Where to Start with Shereen LaPlantz
Shereen LaPlantz (1947-2003) was an internationally recognized book artist, basketmaker, and author whose work appeared in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Europe, and Africa. Her artists’ books and basketry are held in permanent collections including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. LaPlantz published several influential craft books, but she is best remembered for “Cover to Cover: Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals & Albums” (1995), which quickly became the standard introduction to creative bookbinding and remains widely recommended three decades after its original publication. The 20th anniversary edition, published in 2015, updated the book with full-color photography while preserving the clear, encouraging instruction style that made the original so beloved.
Start here
Cover to Cover
Shereen LaPlantz · 144 pages · 1995 · Easy
Themes: creative bookbinding, journals, book arts, accordion books, pamphlet binding
LaPlantz’s most influential work and the book she is remembered for. First published in 1995, it established the template for modern creative bookbinding instruction: clear step-by-step projects that progress from simple pamphlets to complex multi-signature structures, with emphasis on artistic expression and personal design.
Why Start Here
This is the only bookbinding book LaPlantz wrote, and it represents the culmination of her teaching experience. She designed each project to build on the previous one, so the skills accumulate naturally. The book covers a wider variety of structures than most introductions, including accordion folds, fan books, and non-adhesive bindings that many other guides leave out.
LaPlantz was particularly skilled at explaining decorative techniques and cover design. She shows you how to work with bookcloth, decorative papers, and mixed media to create books that are visually striking as well as structurally sound. If you are drawn to bookbinding as an art form, this is the guide that will speak to you most directly.
What to Expect
A 144-page guide available in the updated 20th anniversary edition with full-color photography. Basic tools required: bone folder, needle, thread, craft knife, and cutting mat. The materials are kept modest throughout, so you can start without a large investment. Projects range from quick pamphlets to more involved multi-section bindings.