Earlier this month Prototype #4 's failure started a bottom-up review of my entire process. To set the stage, we'll be walking together through my motivation for starting this artistic work, all the way up to what I now consider my finest piece to date, Prototype #6. There's a lot to go over so let's get started, reader. Prototype of What Exactly ? Straight to the point, I like your style reader. In September 2025, very nearly six months ago, I started learning to bookbind o

Prototype #4 failed before it was ever assembled. What followed wasn’t a simple fix, but an investigation into leather bookbinding tolerances and how narrow spacing, tool limits, and material choices interacted under constraint. This piece documents that failure and what it revealed about craft, systems, and learning. On February 06, 2026, Prototype #4 categorically failed before it was assembled. Oof, that hurts. Instead of licking my proverbial wounds, I'm going to walk you

Template #4 | Prototype #4 January '26 was spent resolving three material constraints: Leather availability and grade The project requires museum-grade leather to meet durability and longevity goals. Local sourcing proved inconsistent in both quality and repeatability. A reliable supplier has been identified, but this introduces longer lead times and limits choice. Without dependable material at the required grade, stock cannot be maintained responsibly. I wish I was spoiled

Prototypes 2 and 3 completed the development phase and confirmed overall construction while identifying remaining constraints. Material selection, template dimensions, and sourcing were validated through testing. The primary unresolved variable is pen reliability on black paper, which currently limits release readiness. Important note for the reader: I include links to materials, tools, and related resources where they support clarity, verification, or reproducibility. I do n

Template #3 for the 9×12×48 mm cover was completed with improved squareness, consistent ruler-edge alignment, and refined spacing logic. Punch and awl behavior on chipboard was tested to evaluate material limits, and the template’s suitability for advancing to hardened substrates was assessed through practical trials. Date : Monday November 17, 2025 Ordinal : Week 11 | Day 71 Designation : Craft Made : 9"x 12"x 48mm (Binding Width) Cover Template Designation: Template #3 Rel

Revised the 9×12 template after identifying spacing limits in the initial layout and confirming that 2 mm remains the correct parameter for Prototype 2. Completed a full station map, validated the constraints of the 16 mm spine, and prepared the final layout work planned for Monday, including template refinement and leather preparation steps. Date : Friday November 14, 2025 Classification : Week 6 Day 7 | Craft Day Made : 9×12 Binding Template (16 mm Spine) After considerable

Prepared the 9×6 cover template and completed a two-sheet, four-page, twelve-signature set while waiting for remaining materials required for the next prototype stage. Confirmed the handling characteristics of the black paper stock and documented incremental progress during this supply-delay window to maintain development continuity. Date : Wednesday November 5, 2025 Classification : Week 5 Day 5 | Craft Day While I wait for supplies to arrive, I started making the cover temp

Evaluated thread weights and punch sizes after two shipper-canceled orders halted progress, focusing on durability requirements for the upcoming 192-page prototype. Compared 18/3, 12/3, and 0.6–0.8 mm linen against 1 mm and 2 mm hole sizes to determine viable combinations for long-term strength in Coptic binding. Date:  Friday October 31, 2025 Classification:  Week 5 Day 5 | Craft Day 2 Orders Cancelled by Shipper. Why? No product. No timeline. Frustrating, yes. Today we'll c

Tested the 1 mm punch on 2/2.5 oz leather, evaluated punchboard indentation, and assessed 18/3 linen thread behavior across stations. Findings included uniform hole quality, minor substrate compression, and the need for periodic rewaxing to maintain thread integrity during stitching for upcoming prototype work. Date:  Wednesday October 29, 2025 Classification:  Week 4 Day 10 | Craft Day Piece : 7 of ∞ The 1 mm punch from Amazon performed well. Holes were uniform and sharp whe

Completed the second version of the watercolor booklet using heavier cover board, 18/3 linen thread, and initial Coptic-stitch trials with curved needles. Documented station-tension issues, thread performance, and over-punch observations while tracking delayed thread delivery and ongoing supplier variability affecting upcoming template work. Date:  Monday October 27, 2025 Classification:  Week 4 Day 8 | Craft Day Made : In-House Commission | Watercolor booklet Ver 2.0 Piece :

Documented the sourcing methodology guiding all tool and material decisions, establishing accuracy, longevity, affordability, and availability as the core evaluation filter. Outlined a local-to-national-to-international search sequence and emphasized thorough documentation of suppliers to maintain transparency and repeatable research standards. Date:  Tuesday October 21, 2025 Classification:  Week 4 Day 2 | Admin Day 33.33–45 percent of my time is spent purely researching , j

Tested 2/2.5 oz soft leather with five signatures, identifying limits of the 1 mm punch, thread-tension failure on the fifth signature, and the need for heavier template material to maintain uniformity. Findings emphasized the importance of proper station layout and highlighted tooling gaps to address before the next prototype phase. Date:  Monday October 20, 2025 Classification:  Week 4 Day 1 | Craft Day Made : 5 signatures with Staples stock to practice with soft/limp leath

Focused efforts on sourcing 12×18 black text paper, correcting grain-direction mismatches, and evaluating alternatives after widespread stock shortages. Reviewed commercial notebooks to validate size and usability expectations, while assessing options for viable cover-material suppliers as prototype requirements became clearer. Date : Wednesday October 8 – Friday October 9, 2025 Classification : Week 2 Day 3–4 | Admin Day As I’m sat down to write this on the 14th last week’s

Created a small-form watercolor booklet for first in-house commission. Used pewter sample stock for cover and single-page signatures to increase flexibility. Sewing method showed loosening over time, unsuitable for long-term use. Planned improvements include switching to thicker 18/3 linen thread, adopting a Coptic binding style, and using reinforced cover material for greater rigidity and stability. Date : Monday October 6, 2025 Classification : Week 1 Day 4 | Craft Day Made

Completed first five-signature notebook. Adjusted thread length after miscalculation from previous attempt; established correct formula for measurement. Improved wax application reduced fray and improved threading. Identified uneven tension caused by inconsistent tightening at head and tail. Achieved proper alignment and closing through use of punching cradle. Results established baseline for thread length, spacing, and stitch consistency. Date : Friday October 3, 2025 Classi

Received Neenah sample stock and began the first five-signature notebook. Large cover sheets required cutting adjustments for accuracy. Pewter cover stock proved durable but slow to handle. Template-based punching improved alignment; one signature was remade due to punch offset. Sample cover stock paired with Staples text paper; threading postponed for precision under better focus.

Constructed three 16-page pamphlets to test cutting, punching, and threading accuracy. Initial freehand methods caused misalignment; use of a punching cradle resolved spacing and threading issues. Established consistent hole placement, improved thread tension, and confirmed cradle use as essential for uniform stitching.