It's me

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I got into bookbinding through creating cards, as my passion had always been handwriting with various writing instruments. This activity is a wonderful form of slowing down for me and helps bring calm to my thoughts.

This process of slowing down continues in my work of binding books and notebooks. Every single sheet for the notebooks is carefully folded by hand. Likewise, the three cardboard sections of the book cover must be precisely joined together.
Before I glue the canvas fabric onto the cardboard, it is carefully cut and thoroughly freed from lint.

For my notebooks, I use high-quality paper manufactured in Sweden. They are suitable for anyone who enjoys writing or drawing by hand.
I cover the writing books with robust canvas fabric, making them ideal for both daily use and special occasions – such as a diary, guestbook, sketchbook, or journal.

Each of my notebooks is unique, as the fabric cut always shows a different section. Additionally, for each book, I individually coordinate the headbands, bookmark, elastic closure, and canvas colors. This way, many different books are created from one meter of fabric, with no two being alike.

My selection includes various formats – from slim, thicker, and square versions to the popular A5 format.

Together with MellowApricotStudio , magical and unique products are created. My daughter, the talented graphic designer of the studio, creates a diverse range of appealing calendars, habit trackers, notebooks, and much more. Each product is designed with great attention to detail and creativity.

We do not use AI for our designs!

A visit to her website is worthwhile to discover the inspiring works.

 

This interview was conducted by Michéle Minelli from Schreibwerk | Ost  (2020) :

Dear Heike, how did you come to love bookbinding?

It all started because, alongside my main job, I wanted to do something with my hands where I'd have a tangible result that wouldn't disappear when I closed my laptop.

I've always loved writing on paper with fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and fineliners. About 8 years ago, while searching online, I came across websites where cards, notebooks, and books were made by hand. I found it so fascinating that I caught the paper bug. Many YouTube videos and books followed, through which I taught myself book and notebook binding.

You only create unique pieces and do not mass produce - why?

It is important to me that the products handmade in my studio are unique and special for the end owner.

I only buy small quantities of the same fabric and process it; I rarely buy the same fabric again. There are so many great prints. Most of the fabrics I buy locally in Manchester. My daughter lives there, and I look forward to when we can go shopping together in Manchester again. Manchester is the origin, which is why I use decorative fabrics for the books and pads. During one visit, we were in a huge store with fantastic fabrics; I couldn't resist and had to pick up a few to try out how to bind books with them, and as you can see, it worked.

I use high-quality decorative fabrics with various patterns. Depending on how I cut the fabrics, the notebook looks different.

The same applies to the printed papers for the notebooks; I only buy small quantities, and once they're used up, there's always something new.

The exception is the new plain notebooks; over time, there will be a small basic stock, but always bound with a different colored thread.

It's about self-worth. You are worth having something unique.

What are you working on right now?

Together with my daughter Julia Felber, who studied Visual Communication, we are designing our first own canvas for the new "Wildkräuter" (Wild Herbs) collection.
She has just opened her own small business, MellowApricotStudio.

Do you also work on commission?

Yes, I accept custom orders for notebooks, cases, covers for notebooks, etc.

If you like a notebook but don't find the right fabric, you can call me, and we'll find something suitable from my fabric stock together. I'm happy to handle such orders via WhatsApp if someone can't come to the workshop.

What's the most special item in your shop?

Hmm, that's a good question, since everything is my own creation and brings me so much joy, it's hard for me to decide. At the moment, it's the new notebook covers that are very popular, so I get to make new ones.

The writing papers I use come from a Swedish paper manufacturer that has been producing beautiful papers since 1693. It's a traditional company that passes on paper manufacturing from generation to generation.

What else would you like to say that is important for authors?

I believe that texts, stories, ideas, and sketches should be recorded in beautiful books. It brings joy to write by hand in a beautiful book and on fine paper.

Thank you very much for this conversation!