Commissions - Why and How?

Why should you commission me to make a book for you personally?

Having a book made specifically for you gives you the chance to receive, use, or give away a book that was made to suit your specific needs, and that is adapted to your very personal way of using the book. You will buy an object that was made with love, and with the thought that it is you who is going to use it. This turns it into something very personal and special.

Many customers do not know how diverse books can be, and how different binding styles change not only the look, but the usability of a book. Different materials and technics change a book fundamentally, and it is my challenge to find the best combination for you, that fulfils your aestetic wishes as much as your practical needs.
And of course I can make it unusally tall or wide for you, if you have such preferences, and I can use materials which have a personal meaning for you. Would you like a photo from your family album as a decoration on the cover, the buttons of an old coat for a closure? Or I could make a specifically designed lino cut for you.

The book you order should not only look nice to you, it should also be ideal for the intended use. Many customers are insecure about what they need, and with those I talk about how they used their books in the past. Maybe your books have not been ideal for you, and you just do not know that is was the book, and not you: Was never a pen near when you wanted to write? - Well, then we are going to integrate one into the closure. Do you need an easol for water soluble pens? I will put one on. You can choose between different papers, or have have them mixed, different decorations, pouches, book marks,closures...

Let us talk about your wishes!

How does it work and what does it cost?

Ordering your personal book is really easy and informal. All you have to do is contact me, and I will make a proposal for you, free of charge and non-committal. This proposal will contain sketches to give you an impression of what to expect, at least one alternative, and with a price attached. Only then, with a price and a proposal in hand, do you decide whether you want me to make a specific book for you.

To make you a good proposal, I will need to know more about your wishes, and we will talk about how you are going to use the book. We will exchange some emails until I feel that I understood what would be the best book for you, and I will guide you through all choices when they come up.
If this is possible for you, you could also come and visit me in my studio to have a look at different materials and sample books. But this is not necessary, and works well through email and with the help of attached photos.

As you probably expect the final price will be determined by what exactly you will order, what binding style you choose, what materials, and which extras you would like to have incorporated. If you have a certain price limit please let me know so that I can take this into account for my proposal. My books range in price from very simple small books for 15 Euro to huge leather volumes with custom boxes for 150 Euro or more.
Have a look into my shop. If you see a book that is similar to what you have in mind, you can expect to pay a price that is similar, but slightly higher. - Custom made books will always be slightly more expensive than those already made.

We will discuss the proposal until you are satisfied, with the design and the price - or decide not to commission a book. If you then decide to order, and I actually cut materials and start to work on your book then you are obliged to buy it in the end.

Some recent examples:

This book was made for a graphic artist who makes comics, and loves Manga. It is as wide as one panel,and the letters say Manga in Japanese.

This book was made as a gift to an actor for the opening night of a new play. In addition to the lino cut on the outside, it has a specially designed dedication page in the front, with another lino cut.

The customer for whom I made this book had very precise wishes, and designed herself the look of the covers with these circles as a raised design. The book contains a mix of papers, the tassles at the top corner mark different sections, and at the end it has a pouch.

This book was ordered by a carpenter. She asked for a medieval flair, and the book has various interleaves, replicas from medieval folios that we chose together.