Scrapbooking: Unique Scrapbook Album Designs by Marcia Engeltjes

During my Art Major studies in Iowa, a creative and inspiring college professor introduced me to Bookbinding. I was hooked from the first book I bound.

Initially, my book compositions included recycled class eight diesel truck engine parts as design elements - an influence from my father, a parts manager at a repair shop for semi tractors and heavy hauling equipment. I continue to incorporate mechanical parts, now expanding my interest to motorcycle, telephone, camera, typewriter, clock, and airplanes components.

I enjoy combining ancient bookbinding methods with contemporary design.

Non traditional aspects of my binding focus on askew shapes, curved edges, and moving parts. I handcarve sculptures from binders board using razor blades and emboss these forms under the leather. A press is not used to achieve the wrapped three-dimensional shapes. Rather, each sculpture is hand worked to situate the leather, a small portion at a time, into each crease and crevice. I regularly utilize this method of carving and embossing for Custom Designs.

My Architectural Series features functioning doors with stained glass windows. All glass elements are individually cut and soldered. Fine jewelry tools are used to fabricate metal components and door hardware from copper, silver, and aluminum sheet metal and wire. All metal elements are sewn with fine silver or copper wire onto the cover. Covers consist of 2 to 15 layers of binders board to create deep three-dimensional qualities and to build the intricate internal structures needed to frame and secure the leaded stained glass windows.

The binding process includes folding acid-free papers in half, stacking them into 'signatures', and then hand sewing each signature around leather cords with a needle and thread. (Many of these steps can be seen under Binding Process.) Random serigraph and intaglio prints on rag paper are bound within some of the books for added color and texture. The spine is then clamped, brushed with archival permanently flexible glue, and immediately hammered to round and tighten it. 55 pound tensile strength tear resistant fabric reinforces the cover hinges to ensure heirloom durability. I finish the outer edges of the papers by clamping and trimming then with a straightedge razor blade, one page at a time. Or for an organic shape, I hand rip each sheet to sculpt it into a curved ascending deckled form. Headbands serve as spine protection and are stitched directly onto the spine ends. They are comprised of leather cords wrapped with two or more complimentary colors of cotton or silk thread. I've enjoyed hand making paper - from Kozo fibers, for example (inner tree bark from the Philippines). These and other handmade papers are applied to the interior of the covers as endsheets - the final step which completes the binding process.

I encourage custom requests. A special one-of-a-kind book can be bound specifically for you as a Personal Journal, Scrapbook, Wedding Album, Guest Book, Photo Album, Portfolio, or Address Book. Or carry a refurbished leather and copper covered Bible (See Bible Recovering). Request binding of printed materials such as your thesis or authored book. Lidded or Clamshell leather Boxes can hold your treasures or will present your skills as a professional Portfolio. And Refillable Bindings will allow ongoing use as a Presentation Book, Portfolio, or Sketchbook in a Multiring, Screwpost or Slipcover format.

I am the sole creator of each handbound leather book and box. I do not have any employees or assistants. Let me create that unique keepsake binding especially for your life event or daily enjoyment.

I can be reached at marcia@leatherbooks.info

AWARDS
Best of Show – Midwest Salute to the Arts 2006-2007
Invitational Award – Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair 2003-2007
Award of Excellence – Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Fair 2005-2006
Best of Show 3-D – Brookside Art Annual 2006
Merit Award – Wausau Festival of Arts 1998-9, 2003, 2006
Best of Category – Midwest Salute to the Arts 2002-2005
Invitational Award – Krasl Art Fair 2005
Best of Category – Belleville Art on the Square 2004
Invitational Award – Uptown Art Fair 1998-2001, 2003-2004
Honorable Mention – Laumeier Contemporary Art Fair 2002-2003
Honorable Mention – Shaw Art Fair 2002
Best of Show – Wausau Festival of the Arts 1997, 2001
Award of Merit – Laumeier Contemporary Art Fair 1998-2001
Invitational Award – Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 1997-2001
Honorable Mention – Wausau Festival of Arts 2000
Best of Show & Best in Category – Uptown Art Fair 1999
Best in Category – Oconomowoc Festival of Arts 1998-9
Invitational Award – Madison Art Fair on the Square 1997-98
Artist Patron Award – Smokey Hill River Festival 1998
Best of Show – Uptown Art Fair 1996-7
Best of Show – Madison Art Fair on the Square 1996
Juror’s Award – Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 1996
Award of Excellence – Excelsior Arts Festival 1996
Best of Show / Honorable Mention – Fiber / Metal Arts 1995-6
Purchase Award – Minnesota Historical Society 1995

2008 SHOWS
May 8-11, 2008 – Laumeier Art Fair – St. Louis, MO
May 16-18, 2008 – Belleville Art Fair on the Square – Belleville, IL
July 16-19, 2008 – Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair –Ann Arbor, MI
August 3-5, 2008 – Uptown Art Fair – Minneapolis, MN (tentative)

EXHIBITONS
Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair – 2003-2008
Laumeier Contemporary Art Fair – St. Louis, MO 1998-2008
Uptown Art Fair – Minneapolis, MN 1995-2008
Belleville Art on the Square – Belleville, IL 2004, 2008
Wausau Festival of the Arts – Wausau, WI 1997-2007
Midwest Salute to the Arts – Fairview Heights, IL 2002-2007
57th Street Art Fair – Chicago, IL 1996-2007
Brookside Art Annual – Kansas City, MO 2000-2002, 2005-2007
Phipps Center for the Arts – Hudson, WI 2004-6
Back Door Gallery – Edina, MN 2004-6
Grand Hand Gallery –St. Paul, MN 2005-6
Dale Street Greenhouse – St. Paul, MN 2005-6
Hinsdale Center for the Arts - Adornments – Hinsdale, IL 2004-6
Wells Street Art Fair – Chicago, IL 2003-2006
Des Moines Art Fair – Des Moines, IA 2005-2006
Krasl Art Fair – St. Joseph, MO 2005
Susan Hensel Gallery - 'Readers Art 5'– Minneapolis, MN 2005
Riverstreet Gallery – Manistee, MI 2005
Afton Art in the Park – Afton, MN 2004
Minnesota Crafts Festival – St. Paul, MN 1995-2002, 2004
Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts – Oconomowoc, WI 1998-2001, 2004
Askew – Geneva, WI 2001-4
Artist in Residence – Central College, Pella, IA 2003
Morning Glory Art Fair – Milwaukee, WI 2003
Minneasota Center for Book Arts – Minneapolis, MN 2002-3
Columbus Arts Festival – Columus, OH 2002
Arts, Beats & Eats – Pontiac, MI 2002
Shaw Art Fair – St. Louis, MO 2002
Studio 56 – Lake Waconia, MN 2002
The Good Life – Wayzata, MN 2002
Hollanders – Ann Arbor, MI 2002
Lakefront Festival of Arts – Milwaukee, WI 2001
Cherry Creek Arts Festival – Denver, CO 2000
Art Resources Gallery – St. Paul, MN 1999
ART Studio One – Mason, MI 1999
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – Ann Arbor, MI 1996-9
Madison Art Fair on the Square – Madison, WI 1995-9
Smokey Hill River Festival – Salina, KS 1998
Lakeside Fibers – Madison, Wi 1998
Terra Museum of American Art – Chicago, IL 1997-8
ACC Craft Fair – St. Paul, MN 1997
Frog and Peach Gallery –Clayton, MO 1997
Minneasota Historical Society – St. Paul, MN 1997
James Shore Gallery – Waukesha, WI 1997
Clay Gallery – New Smyrna Beach, FL 1997
Port Clinton Art Festival – Highland Park, IL 1997
Fiber / Metal Arts – St. Paul, MN 1995-7
Lapis Moon Gallery – Grand Rapids, MI 1996
Two Rivers Art Expo – Minneapolis, MN 1994-6
Excelsior Festival of Arts / Art on the Lake – Excelsior, MN 1996
Edina Art Fair – Edina, MN 1996
Two Rivers Art Expo – Des Moines, IA 1995

EDUCATION
Central College – Pella, IA B.A. Art 1990
Chicago Metropolitan Center – Chicago, IL 1989
Trinity College – Carmarthen, Wales 1989
University of Leiden – Leiden, Netherlands 1988