If you see Esther Smith’s How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book (Potter Craft, 2007) in a bookstore, chances are, you will pick it up because of its unconventional cover design. That’s a good start, but once you open the book, you’d probably drawn to the stylish illustrations and unique photographs of the handmade titles by Purgatory Pie Press, which is co-operated by Smith.

Beginning from simple “instant books” to accordion, from stab to the more difficult long-stitching, then to the most challenging Coptic binding, Smith demonstrates how one idea can be carried and transformed from one form to another, branching out to create one-of-a-kind books. Each binding method is shown in stylish block-type print illustrations, followed by variations of the method.

How to Make Books is balanced with techniques and ideas. Variations of a particular binding method are demonstrated with alternative materials and ideas. In stab binding, Smith shows us how to create alternative patterns such as the tortoise shell and slacked-stab, with recycled paper, envelopes and cloth. Once you've finished your long-stitch book, you will start to think about making a leather journal; and after you've accomplished your coptic book, you will begin to ponder on other possible materials for the covers.