• blog
  • shop
  • about
  • Bookbinding
  • Mixed Media Art
  • contact
  • Sign In My Account
Menu

paperiaarre

handmade books and other treasures
  • blog
  • shop
  • about
  • Bookbinding
  • Mixed Media Art
  • contact
  • Sign In My Account
competition41.jpg

Good news!

April 1, 2008

The secret book isn't a secret anymore! I won the second prize in Otava bookbinding competition! The award ceremony and exhibition won't be until summer, but I'll share my photos with you right away. These really aren't the greatest quality, as they were taken on a sunny day. More photos of the finished book, and more importantly the working process, can be found on Flickr, where my friends only set has become public.

Full leather fine binding of Pyhät kuvat kalliossa, binding by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com

The book is generously illustrated Pyhät kuvat kalliossa, and it's about Finnish rock paintings, which more or less defined my color choices and the cover design.

Full leather fine binding of Pyhät kuvat kalliossa, binding by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
The book is quite large, about 26x28x3cm, and it has 176 pages. I bound it in full leather, using wonderful Harmatan goatskin in terracotta and black. There's a relief panel on both covers, which is slightly sanded too, to give a little more structure and variety. Full leather fine binding of Pyhät kuvat kalliossa, binding by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com
Hand sewn silk endbands. The book edges are hand cut, then bashed with a wire brush to give them texture and a little softness too.

Full leather fine binding of Pyhät kuvat kalliossa, binding by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.comThe title is blind tooled by hand too. Most things were done by hand just because I can. And also because I don't have machines that would do the work for me :)

Wasn't this a bit different from what you've seen so far? Well, this is just something else I can do!

(And yes, my first day at work went just great. All the new things and places and people made me really tired though. Tomorrow will be easier I'm sure.)

In all books, bookbinding, fine binding Tags competition book, otava
24 Comments
← Newer Posts Older Posts →

Welcome to Paperiaarre!

Kaija Rantakari / Paperiaarre in her Helsinki based studio

Hello, my name is Kaija. I'm a master bookbinder / mixed media artist / accumulator extraordinaire / poet from Finland. This website is where I share my creations to fellow paper enthusiasts.

Paperiaarre is Finnish for a paper treasure, and I hope you find many of those here!

Register here to subscribe to new blog posts via email

Categories

bookbinding

  • all

  • artists’ books

  • sewn boards binding

  • coptic

  • case binding

  • long stitch

  • fine binding

  • other

  • my tutorials

art

  • mixed media

  • matchbox art

accumulator seriali

everything else

Latest Posts

Featured
paperiaarre-kimono-journals-2-2520250221_133826.jpg
Apr 28, 2025
Paperiaarre shop takes a break in May
Apr 28, 2025
Apr 28, 2025
paperiaarre-kimono-journals-2-2520250221_140503.jpg
Mar 2, 2025
more & more kimono journals
Mar 2, 2025
Mar 2, 2025
paperiaarre-kimono-notebook-9-202420240901_163930.jpg
Sep 4, 2024
watercolor journals and tiny notebooks
Sep 4, 2024
Sep 4, 2024

blog archive

Archive
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007

instagram

Hello you, just a quick note that I'm spending May in Edinburgh at a writing recidency, so the Paperiaarre shop will be closed from April 30th. Any orders placed by Wednesday afternoon will be shipped as usual ❤️❤️❤️
Another great day for this bookbinder! Thank you all for your many orders - they really make my day every time ❤️
This golden floral kimono silk is one of my all time favourites. I love how beautifully light plays with the weave even on a cloudy day like today.

This notebook with semi-flexible covers is one of the five still left of yesterday's shop update. All
New books in the Paperiaarre shop! Four hardcover notebooks with heavier weight paper, and ten notebooks bound with the sewn boards binding style that results in semi-flexible covers. All made with repurposed vintage kimono silk.
On my to-do list is to add this stack of vintage kimono notebooks to my shop. Some time next week, I hope!

I made these using the sewn boards binding structure that creates lovely semi-flexible covers.
Wrapping a lovely order today 🤍🤍🤍

We've now made it through the darkest moments of winter, so maybe soon I will finally get to my stack of journals waiting to be photographed. Read: New books coming soon-ish!
New blog post and new books now available in the Paperiaarre shop at www.paperiaarre.com. There's postcard-sized watercolor journals perfect for travel journal use, too, and a small lot of the popular adorably tiny notebooks. All covered with repurpo
Watercolor journals and mini kimono journals for sale through my IG stories for the next 24h. Any remaining books will be available at paperiaarre.com in a few days 🤍🤍🤍
Every now and then I get requests for notebooks suitable for watercolors, and even though I don't do custom orders in the traditional sense, every now and then I hear your requests! This lot of six lovely A6 landscape format watercolor journals will
[Edit: We raised a total of 630 €! Thank you so much for your participation and support! A winner was picked at random in my stories ❤️]

Time for a fundraiser!

I'm raffling off this handbound vintage kimono journal to raise money for Doctors W

Categories

bookbinding: all / artists’ books / sewn boards binding / coptic / case binding / long stitch / fine binding / other / my tutorials

art: mixed media / matchbox art

accumulator seriali

everything else

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Shipping Policy

Return Policy

Copyright © 2007 - 2025 paperiaarre.com. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Squarespace