{"id":11473,"date":"2018-03-13T20:12:21","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T00:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/?p=11473"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:39:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T19:39:08","slug":"my-hand-invisible-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/13\/my-hand-invisible-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"My Hand \/\/ Invisible Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nI was introduced to the work of Italo Calvino through his 1972 novel Invisible Cities<\/em><\/a>. I became infatuated with his writing style and imagination. The tales within Invisible Cities<\/em> project so much imagery and color and emotion. And so I set forth to create a binding worthy of Calvino’s descriptive tales of fantastical cityscapes; the binding was completed in 2017.<\/p>\n

Bound as a traditional French-style fine binding, the book is covered in two separate pieces of buffalo skin which meet along the center horizon. The top half is busy and heavy; the collaged materials depict abstract images of buildings with gilt “scaffolding”. The abstract building structures were achieved through various onlays of suede, goatskin, stone veneer and palladium lacunose. The stone veneer and palladium lacunose were too textured and too stiff to back-pare, so to achieve the look I wanted I attached stand-in onlays in the full shape of the collaged structures before paring.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Once pared down, the top half was attached to the book and the stand-in onlays were removed to make way for the final onlay pieces. In order to cut each onlay to the correct size, I used additional pieces of tissue drawn with the same shapes used for the back-paring. The final onlay pieces were cut out through the tissue to ensure their exactness.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The palladium lacunose is a technique I learned during a workshop with Mark Cockram<\/a>. An assemblage of goatskin and suede scraps was surface gilt with palladium. Additional texture was created through stamping, tooling, sanding and paring.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With all of the onlays placed in the top portion, I was ready to work on the bottom half. My first step was to trim both halves at a bevel to create a seamless connection at the center of the book. The design was marked in the leather and sewn with a cotton floss in a matching light grey color. Some shapes span across both halves of leather, so it was vital to have the embroidery line up with the onlay pieces.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The final aspect of the design to put in place was the “scaffolding”. After making my own thin line brass tools, the top half was tooled in palladium, while the bottom half was left blind.<\/p>\n

Despite finding the entire book inspirational, one particular city drew me in deeper than the rest. Within chapter seven under the\u00a0group “the dead” Eusapia\u00a0<\/em>speaks of an underground city where the dead attempt to mimic the living or vice versa. These opposing\u00a0forces of truth and falsehood are represented by the two opposing panels.\u00a0The lower portion of the design is meant to poorly mimic the top portion. This was achieved by removing the color, texture and glisten of the upper panel.<\/p>\n

This theme of polarity and symmetry continues onto the edge of the book and the leather doublures. The entire edge was initially covered in graphite, then palladium was applied to just the head edge and half of the fore edge. The palladium was left looking distressed to compliment the broken palladium on the lacunose onlays.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you open to the interior side of the covers, more imagery is unearthed leading you back into the richness of the text. Pulling from Calvino’s references to building structures and the solar system, the front doublure depicts the orbits in our solar system with inlays representing the planets. The bottom half shows the constellation for Cancer. The stars are embroidered in a matching cotton floss with connecting lines tooled in blind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The back is similarly styled with a palladium tooled dome and the constellation for Pisces. The fly leaf is a\u00a0metallic cork paper. The book is housed in a quarter leather clamshell box. The spine of the box hints at the design of the binding with three small inlays collaged together. The rest of the box case is covered in stone veneer. The trays are covered in handmade Katie MacGregor paper and lined in the same faux suede used on the binding.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This binding was apart of the Student and Alumni Show at North Bennet Street School before going on display for the\u00a0Society of Bookbinders International Competition 2017 in Keele, England. You can read more about my concept and see even more images here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was introduced to the work of Italo Calvino through his 1972 novel Invisible Cities. I became infatuated with his writing style and imagination. The tales within Invisible Cities project so much imagery and color and emotion. And so I set forth to create a binding worthy of Calvino’s descriptive tales of fantastical cityscapes; the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[68,8],"tags":[1623,1196,173,67,2253,2254],"class_list":["post-11473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookbinding","category-my-hand","tag-design-binding","tag-embroidered-binding","tag-erin-fletcher","tag-fine-binding","tag-invisible-cities","tag-italo-calvino"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Btis-2Z3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11125,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/18\/north-bennet-street-school-student-alumni-exhibit-2017-alumni-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":0},"title":"North Bennet Street School \/\/ Student & Alumni Exhibit 2017 \u2013 Alumni Work","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"May 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In the second portion of my post on\u00a0the Student and Alumni Exhibit at North Bennet Street School, I want to highlight some of the pieces showcasing the talents of our alumni. If you missed the post where I interviewed the graduating\u00a0class on their set book, check it out here. I'll\u00a0start\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bookbinding"","block_context":{"text":"bookbinding","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/bookbinding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Trinity2-FionnualaGerrity-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Trinity2-FionnualaGerrity-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Trinity2-FionnualaGerrity-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Trinity2-FionnualaGerrity-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7619,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2014\/02\/16\/bookbinder-of-the-month-haein-song-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":1},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Haein Song","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"February 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The striking design on this fine binding of The Trial by Franz Kafka was created by the talented Haein Song in 2011. This Folio Society edition is covered in full black goatskin with reverse pared natural goatskin onlays. Keeping in fashion with her other bindings, the endpapers are hand printed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/TheTrial4-HaeinSong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/TheTrial4-HaeinSong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/TheTrial4-HaeinSong.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/TheTrial4-HaeinSong.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9317,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/22\/bookbinder-of-the-month-tracey-rowledge-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":2},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Tracey Rowledge","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"March 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The prior posts on Tracey Rowledge's work have focused on her designs mostly inspired by abstract\u00a0markings. However, there are a few pieces in her portfolio that stand out for their sheer difference in design. The above binding of The Essence of Beeing\u00a0by Michael Lenehan with illustrations by Alice Brown-Wagner\u00a0is bound\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TheEssenceOfBeeing-TraceyRowledge.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6199,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2013\/07\/14\/bookbinder-of-the-month-coleen-curry-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":3},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Coleen Curry","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"July 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"West of the Plains was a juried exhibition put on by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers\u00a0between 2008-09. Coleen Curry submitted two fine bindings to this exhibition, Desert Dreams\u00a0by Lawrence G. Van Velzer with illustrations by Peggy Gotthold\u00a0and Grand and Sublime Scenery\u00a0by W.W. Elliot.\u00a0 In 2008,\u00a0Desert\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/desertdreams-coleencurry.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/desertdreams-coleencurry.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/desertdreams-coleencurry.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/desertdreams-coleencurry.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12151,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/29\/my-hand-happy-abstract\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":4},"title":"My Hand \/\/ Happy Abstract","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"April 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Being lost in a state of creativity and production is a splendid place to be as an artist. William Blake, the Romantic poet, painter and printmaker, referred to this as 'happy abstract'. This concept was highlighted in a letter written by Blake to one of his patrons in 1801, where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "my hand"","block_context":{"text":"my hand","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/my-hand\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/HappyAbstract5-ErinFletcher.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/HappyAbstract5-ErinFletcher.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/HappyAbstract5-ErinFletcher.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/HappyAbstract5-ErinFletcher.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5124,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/14\/bookbinder-of-the-month-derek-hood-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":11473,"position":5},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Derek Hood","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"April 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Published by Golden Cockerel Press in 1930 in an edition of 500, this copy of The Phaedo of Plato is number 392. Written by Plato and translated into English by Benjamen Jowett, this edition also includes ornaments and initial letters by Eric Gill. In 2012, Derek Hood bound this copy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"phaedoofplato-derekhood","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/phaedoofplato-derekhood-820x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/phaedoofplato-derekhood-820x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/phaedoofplato-derekhood-820x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11473"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11487,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11473\/revisions\/11487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}