Wire-Edge Bindings at Art ‘n Soul
WIRE-EDGE BINDINGS is my newest 1-day class, and consists of two book projects bound on the edges with wire. This versatile binding style was developed by Daniel Kelm, and can be readily adapted to create simple and complex book structures and articulated sculptural objects. When Daniel lectured to the Washington Book Arts Guild in 2000, I was completely blown away with his wire-edge objects. Some were quite ‘book-like’ and others were mind boggling interactive sculptures. I examined them closely and didn’t have a clue as to how they were constructed! My hat is off to Daniel for a most intriguing binding style.
I taught my WIRE-EDGE BINDINGS class yesterday at Art ‘n Soul. One of the two book structures has four pockets with removable pop-ups, and the other book has French doors and holds a tiny pamphlet-stitched book in a cavity on the inside. Both books are bound with a super simple version of wire-edge binding.
The artists pictured below proudly display their wire-edge books.
Artist Nancy Brones also made two wire-edge books yesterday. The photo below, however, shows us with the fabulous gift she presented to me at the beginning of the class. She learned to make Piano Hinge Books in a previous class at Art ‘n Soul, and constructed this one outside of class from vintage printed piano ephemera. Click on the photo to view a larger image and read the two-page spread just above the band with the word ‘piano’ on it. This spread IS one of the folios in the bookblock!! Nancy cleverly incorporated the printed pieces throughout the entire structure, including piano keys along the foredges. Thank you, Nancy, for this treasured gift!






Hey Cowboy, I love seeing all the joy you spread with your energy and classes.Keep up the good work.