On our way back to the States from Canada, a trip to North Carolina was a detour long in coming. For the past three years, because of unpredictable climate, a séjour to North Carolina was cancelled. This year, I reached out to Monique Lallier for a studio visit, since weather was good in Summerfield, North Carolina, where she practices her craft full time.
This visitation has been on my mind since crossing path with Monique in 2012, during a Book Arts Program workshop at the J Willard Marriott Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Summerfield was an exciting stopover, since I was also going to see Don Etherington’s studio. Monique Lallier & Don Etherington have been working together for over 30 years. It was an impressive three days of conversations and thought sharing. I indeed enjoyed an impromptu Drum Leaf binding session during an afternoon.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Monique and Don at their studio in Summerfield, North Carolina.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The entrance to Monique and Don’s studio in their art-filled Summerfield home.
As most of you know Monique Lallier is an internationally recognized book binder. She began her studies in the 1960s in Montréal, Canada at Cotnoir Cappone School of Fashion. Monique was tutored at L’Art de la Reliure book binding school by Simone B Roy, also in Montréal. In Paris, she studied gold tooling and onlays with Roger Arnoult. Monique studied basic raised cords French technique binding with Edwin Heim at the Centro Del Bel Libro in Ascona in Switzerland. Afterwards, she learned limp vellum binding, paper binding, twin binding (dos-a-dos), and boxes with Hugo Peller in Solothurn. Her craft has evolved and demonstrates one of the many original approaches to binding for which she is known.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. It was is awe-inspiring to see all the equipment in Monique and Don’s studio.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Monique’s corner where I spent an afternoon learning the drum leaf binding under Monique’s guidance.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Another corner filled with materials, tools and presses.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Tools and equipment… for all types of binding.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Fascinating tools abound in Monique’s corner representing some of the countries she has visited.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. A custom red leather box by Monique Lallier. Back in 1972, Monique walked into a bookbinding studio in her native Montréal and fell in love. More than 46 years later, the same love is shown in her own craft of bookbinding.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. A drum leaf binding by Monique Lallier.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Chemins de Traverse, binding by Monique Lallier, written by Luc Bureau and illustrated by Ghislaine Bureau Editions Les Giboulées, Québec, 2017. Full leather binding in grey buffalo with cut out on the front and back covers. Onlays of stone veneer and red leather. Edge to edge doublures with grey buffalo and fly leaves with silver leather.
After extensive training in England, Don Etherington established a four-year program in bookbinding and design at the Southampton College of Art. Don also conducted workshops and seminars for colleges, universities and the Guild of Bookworkers. President of the Etherington Conservation Services in Greensboro, NC, Don additionally holds the position of Fellow in both the American Institute for Conservation and the International Institute for Conservation. Don has re-entered the world of private practice as a design binder and teacher. His knowledge of bookbinding, conservation, restoration and fine binding are unmatched across the world. Don is nationally and internationally recognized for innovative design and implementation of state-of-the-art conservation procedures, including phased preservation programs for libraries and institutions.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. A close up of Don’s corner.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Don was creating a box for “The Pikes Peak Rush by Edwin L Sabin”.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Monique Lallier teaching me the drum leaf binding with her sense of creativity and high level of confidence
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Monique has fingers of dexterity and precision, with demonstrated ease.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Monique showing how to glue the fly leaves.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Here, Monique is gluing the spine.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Measuring the thickness of the spine.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. It was fantastic to spend time absorbing the vast knowledge Monique holds.
© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The finished binding.
It was an honour to be invited to sign Monique and Don’s beautiful bound guest book before they left on a five-week trip to China. This studio visit will be fondly remembered.