Hello! I’m Helen, a bookbinder and the creator of Pigeon’s Egg.
I make handmade books using techniques which are grounded in tradition, precision and a great deal of care. I like to add a creative twist, by combining other skills such as cyanotype or origami or by using different materials like beautiful papers, maps or hand typed designs to make my books that little bit different.
I live in a village just outside Cambridge, England. This area is full of amazing things to inspire my work, from golden sunshine on beautiful University buildings to the wildlife and misted watercolour landscape of the Fens.
I began bookbinding as a hobby in 2020. I very quickly became fascinated by books themselves and how they’re made. There are many, many ways to make a book and I’ve loved discovering how this “paper engineering” is an art form in itself.
“Books should be appreciated not only for their appearance or technical intricacies, but as functional vehicles for artists, writers, and anyone with an idea to share or a thought to put down on paper.”
Simon Goode and Ira Yonemura, “Making Books”
I’ve trained with the London Centre for Book Arts and also with bookbinders, book conservators and textile artists from Somerset to Buckinghamshire. I’ve been inspired by book artists such as Hedi Kyle, with her innovative folded structures. But primarily I’ve learned through a lot of practice, patience and experimentation.
William Morris famously encouraged everyone to have possessions which were both useful and beautiful – the perfect description of a well-made book!
There’s nothing like the thrill of opening a new, blank notebook and wondering what to write. I hope that my books will encourage you to write, draw or record your ideas however you most enjoy.