Decorative Techniques: handout, models

Gain competence with a variety of decorative techniques for use on leather bindings. These techniques require minimal equipment and modest leatherworking skill, and some can also be applied to cloth or paper.

• Onlay techniques: traditional onlay, feathered onlay, backpared onlay, computer-designed onlay shapes

• Inlay Techniques: traditional inlay, incised lines and shapes, inlaid leather line

• Surface alterations: Craquele, lacunose (abstract sanded leather collage), expedited lacunose with paper, sprinkling gold leaf onto leather, pochoir, sanding, laser printing on leather, laminating image on paper for use as an inlay

• Adding texture: stamping texture into leather, sculptural boards, puckered leather, wrapped leather boards

These models were made as demos while teaching a bookbinding workshop. They may include marks or notes made to aid students. Colors and patterns will vary. Cutaway models revealing structural features are sometimes available.

Workshop handout not included with model but available separately: Twenty page document presenting a variety of decorative techniques for use on leather bindings. Please note this handout was written not to replace but to supplement an in-person workshop demo.

Plaquettes available now:

Set of four triangular plaquettes presenting various decorative techniques: backpared and feathered onlays, inlaid lines and dots, inlay of lacunose, texture pressed into wet leather, covering over mat board shapes

Set of three plaquettes presenting various decorative techniques: backpared and feathered onlays, additional inlays and onlays in various levels of relief, pochoir, sanding, inlaid and incised lines

Set of two plaquettes presenting various sculptural techniques: covering over mat board shapes, puckered leather, Tudor style: board covered in multiple strips of leather