Episodes
Tuesday Nov 27, 2012
Episode 91: Confidence vs Competence
Tuesday Nov 27, 2012
Tuesday Nov 27, 2012
After a long train ride my confidence in sewing increased. Now, after a weekend of casing in books, my confidence in casing in has increased. Practice, as it turns out, helps. Confidence, it should be noted, is not the same as competence. I'm sure I could get better at casing in but my confidence is less a hindrance than before. I cased in four books this weekend but two were a new binding for me: the dos-a-dos. Here is the first one.
One cover has red and gold Chinese writing (meaning 'Good Fortune') and nine signatures of five sheets each for a total of 180 pages. With a black bookmark and headbands made out of the same paper as the paper used on the other cover. Both books are A6 in size (pocketbook size or 41/2" by 6+" for you Americans). It took my bookbinding teacher and I a few minutes to figure out how to apply the cover papers but we worked it out quite nicely, I think.
The other book has Nepalese writing on it, I think. It has eleven signatures of five sheets for 220 pages. It has a red bookmark and headbands that are made of the same papers as the paper used on the other cover. My teacher's idea, by the way.
What did I learn about this experience? A few things. First, it's nice, frustrating, exciting, and rewarding to push my personal envelope. Second, gluing the top paper to the bottom paper is better than the opposite. If you glue the bottom paper first, you're not going to get the edges of top paper glued properly. Third, it would be nice to have two brains. Fourth, more time to make more books would be a real confidence builder. And maybe competence at the same time.
Speaking of competence, the interview on this episode is with my bookbinding teacher: Masayo Wakai of MameHonKobo- Wakai. Here, very roughly, is a translation of the interview. Very rough, so if you're a talented Japanese-English translator, don't judge me too harshly.
When did you first become interested in bookbinding?
About seven years ago.
What was the first book you made?
About 20 years ago I made a book about color for an art class I was taking in college.
Did you make any books between 20 years ago and seven years ago?
Nope.
How long did it take from the first book you made to the first good book you made?
About six months. I got a book about bookbinding and studied it while I made a book. I would make three books in one day.
When did you start selling your books at craft fairs?
About two years ago.
What advice do you have for people who are interested in bookbinding as a hobby?
Start making books and study what you made. If you study it you will find what is good and what is bad. Eventually, you will get better and better at making books.
Thanks for listening. Next week: The Second Dos-A-Dos book.
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