my hide bindings are soft-cover books. because tanned hides (especially deer and moose) are notoriously difficult to pare, i don’t adhere them on to boards. rather, i use the full thickness of the hide and attach it directly to the text block using a variety of exposed sewing techniques. if i want a stiffer finish, i will attach paper-covered carton board on the inside covers. exposed sewing offers endless opportunity for decoration, as well as serving its functional requirement. i source the hides from local suppliers.
hides with exposed sewing
white deer hide with fish skin
spine detail of tanned fish skin
smoked moose hide and black buffalo hide
smoked moose hide with exposed leather cords
deer hide with buffalo suede spine and corners
black buffalo hide on split vellum supports
moose, deer, and buffalo hides
black buffalo with birchbark spine and brown buffalo with gold thread
black & white highlights the texture of the hides
black buffalo with birch spine and inset
black and white in black & white
detail of birchbark support
signatures and spines
detail of exposed sewing
