About

 

Hi, I’m Jen Louise Meyer, a bookbinder & printmaker. I combine the crafts to create handbound books for artists, writers, diarists, & chronic list-makers alike. Born & raised in Australia where I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts, I have my Oma (my German grandmother) to thank for passing on a love for the hand-made. She is my endless source of inspiration, with her remarkable gift for creating the most beautiful things with her hands. I can also thank my father, who, for as long as I can remember, has loved trying his hand at making a huge range of things. Diving deep into research into the best ways to go about it and teaching me to be patient with the process.

Now living in Oxford with my girlfriend, I was drawn to the UK by its folklore, landscapes, & ancient architecture, & continue to find inspiration for my work in the places, stories, & folk-history that first brought me here.

I was drawn to bookbinding by the never-ending & fruitless search for a sketchbook that met my practical & aesthetic demands. Then, I found a reference in a museum to a nineteenth-century artist who bound their own sketchbooks. My process is completely undertaken by hand in my studio (ie. my kitchen table) & starts at the drawing stage. I begin each design as a pencil drawing before hand-carving & printing my linocuts & sewing my books. I choose to use the Coptic binding technique, not only so I can say I use the oldest bookbinding technique in the world (though that part is fun to talk about at markets) but also (& the more deciding factor) because this technique allows the books to lie flat when open.

Having had a love of making things since I was a child, I’m delighted at the current revival & interest in the hand-made, folk art, & traditions as a response to the aspects of the world we’re all struggling with right now. I’ve watched as more & more books are released on topics like historic folk traditions & medieval church graffiti & as crafts like lacemaking, natural dyeing, & cording & weaving with natural fibres have attracted more & more makers. If my stuff inspires anyone to pick up a craft & carry on the ancient human tradition of making, that would bring me a lot of joy.