Wherever possible, we source materials that are made in the UK.
Paper
The paper used inside our books is determined by their intended use. The recycled paper in our sewn board notebooks is ideal for writing on, while the cartridge paper in our leather journals is well suited for dry media, as well as ink pens. Both of these papers are acid-free.
We use a wide range of decorative papers (the buying of which verges on an addiction) on our books and boxes. The hand-marbled papers come from the few remaining artisans practising this craft in the UK, while the vintage reproduction, Japanese and commercially printed papers come from bookbinding suppliers and paper merchants.
Card and Envelopes
We use 350gsm white card for our greeting and correspondence cards, except where noted in the item description. All of our card and envelopes are FSC-certified. And every greeting card is packaged in a biodegradable cornstarch bag.
Leather
The calfskin used for our leather journals comes from one of the oldest established leather manufacturers and merchants in the UK. We buy natural (un-dyed) skins and dye them by hand because we feel that this process gives each piece a distinctive look. Leather is a natural material, so there will sometimes be marks or other peculiarities in the skin. These are not defects but add to the distinctiveness of the book.
Cloth
Our bookcloths come from a 125-year-old, family-owned firm. We use a paper-lined rayon bookcloth, as well as buckram, a hard-wearing bookcloth traditionally used by bookbinders. All keepsake boxes are lined with a viscose-based archival felt.
Thread
All of our books are sewn with linen thread, as it is stronger and more durable than cotton thread. The only exception to this is our book jewellery, which is sewn with polyester thread because of the delicate size of the books. We wax all of our threads with beeswax to give them added durability. The weight of the thread is determined by the book structure.
Adhesives
We use two types of adhesive, depending on the materials being stuck together. Reversible PVA is used with paper, cloth and boards. It has a built in resistance to yellowing due to aging and carries a neutral pH of 7. Jin-shofu is a conservation-grade Japanese wheat starch used with leather.
Board
Our keepsake boxes are constructed from an extremely dense, acid-free millboard, as are some book covers. The thickness of the board is determined by the size of the box or book.
