Magnificat

Deliverance Prayers

Custom Leather Book

I bind N. today to a strong virtue, an invocations of the Trinity. I believe in a Threeness, with confession of a Oneness in the Creator of the Universe.

Breastplate of St. Patrick (Modified)

About the Project

Sometimes we just need a simple book to be used in our daily life. No intricate tooling needed, elaborate design, or complicated motifs to convey its importance. 

My client had a simple mission: make a book that is both rugged and durable enough to stand up to everyday use – and I think we accomplished that mission. We opted for a classical look, with Briar Brown coloring, Burgundy Marbled Paper for the Endleaf sheets, and ‘Aged Parchment’ paper for the text-block. The three ribbons indicate how much the client will be using different sections of the book on any given day, making for a dynamic and comprehensive experience for them.

I’m proud of this book, and I’m happy with how it turned out. While, of course, I enjoy creating design bindings with impressive tooling that push the boundaries of my experience, I never want to lose sight of what’s really important – making books. It’s why I started this journey so many years ago. If I can make a book for someone that they’ll use and enjoy every day, then it’s a good day.

From The Client

“We had a tremendous experience working with Jeff at Boston Harbor Bookbindery.

In advance of approaching Jeff with a very meaningful project, and one which we had to get right, I interviewed a number of different organizations in the Bookbindery space. Jeff was hands down the clear favorite based not only on his subject matter expertise but more importantly, the care with which he approached both the project and the relationship.

He is a great communicator and provided real-time updates along the way as the project progressed. We trusted Jeff from the beginning to the end of the project and he never steered us wrong. It was a joyful experience for us and we look forward to working with Jeff again.”

The Process

I try to capture as many images as possible throughout the process. This is what I managed to get!

The Pink Bible

The Pink Bible

Restoration and Rebinding

Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:7

About the Project

I’m excited to showcase a truly special project – The Pink Bible!

In all honesty, I don’t regularly take on Bible projects anymore. This is due to a number of factors, and not meant to be a commentary on the material within or anything like that. Since the Bible is one of the most published books in history, and there are many variations on it, each one that I’ve worked on is completely different from the others. I have a few personal requirements that need to be met for me to take on a Bible project – and this one checked every box!

I received a phone call from this client, and they asked if I’d be willing to rebind their Bible. Now, I never say no straightaway and we began to discuss the details of their book, what they’re looking for as the final product, and their personal preferences in design/function. Essentially, I was interested in taking this on as soon as we hammered out those details!

Funky colors, free-hand design, a document pocket, three ribbons – this book has it all. It definitely stands out in a crowd and I am very proud with how it all turned out. The client was blown away with how it all played out and they’re very happy with their new Bible.

The Process

I try to capture as many images as possible throughout the process. This is what I managed to get!

Legend of the Ravaja

Legend of the Ravaja

Author's Edition

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”".

Genesis 3:19, NIV

About the Project

It’s no secret that I truly enjoy making a book for the author. I find the entire process a personal journey for both the client and me. Whether or not the book is intended to be published on a large scale, the idea of having one special book for the creator is always fun. 

I’d actually worked with this client many years ago, shortly after my apprenticeship concluded and I first opened the bindery. Back then I was known as Sound Leather Books and I operated out of a small studio space in the Old Rainier Brewery building, which is nestled next to I-5 and welcomes people into the cityscape of Seattle. I think back on that time fondly. I was just finding my way as a bookbinder, establishing clientele and my own artistic voice. Clients early on took chances with me and helped me develop professionally and personally.

Since our last project together, I’d grown immensely and I was very excited to take another crack at this book.  I’d acquired a new collection of leather, decorative techniques, and, more importantly, a sense of confidence to execute an ambitious design scheme.  

With darker colored leathers I enjoy working with silver, as opposed to gold, for lettering and tooling. I feel like silver has a strong look when applied on a dark background, allowing the book to stand out and invite readers into its contents. During the binding process, I asked the client if he’d like to include any kind of design, line drawing, or other kind of decorative motif. When he sent me a draft design of a “sigil”, I immediately began working on it to translate it from the page and into a format that can be tooled properly. The marbled endleaf sheets give the book another wow factor once the covers are opened, giving the reader one last treat before enjoying the text.

Overall, this was an incredibly satisfying project. My mission statement is “Let’s make the book of your dreams” and I feel like this hits directly on that mark.

The Process

I try to capture as many images as possible throughout the process. As you can see there were times I needed to improvise with the final steps of the binding, simply due to the fact that the book just didn’t fit in any of the presses I own. 

Revolt in the Desert

Revolt In The Desert

Restoration and Rebinding
with Custom Clamshell

"...dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes".

T.E. Lawrence, Revolt in the Desert

About the Project

Rebinding a rare and valuable book, especially a numbered first edition, can be a tricky situation – and I don’t take it lightly. This project fit the category of needing attention to bring it back to life, while also keeping with its look and feel from when it was first published. My client contacted me in early January 2026 and asked if I’d be able to assess and potentially repair his book. Right away I knew this was a special book, so I approached it carefully and methodically.

Challenge accepted.

According to my client, this book had sustained some water damage sometime in the 1960’s. The water distorted/warped the covers and seeped into the binding, which affected the paper and thread holding it all together. I went through, page by page, to see the extent of the damage. While every signature was affected, it was honestly a manageable amount, and it was easy to clean up. Thankfully, the materials that went into making this book are superior, bringing to mind the timeless adage “they don’t make them like they used to”, which is certainly the case here. All throughout the process I was overcome with joy simply to be working on such a wonderful piece of history. The paper was lovely to handle, it accepted thread without issue, and responded well to any mending needed. The repairs disappeared completely, which is exactly what every binder wants to see.

All told, this project came together nicely. It’s a solid book, keeping with it’s original form from when it was first published. To give it further protection, we made a custom clamshell box lined with royal blue felt.

While serious concerns can arise regarding the value of a book and the effect rebinding has on it, I feel the work we did was both necessary and beneficial to the longevity of this invaluable piece of history.

The Process

The images below are more archival than showcasing any technique used. I provided a written report for my client, outlining the necessary repairs needed to accomplish the restoration effort. What you’ll see is the book in its state before restoration, during the deconstruction phase.