About

The Books

Tiny Bindery books are 100% handmade by Catherine Allen. Each book is thoughtfully designed and carefully constructed with acid-free or pH netural materials, which make for beautiful and long-lasting books. Book materials include Lokta paper from Nepal, screenprinted cotton paper from India, bookcloth, Fil au Chinois linen thread from France, Yue Fung linen thread from Hong Kong, and Arches art paper from France. These unique books are perfect for journalers and artists of all ages. The inside pages handle dry or wet media including pastel, charcoal, sanguine crayon, graphite, calligraphy, pen and ink, felt pen, gouache, and watercolor art.

Catherine Allen takes commissions on a limited basis and gravitates toward designing books that resonate with her artistic style.

The Bookmaker

"I uncovered a passion I didn’t know I had for bookbinding when I considered purchasing a mass manufactured photo album for a loved one. I wondered if I could make it myself to control the quality. Thereafter I plunged headfirst down the rabbit hole of bookmaking. YouTube tutorials helped me begin, but what helped me to advance and refine my skills were bookbinding books by authors such as Chanel Ly, Keith Smith, and Kathy Abbott. Practice is my greatest teacher. My favorite bookbinding style is a modern style of Ethiopian multi-needle binding (aka, “Coptic”). I adore the Crisscross by Anne Goy (aka, “Secret Belgian”) and sewn boards by Gary Frost. I’m partial to non-adhesive exposed spine bindings because the stitches are beautiful and the cover boards can be restitched into new journals. I'm passionate about designing elegant yet functional and structurally sound books."

-Catherine Allen