbooks #bookrestoration #raretradesaustralia #mastercraftswoman #toowoombabusiness #highfieldslocalbusiness #sblibris #karenmcguirebookbinder

11.01.2022 Mrs Beeton hanging out with the poets on this shelf. Simple tooling, mainly gilt centres and blind/carbon lines. Guarded by the wooden sleeping cat bookends . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldleaf #goldfinishing #goldtooling #mrsbeeton #keats #robertburns #tennyson #lordbyron #goethe #leatherbooks #bookends #toowoombabusiness #darlingdowns #queensland #queenslandbusiness #karenmcguirebookbinder

11.01.2022 Leather reback with original boards, tooled as closely to the original spine as possible. This little book was resewn as it had split right through the middle. Unfortunately the original spine was too damaged and brittle to remount. Swipe for before photos . . .... #bookbinding #bookbinder #leatherbooks #oldbooks #bookrestoration #bookrestorer #goldleaf #goldtooling #antiquarianbooks #rarebooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness #darlingdowns #queenslandbusiness #raretradesaustralia See more

11.01.2022 A few more repairs recently completed. One needing a reback, the others had no boards so full leather bindings required. Simple gilt tooling, with carbon tooled boards. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldfinisher #goldtooling #goldleaf #oldbooks #leatherbooks #bookrestoration #toowoombabusiness #karenmcguirebookbinder

11.01.2022 Just finished this lovely early 1800’s Bible today. Hand tooled gilt title, with carbon tooling. Swipe left for before shots . . . #bookbindingtools #bookbinder #goldtooling #goldleaf #goldfinisher #handtooledleather #leatherbooks #biblerepair #biblerestoration

11.01.2022 Sympathetic restoration on this Burns. Luckily the majority of the spine was still usable so I could remount, I just added a few carbon lines to fill in the blank areas. It took me a while to remove all the tape though! This book was restored as the owner wanted to send it back to Scotland as a gift for a friend #bookbinding #bookbinder #toowoombabusiness

09.01.2022 Not a book post today, but a celebration We had the most wonderful weekend celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary 50 years is no mean feat starting as a pair of youngsters at George Bayntuns to ending up here in Australia and still bookbinding in their 70’s Thank you to everyone who took the time to send messages, from family, friends to old work friends. You really made the day extra special and I know my parents were moved by your kind words

09.01.2022 Looking from the inside out. Just finishing the gilt lines on the boards . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #goldleaf #goldtooling #goldleafsupplies #leatherbooks #handtooledbooks #raretradesaustralia #darlingdowns #toowoomba #toowoombaregion #toowoombasmallbusiness #toowoombabusiness #highfieldsqld #karenmcguirebookbinder #thebookmerchantjenkins

09.01.2022 My first attempt at Japanese tissue paper repair and I’m rather pleased with the outcome! . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrepair

09.01.2022 Lovely trio of rare books restored. Bindings and finishing completed by myself . . .... #bookbinding #bookbinder #leatherbooks #oldbooks #bookrestoration #bookrestorer #goldleaf #goldtooling #antiquarianbooks #rarebooks #karenmcguirebookbinder #toowoombabusiness #darlingdowns #queenslandbusiness #raretradesaustralia See more

07.01.2022 These were the poor books taped up with band aids/plasters (whatever you choose to call them). Original boards with new leather spines and corners, and I just finished the tooling yesterday. They weren’t the easiest to finish due to the fact I broke my thumb nail and the other day whilst cutting some cloth with a Stanley knife I took a chunk out the side of the same thumb . For anyone who hand tools that thumb nail is incredibly important for resting very hot tools/type holders so I had to improvise with a leather guard to protect my sore thumb . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #bookrestorer #handtooledleather #gildedleather #goldleaf #toowoombabusiness

07.01.2022 This is an album and custom made box I worked on recently. I didn’t make the album, but covered it in marbled papers from @jemmalewismarbling and created the gilt label for the front. I did make the box to house the album, also covered inside and out with Jemma’s papers. A unique and personal birthday album ready to be filled with memories . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #handmadeboxes #goldfinishing #goldleaf #toowoombabusiness

05.01.2022 I finally got my little project finished of restoring this lovely old album. A nice leather reback with simple tooling on the spine. Im now looking forward to remounting some of the loose cards and reading the messages written in them. I believe this album was owned by a young lady called Gladys, and it will now rest on my bookshelf with all her memories held safe. . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrestoration #bookrepair #oldbooks #toowombabusiness

05.01.2022 Working on some colour combinations for headbands to compliment this gorgeous paper from @jemmalewismarbling. Once this book is bound I’m going to attempt a Tree Calf design on the boards... watch this space for success or failure!! . . . #bookbinder #bookbinding #leatherbindings #treecalfbinding #toowoombabusiness

04.01.2022 A few more from @georgebayntun

04.01.2022 Last photo of when my Dad left in2007 to come to Australia. Period Binders/Cedric Chivers and Hardings at Cromwell Press @biblioman5 @jemmalewismarbling

04.01.2022 One down, two to go. This Bible was the easiest out of the three to repair and is now back to its former glory. The owner opted for blind tooling and simple gilt title on the spine . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrepair #bookrestoration #biblerepair #oldbooks

01.01.2022 I’m looking forward to removing the band aids and getting these back together. New leather spines, corners, some nice tooling and hopefully the band aids will be a distant memory. . . . #bookbinding #bookbinder #bookrepair #bookrestotation #toowoombabusiness

01.01.2022 25 years working for Period Bookbinders, up to his last day at Period-Chivers with @jemmalewismarbling