The D3M book bindery.

Ok, I know that this post really doesn't have anything to do with monkeys, but I am somewhat of an ape in that this is my first post using Firefox. Why have I been so simian in my insistance in using Safari for Drawger posts?

I have been hesitant to post about this, but oh well-

The D3M Bindery is a side business where i hand make sketchbooks using found book covers primarily, and also bind books using fine italian bookcloth.

It all has grown out of my giving these sketchbooks away as gifts to friends. I wanted to create a sketchbook that would be durable, lay flat open, and be as unique as the person I was giving it to. each book is one of a kind.

 I also was noticing that the Salvation Army store where my friend worked was compacting, throwing away a lot of the donated books that didn't sell. Many of these books had great covers, and were still useful, so I started to bind them into sketchbooks that I could use. I am left-handed so it was of most importance that my sketchbooks lay flat while I draw.

I use 80 lb. strathmore drawing paper for each book, which I have found is one of the most durable sketchbook papers out there (with the exception of the paper NY Central uses for a line of their sketchbooks..).

I have kept this "side business" small because I like it that way. I have a few people out there that order a few at a time, and I can keep them well stocked. Basically when people want them, they e-mail me, and I in turn send them a few jpegs of what covers I have in stock.