Examination Paper for Paper!

There has been much in the news about examinations with the recent GCSE and A level results announced recently, so it was quite a surprise when I received an email from Simon at the London Centre for Book Arts asking how I would fare answering the below examination paper from 1978!

The exam paper from the London College of Printing came to light in the archive that the LCBA has inherited from the late Jane H. Reese who was a hand paper maker who ran the Nautilus Press and Paper Mill based in North Kensington in the 1970's 80's and 90's.

If I couldn't answer the questions on the paper, I can always look at my paper merchanting handbook to find the answers - 722 pages of paper merchanting information, given to me when I left the James McNaughton Paper Group 30 years ago!

Thanks to Simon for sending over the old exam paper, which is now very much a historical artifact!

https://londonbookarts.org/

Posted by Justin Hobson 31.08.2022

LCBA at 83% of its goal - 7 days to go!

The London Centre for Book Arts is an artist-run open-access studio and education centre dedicated to all thing books. Simon and Ira founded LCBA in 2012 with the goal of creating a space where artists, designers and the wider community could share resources and expertise to create and edition books and publications – becoming the first and only centre of its kind in the UK. A space open to everyone, regardless of background, education, or experience.

It is a wonderful resource and over the last eight years, it has gone from strength to strength. At Fenner Paper, we collaborated with the LCBA For our 2018 diary. 

However, like many arts organisations and venues, the majority of their funding stream was wiped out overnight due to the pandemic. All workshops were cancelled and the open-access studio remained closed for most of 2020. Luckily, through a combination of support from the community, SPACE Studios, and London Borough of Tower Hamlets, they were able to keep the studio running - to re-open in the future!

They have launched a Kickstarter campaign to reopen LCBA to the public and to create a new exhibition space dedicated to book arts and publishing ...and it's 83% there with just 7 days to go!

They are asking for your help to repair, rebuild and reopen the studio to the public after Covid-19.

Why don't you get a real "feel good" factor and help get the LCBA Over the line with whatever you can afford...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/londonbookarts/london-centre-for-book-arts-is-reopening?ref=project_link

Posted by Justin Hobson 30.10.2021

LCBA Identity

The new type-led identity for the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) is by Studio Bergini which is run by Francesco Corsini and Kristian Hjorth Berge. The striking new identity makes excellent use of our Colorset range of 100% Recycled papers...

The gift cards (below) are hot foil blocked in-house at the LCBA using Colorset 270gsm in Pink Ice, Evergreen and Mango (in the middle!) and are triplexed.

There are also bookmarks and a whole host of other collateral...

Typefaces are Original Sans and Caslon Ionic, both from Commercial Classics. All production is 'in-house' at the LCBA.

Many thanks to Studio Bergini for the images. In a recent email with Fran, he reminded me that he was at a talk I gave at CSM back in 2014. He found my talk about different materials and printing processes  inspiring, which is always lovely to know - thank you Fran.

https://londonbookarts.org/

https://studiobergini.eu/

Posted by Justin Hobson 28.07.2021

LCBA Gift Cards

Here are the lovely new gift cards for the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA). The LCBA was set up in 2013 and is an open-access educational and resource centre dedicated to book arts based in Fish Island, Hackney.

Images courtesy of Studio Bergini

These new gift cards are hot foil blocked in-house at the LCBA using our Colorset 100% Recycled board which has been triplexed.

Images courtesy of Studio Bergini

Design is by Studio Bergini (Francesco Corsini & Kristian Hjorth Berge) and they look amazing. The below image shows the hot foiling block.

Images courtesy of Studio Bergini

You can buy one of these wonderful new gift cards HERE.

https://londonbookarts.org/

https://studiobergini.eu/

Posted by Justin Hobson 12.02.2021

Fenner Paper 2018 Diary

If you are a wonderful customer and therefore a deserving user of our papers! ... you will be receiving your new 2018 diary in the post next week. Here's a sneak preview...  

 

As in previous years, the diary is 230x162mm, portrait and retains the popular 'month to view' format. The cover board is printed offset litho in two special pantone colours on Colorset 270gsm.

The 40pp text is simply printed in one colour, offset litho, on our lovely Offenbach Bible 60gsm, which has a superb opacity and a good writing surface making this an ideal paper for a diary or notebook.

 

The diary has been produced in collaboration with the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) and features cover artwork by William Luz.

Tucked into your diary will be a handy Chromolux desk calendar to celebrate the fact that the Chromolux range from Zanders is now available through Fenner Paper! 

www.londonbookarts.org

Posted by Justin Hobson 07.12.2017

Something for the Weekend...

I've written about the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) on this blog before here. The LCBA has been set up by Simon Goode Ira Yonemura and is an open-access educational and resource centre dedicated to book arts.

The LCBA is based in East London in a place called Fish Island in Bow, close to the Olympic park. It's a fabulous space - light and airy, not a dark and dingy corner. This centre offers access to letterpress printing, hot foil blocking and binding facilities, processes which many practising designers and artists wish to utilise but is normally difficult to access.

THIS SATURDAY they are holding an Open Studio event to which everyone is invited and where they are also launching their new book which is very exciting!

Titled "Making Books" it is written by Simon Goode and Ira Yonemura and is a step-by-step guide to creating books by hand at home and is based based on their popular workshops.  Accessible enough for complete beginners, while full of inspiration for those with more experience, this is the ultimate guide to making beautiful books by hand.

Starting with an introduction to the bindery and a useful inventory of necessary tools and equipment, you’ll also learn about different paper types, and special finishes such as cloth coverings, headbands and ribbon markers. You’ll then find clear step-by-step instructions for six different hand-made book types, from simple pamphlets and concertinas to more elaborate multi-section bindings. Each project includes ideas for variations, resulting in over 20 different possible outcomes. There are also details about more advanced techniques and specialist bindings, as well as handy layout and design advice.

Making Books is published by Pavilion. Photography by Yuki Sugiura, Illustrations by Jay Cover and design by Makoto Yamada on the design. 

So why not go to the Open Studio tomorrow and pick up a copy for yourself? 

London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) Unit 18, Ground Floor Britannia Works, Dace Road, London E3 2NQ

www.londonbookarts.org

Posted by Justin Hobson 11.08.2017

London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA)

Last week, I was lucky enough to visit the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) based in East London. The LCBA has been set up by Simon Goode and is an open-access educational and resource centre dedicated to book arts. Firstly I should say that this is a fabulous space - light and airy, not a dark and dingy corner. This centre offers access to letterpress printing, hot foil blocking and binding facilities, processes which many practising designers and artists wish to utilise but where, until now, it has been difficult to access.  

There is a wide range of machinery available: a Vandercook proofing press, a F.A.G proofing press, a Korrex Berlin proof press, a Farley 25 galley proofing press, three Adana 8x5” platen presses, an Autovic platen press plus six bookbinding nipping presses, guillotine and two foil blocking presses, plus a whole range of bookbinding equipment which I couldn't even begin to describe!



The LCBA is the brainchild of Simon Goode. He has collected, paid for, stored and maintained all the equipment at the centre. After leaving university, Simon was frustrated by the fact that he couldn't continue to produce his own publications, because there wasn't a facility that he could use (not in the same way that Printclub serves the silkscreen community, for example). That frustration lead to the establishment of this new centre which is absolutely FANTASTIC!

Simon Goode - LCBA Founder and director

The LCBA ecourages collaboration and dialogue. 'Book Arts' will mean different things to different people - but the important thing is that here is centre where the skills and equipment which all contribute to the creation and production of printed objects can be experienced and learnt. There is a programme of teaching workshops which you can see here: http://londonbookarts.eventbrite.co.uk/
and an exhibition programme highlighting work being done regionally and beyond.

I suggest you have a look at the centre, make a visit, or even a group visit with friends or colleagues from work - I'm sure they'll even arrange company excursions (...I'm not a shareholder, I just think it's great!)

Details as follows: London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) Unit 18, Ground Floor Britannia Works, Dace Road, London E3 2NQ
www.londonbookarts.org
http://londonbookarts.eventbrite.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 06.12.2013