Finished!

Last week I completed the final touches of Betty’s Spaghetti – a collection of 12 hand pulled block prints with their recipes, hand-sewn and hand bound books. An edition of 21. Below is a list of what it entailed. I have a feeling I left out a step or two, but I am pleased with the end results. At this writing I have a few left. Contact me if your interested.

The project started in January with research of design and needed materials. That included how to tell the grain of paper, bookcloth, and Davey board, binding covers for a layflat book and which materials were acid free to prevent yellowing or fading, letterpress printing, just to name a few.

Then I began…
• organizing which recipes to use, designing block prints.
•writing recipes and texts using InDesign. Reconfiguring layout to coordinate with block print sizes which are not standard.
•Sent off text layout to J&K for proofing and editing.
•After three rounds of editing sent pdf files to BoxCar press for creation of polymer plate text blocks.
•Ordered book supplies; davey board, bookcloth, glue, hole punching template, paper press, thread/cords, papers, Ternes-Burton registration tabs and pins, inks and specialty tape to prevent tears.
•Began prepping for printing.
•Tore paper down, cut blocks, taped registration tabs to papers, set up etching press to be a letterpress, made a MacGyver registration system with old foam insulation and duct tape.
•Printed 25 -28 copies of each one of the 13 double page spreads, hung to dry, removed tape and stacked until binding.
•Cut book cloth, designed covers and had the design laser engraved onto front and back pieces. Glued covers and end papers to the Davey board I cut to size, pressed until dry. Punched holes in covers to bind spine, front and back covers with Secret Belgian Binding. Cut support papers, added hand cut tabs and trim that was cut with a retro paper shredder. Glued to support pages.
•Punched holes in all pages and support pages.
•Collated pages, stacked and began sewing. Added protective/decorative metal tabs to the front, back, and spine of covers.
•Added personal chop to page opposite of title page. Cut down glassine to add to protect chop ink from transferring to title page.
•Wrote Colophon and acknowledgments. Printed on 50 year old onion skin paper. Cut down to fit inside of boxes.
•Printed sticker labels for outside of boxes.
•Signed and numbered books on title page.
•Wrapped in cloth dishtowels. Boxed.
•Wrapped with decorative cord.

On October 12, I delivered first two copies to my mom Betty and sister Carol. The editors would have received theirs but they were globe trotting. Hmmpf! 🙂

My sincere thank to all those involved.

This project was made possible by a grant provided by the Five Wings Art Council with funds from the McKnight Foundation.