Book Swap 2024 - Joe Landry

Next in our lineup of books from the 2024 book swap, is this book made by Joe Landry. This is a millimeter binding with goatskin leather spine and corners with cream-coloured paper for the covers and endsheets.

Book Swap 2024 - Stephanie Morley

Here is Stephanie Morley's contribution to our book swap this year. The stitching and cover wrapper are based on a 16th century limp binding structure. The cover of this book is handmade paper from Papeterie St-Armand and it is stitched with linen thread. There are also hand-marbled flyleaf pages and a Velcro closure.

Book Swap 2024 - Rhonda Miller

Rhonda Miller made this book and box for our recent book swap. The book is made using the sewn board binding technique with custom endsheets that feature an original lino print. This custom clam shell box and matching book are both made with Rhonda's original marbled paper. There is a faux leather spine and the marbled paper has a polished beeswax coating.

Book Swap 2024 - Heather Loney

Heather Loney's contribution to our book swap is this lovely cloth-covered book with rounded corners. The binding is sewn through the case using a decorative pattern in two colours of thread. The paste-down on the inside of the case is Heather's own marbled paper.

Book Swap 2024 - Larry Cowell

This is Larry Cowell's handbound contribution to our group's book swap this year. This slim, hardcover book is a case binding in full cloth with perfectly-placed geometric endsheets.

Book Swap 2024 - Rhynn Winstead

Rhynn Winstead made this wonderful book for our recent book swap. The cover features Rhynn's meticulous embroidery and there are also hand-sewn endbands. The embroidery and the endbands are sewn using wool and silk loom ends. The pages are heavy mixed media paper. The book is casebound with block-printed endpapers.

Book Swap 2024

NSBAG's 2nd annual book swap was held Monday, November 25th at the Central Library. Eleven books wrapped in brown paper were numbered and placed on a table. Participants each selected a number, and then one by one, the parcels were slowly unwrapped to oohs and aahs. The creator of each book gave details of their work.

Just like last year, participants outdid themselves creating a lovely variety of one-of-a-kind hand bound books, from traditional to modern. Each book uniquely displayed its maker's creativity, style and skill. Well done, bookmakers!


After the book swap, Heather Loney spoke about NSBAG's participation in Nocturne 2024. She showed the remains of the Oxford Illustrated Dictionary that was dismembered to create miniature books, and offered leftover mini books to attendees. We also had an antique iron to give away as a doorprize. Congrats to Sally who got to take it home.

Photos of each book will be posted soon!

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Submitted by Marilynn Rudi

Gaspereau Press October 2024 Wayzgoose

Saturday Oct 26th was a lovely day for a drive to the valley to take in the autumn colours, the pumpkins and Gaspereau Press Wayzgoose (OK - the drive had a few glitches with highway construction on Hwy 101 & lots of traffic on Hwy 1, but other than that, it was a nice drive).

Gaspereau Press in Kentville had a open house day to see presentations and demonstrations, to try your hand at pamphlet bookbinding and small print items, and to pick up a few print samples. One of my favourite parts is a chance to grab a handful (or two) of off-cuts for $5, and of course, run into friends I've met through NSBAG.

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Submitted by Heather Loney

Nocturne 2024

Macro to Micro Bookbinding Blast!

What a wonderful idea.

Wow... I didn’t know these skills still existed!

What... you are cutting up a book? An encyclopedia?!

These were just a few comments from folk who dropped by the Nova Scotia Book Arts location during Halifax's Nocturne: Art at Night Festival 2024.

This year's theme was "Microcosm." Dozens of artists across the city responded with a wealth of illustrations and ideas about being part of the Microcosm that is Halifax/Kjipuktuk. Spaces were opened for conversations and connections about the microcosm to the cosmos and back.


The Nova Scotia Book Arts Group members completely dismantled a gigantic, 1000-page, illustrated Oxford Dictionary and using many of their skills, techniques and creativity, constructed hundreds of small books to give away to visitors. From the macro to micro volumes.

At peak production, there were eight people making books simultaneoulsy. By the end of the night, approximately 275 small books were made. Nearly all were claimed by Nocturne visitors.


There was all sorts of lively chat - the 'art' of the book; books vs devices; how/where we retain vessels of knowledge; repair and preservation... and... just what constitutes a book anyway?! How are these questions all 'bound' together?

Book enthusiasts, artists, a poet, parents and youngsters, a four-footed friend, the curious, the indifferent, potential future book binders. Each offered a unique take on 'all things bookish.' Visitors left carrying a mini volume as well as their own individual stories. All part of the microcosm.


If the exchanges and enthusiasm from the evening were any indication... the love of books is alive and well and a thriving component of the microcosm of Halifax/Kjipuktuk.


Thank you to everyone involved!

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Submitted by Sally Crawford

Fall Open Studio

To start off our new season, we had a casual open studio gathering at MyHandboundBooks Studio in Halifax since we were unable to have our previously scheduled guest speaker at the library. We'll definitely reschedule that for another time!

Instead, it was a simple drop-in event with tea and cookies and the option to make a couple of simple take-aways: book marks and buttons! The Kwikprint was set up to do some gold foil printing on bookmarks. We also had a button press on hand to make a few pin-backs.

It was good to have a chat with those of you who were able to come!