fine blank books

01/10/2026

January 2026
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With my change in job situation in 2025, I have decided to keep my website as a gallery for now, but will not be accepting new book commissions at this time and this decision may become permanent this year.
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I still have access to all equipment, but time to do the work has become an issue. I have less time for side jobs and projects and I have a jewelry business I would like to focus on. That can be found here on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/RedEmberForgeJewelry
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I have loved loved loved tackling your interesting and creative and often challenging book project ideas for the past few decades. This page is staying and so is my fineblankbooks.com email.
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To past and repeat customers, I am still willing to do custom work for you (the next book in your series of family albums, another custom box for your next valuable book), as long as you don't have close deadlines. You can direct-message me here on Facebook or email me at my same fineblankbooks.com email address you have used for years. I can very likely work you in with enough advance notice! I have made the decision to move this from an official side business back to what it was at the very start; an entirely "hobby" business with only a few projects a year for friends and longtime customers.
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I am currently finishing my last "official" custom order to be shipped out by the end of the month to the MOST PATIENT repeat customer who has rolled with the changes in 2025.

10/20/2025

Quick message to say that I am taking fewer commissions these days, and currently I won’t be accepting any additional commission work for 2025. I’ll open them up again in January 2026. Thank you!

04/06/2025

I have not updated my website yet to reflect the fact that I am accepting commissions again, but wanted to say here that the months-long moving of the bindery is complete. The 2-person bindery where I worked for 28 years and where I created my commission work has been incorporated into a larger local print shop, all equipment has been moved to that new location, and I am now making straightforward hardcover books for that shop. I am working there as an employee and am set up again for bookbinding. I will start to accept a limited number of commissions to work on evenings and weekends. If you have something you want to discuss, you can email me at [email protected] This will continue to be an adjustment period with the new job so commission time is going to be limited. Meaning no short deadlines, please. But if you have some time (at least 2 months) and would like me to create something for you, send me an email and we can discuss it. The work at the new job is going to be somewhat cyclical and there will be slow times like winter and summer where I will have more time for commissions. Thanks!!!!

03/10/2025

12/05/2024

While I'm at this sale on Saturday (Saturday-only this weekend) with mostly jewelry, I WILL have a few of my completed blank books for sale at 50% off the usual price. Some small stocking stuffer sized books and some with leather covers and retro raised designs. (See comments for a few of those I'll have - though the long silver books say $27 in this post, they'll be $13 at this sale).

07/03/2024

Incoming projects are few and far between right now. If anyone has been holding onto an idea for a custom book you want me to make, now would be an excellent time to contact me to discuss it. You can message me here on FB.

06/26/2024

A scrapbook/album I created earlier this spring that I can now share.

04/12/2024

THIS WEEKEND! Like...TOMORROW! I'm very late in advertising, but it will be a great weekend at the Lincoln Bookbindery as we participate as a location in the county-wide Boneyard arts fest!
I am here with my art-ner Lydia Puddicombe. We'll have her amazing hand-carved illustrations on board, as well as her work in print form. We'll have handmade leather and cloth blank books including 11 made with "boneyard" leather just for this event. I also have some good new leather ones with raised mid-century designs. We'll have jewelry. Unisex hand-forged cuff bracelets, pendants, ear pins, and hat bands. Some incorporating salvaged auto body steel. And we will have hamfish. Yes, hamfish - little hand-sculpted polymer creations (see photo). Add us to your list of Boneyard locations to visit! See you this weekend!

12/10/2023

Small, long, thin unique silver cloth-covered hardcover handmade blank books stamped with foil decoration. Pewter pig or pewter fish (trout). Made for my last in-person sale of the year on December 17th (details to follow next week), but they can be purchased and shipped to you before the sale. Each book is $27. Priority Mail shipping is $10.20 and I could fit three (maybe even four) of these books into one Priority Mail box. I'll gladly send detail photos of any book(s) you are interested in. Please DM me here with any questions. Shown here (and still available if listed here by description) are: 4 trout and 5 pigs. Each book has 50 blank, hand sewn pages (100 page sides to write on). Each book has a single printed "colophon" page at the back that describes the materials and techniques used in making the book. These little books are great for stockings and great for making lists of plans or your goals for 2024, or anything that requires a long, thin page. Is it bad that I use one to keep my passwords in?