Well, hello there!

How embarassing! I can’t believe it’s been more than a year since we last checked in. Well, let’s just say that 2011 was quite a busy year for the UpDown folks. We didn’t get in nearly as much bookbinding as we would have liked, but we moved and traveled and made pies and taught classes and took up running. But we also did get in some bookbinding here and there. Photo by...

Peacocking About

One of the things I’ve been enjoying lately is finding new ways to dress up rather simple covers. This book came out of the press a few weeks ago and then promptly got forgotten in the rush of the holidays, but it is the result of that desire to gussy up the plain. I had the peacock feathers hanging around from an impulse purchase, and I thought they fit quite nicely on this thin, vertical...

A book just for you!

The UpDown team is having a great December. Why, you ask? We have the privilege of working on 8 custom books that will soon be winging their way off to destinations near and far. I can’t say much more than that, for fear of giving away any possible surprises. What I can say, however, is that we here at UpDown are thrilled and honored to be making these special books. We’re putting all...

UpDown in the City of Lights

I was pleased to get word today from the folks at Charlotte Elliott that some of the journals on display there have sold. I was particularly thrilled to learn that one of them will be making its debut abroad: a man from Paris, France, purchased a journal made from a vintage Baltimore postcard. I don’t know which postcard, but it is so wonderfully fun to imagine my little journal in a...

Putting Our Best Cover Forward!

Today Avelino and I took another load of books in to Charlotte Elliott to help them prepare for the busy, gift-buying shopping season that is upon us. While we were there, we were super excited to see the beautiful display they’ve created just for UpDown Press and Bindery. One of my favorite things about book binding is watching paper and board and glue and thread transform into the...