Killer Bee

This archival, hand-sewn journal/sketchbook is made from 100 gsm, rose Hahnemühle Ingres mouldmade paper from Germany, sewn with Irish linen thread in the linked stitch pattern that dates back at least to the Ancient Copts.  It allows the book to lay open easily to any page.

 This book’s endbands are red and yellow cotton, and its bookmark is grain-stamped goatskin.  Its spine is covered red Dubletta cloth from the Netherlands, and its boards are wrapped with paper that was hand-marbled by Betty Caponi in Monte San Giusto, Italy.

 Treasure binding began with monks in the 6^th Century who would encrust volumes with jewels. During the Renaissance, there was a resurgence in treasure binding. This is a contemporary revival of the treasure binding in which a lucky charm has been embedded in the cover of this book.  

The talisman in this book is a cameo featuring a bee. Carpenter bees are the largest species of bee in our region, and they are harmless (males are without stingers even) unless they are eating your house, when it becomes a war.  It’s a pretty smart long-game strategy to leave your enemies alone, but work on bringing down their houses.

This book is roughly 6.5 x 10” with more than 150 blank pages.