Nesta Davies: Leather notebook with magnetic closure

In this workshop we will make a small leather notebook, with a wrap around cover / fore edge flap with magnetic closure. The leather will be ready split and cut ready to go. We will line it with Japanese paper and cut to size. The cover is glued on and wrapped around a sewn text block. Not really suitable for complete beginners, but you don’t have to be too experienced to create this lovely little book in leather. It opens really nicely and is rather satisfying. 

Materials cost: £25? (currently an estimate, includes all leather and magnets as well as the usuals) 

Tools list: Your usual small tool kit, to include: cutting mat; safety ruler; scalpel and new blades; sharp pricker; bone or Teflon folder; straight-edge / ruler; set square ; dividers; bookbinding needle; glue brushes, small and medium; sharp pencil!!; eraser; notebook; blotting paper or clean absorbent paper (eg cartridge); pressing boards x 2 with small weight. 

Note: do bring some decorative or coloured paper if you have some you’d like to use for the endleaves. We will be making an A6 (portrait) sized book (so c. 150 x 100mm finished size), so for endpapers bring paper larger than 150 x 200mm short grain. I will bring plenty to choose from as well so don’t worry if you don’t have any to use.