Over the past year I’ve received many questions on how exactly to start learning bookbinding, what tools are needed, what books are best for learning and so on and so forth. I’ve generally responded sparingly with a few tips and…
My First Exhbition
One week ago, my first exhibition “Modern artistic binding in two collections” took place at the Regional Museum of History in Sofia. It is high time to send special thanks to the people of the Regional Crafts Chamber – Sofia…
A Collection of Small Riddles
For the last three weeks, I’ve been busy making and filming six little journals. They were conceived sometime last year, but I wondered how exactly they were to be made. I liked the small format of the Girdle Book, done…
The Making of Six Small Leather Journals from the Riddles Collection
The “RIDDLES” Collection is a fusion of methodical construction and experimental decoration. In the process of working, the hands are kept busy but the mind sometimes tends to wander. Questions emerge, doubts creep in and contradictions begin to make sense….
Pillars Collection by STOPAN
The “PILLARS” Collection is in itself a story of lost roots and the attempt to trace them back. Inspired by the ornamentation of Bulgarian, Balkan and Byzantine bindings, I wanted to experience the attitude of the old masters when they…
The New Collection Almost Finished
As the new collection closes in towards its inevitable finish, it’s about time for me to share some details about the work at hand. In the middle of November, I started sewing 5 ledgers with a peculiar format in mind….
A Few Winter Months of Work
After finishing the Whispers Collection and all the secondary jobs of its promotion I was quite exhausted and began work on the Medieval Girdle Journal as a little break before the next big project. In early December I visited a…
A Modern Take on the Medieval Girdle Book
Some History Girdle books were in the possession of monks and aristocrats in Medieval Europe. This type of binding provides portability, protection against unruly weather and some defense against theft. In addition to these purely utilitarian functions, in the past it…
Making a Modern Medieval Girdle Book: Braiding with Leather Lace and Making Silver Corners
Girdle books were in the possession of monks and aristocrats in Medieval Europe. This type of binding provides portability, protection against unruly weather and some defense against theft. In addition to these purely utilitarian functions, in the past it was…
“Whispers” Collection is Live
It’s with great pleasure that I announce the new “Whispers” Collection officially ready and available for sale. It’s been a long couple of months working hunched over the table sewing, assembling and decorating but to see the whole thing finished…