Forrest Jackson

Bookbinding instructor

Bookbinding Restoration and Fine Leather Binding / Design Binding

I started bookbinding at the Craft Guild of Dallas in 1997 and immediately fell in love with this Old World craft. After studying for several years, I plunged into teaching antique book restoration and conservation. I enjoy breathing new life into damaged and disbound books, the older the better. In my Sunday and Monday afternoon classes, we use the best archival techniques and materials available and we approach each restoration project as a playful experiment. The Wednesday design binding class is intended for students who wish to create fine leather bindings for exhibition and competition.

Although the focus is on repairing books, I can also teach almost any binding style, including but not limited to: ancient Coptic codices, medieval bindings with wooden boards and brass clasps, full leather tight-backs and hollow-backs with (or without) raised bands, fine design bindings, and simple case-bound blank journals. Some students even make hardcover editions of their own printed works. It's always satisfying to hold and behold the completed works. Difficult projects like family bibles and cookbooks are welcome. When advisable, we'll make protective boxes and chemises for fragile books and documents. We can even do some edge-gilding and gold tooling, if the project calls for it.