Karen Hanmer

Glenview, Illinois
Karen Hanmer is a binder and book artist in suburban Chicago. She has studied with Scott Kellar, Monique Lallier, and Priscilla Spitler.

Winner: Award for Excellence in Fine Binding

Example Binding: 
John Graves. 
Hard Scrabble: Observations on a Patch of Land.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980.

Sewn on flattened cords laced into boards covered in goatskin using Paul Delrue’s lacunose technique. Goatskin onlay and inlaid lines. Additional lines incised freehand with “Ascona tool.” Leather joints, suede flyleaves, green Takeo paper doublures. Hand sewn silk headbands, gilt top edge. Title gold stamped. A memoir combining Graves’s experiences on his Texas farm, the history of the area, and his efforts to rehabilitate the depleted land, the design was inspired by topographic maps, satellite photos, and the author’s sketch of the farm.

Design Description: 
French technique fine binding with sewn-on flattened cords laced into boards covered in full goatskin using Paul Delrue’s lacunose technique. Goatskin onlay and inlaid lines. Leather joints, suede flyleaves, earth tone textured machine-made Japanese paper doublures. Hand sewn silk headbands, gilt top edge. Title gold tooled. The design is inspired by echoes of the past recounted by author throughout his journey as well as topographic maps and satellite photos of his route.