1. Take 13 sheets of regular copy paper (8½"x11")

2. Fold each sheet in half, making a sharp crease on fold (8½"x5½")

3. Tear on fold

4. That gives you 26 8½"x5½" sheets

5. Fold each of those sheets in half and make the crease sharp; each of these equals one signature 4¼"x5½"

6. Stack signatures

7. Make cardboard template for hole placement, place template on stack and drill holes

8. Sew signatures together, using bookbinding stitch or whip stitch

9. Cut leather piece 10"x6"

10. Soak leather in warm water until pliable, then fold in half to form book cover

11. Decide which side is the front,measure 3/4 " from center of inside fold and partially cut through leather and fold leather in "open book" direction

12. Measure halfway point on front right (and back left) edge about ½" from edge and punch holes for attaching closure ties

13. Measure 2" from top and 2" from bottom on spine side of book, ½" from spine

14. Insert signatures and drill through leather and signatures at 2" markings - carefully - don't set the paper on fire!

15. Using beeswaxed Nyltex, thread through holes and knot on front side of book

16. Tie "found" items on Nyltex

17. Decorate cover. Use leather dyes or glue stuff on or use some of the tools for leatherworking.

I tore up patterned tissue paper and used leather glue to attach the pieces to the cover - the picture in the corner is of me at age 6 (to remind me that once you've dressed as a chicken and performed in public - at any stage of your life - you can no longer be embarrassed by anything you do! - I then took an exactoknife and carved away the pictograph man "standing" behind the picture - I added same-color paint to the carved section to make it look rougher and stand out.

18. Add closure ties