TALAS

Tycore: Same product, better price!

2011-07-26T12:34:00.009-04:00

Tycore is Tough...

and with its new and improved price, it's practically indestructible!

Tycore's honey comb structure makes this material our most dimensionally stable board. That coupled with its pH neutrality (buffered to approx. pH 8), make it an ideal material for a variety of uses.

Already a fan? Or just now familiarizing yourself?

Either way, there's never been a better time to board up

in time for the winter!

Check it out on our website here.

NEWsletter!

2011-06-07T12:54:00.003-04:00

So, you're probably thinking we've been awfully quiet recently.
Agreed, we have been!
But, that doesn't meant that we haven't been busy.

TALAS has an exciting lineup of new products, services, and goodness in store for the summer.

To make sure that you stay up to date, we have introduced a NEWsletter.
We promise to include a wealth of information and interesting stories pertaining to your field.
So be sure to signup on our website today:

NEWSLETTER

Already signed up for our newsletter in the past?
Please be sure to re-subscribe so we can cater emails more specifically to you.
We dislike clutter & bulging mailboxes just as much as you do!

Unbuffered Bond Paper, Re-purposed

2011-03-30T12:36:00.003-04:00

Recently we were approached by a Marbler
looking for a new paper to use in his work.

Frustrated by the predominance of buffering agents raping the surfaces of otherwise desirable papers for this artistic medium... he came to us, desperately seeking an alternative solution.

At first, the "regular" marbling papers were discussed - to name a few:
Fabriano Ingres
Hahnemuhle Ingres
Mohawk Superfine

... and then it dawned on us, BOND PAPER!

A newly sourced paper we introduced to feed the demands for a high quality unbuffered paper predominately for storage or printing when a buffering agent is undesirable.

Based on the complaints our marbler friend was expressing (namely to due to paper containing fillers that subsequently effect the penetration of ink into paper) it occurred to us that an unbuffered paper would potentially do the trick & solve these problems!

So, he bought a pack of Bond Paper to experiment with,
and proudly sent us the end result...
which we believe speaks for itself.

Needless to say he, and other marblers alike,
have been flocking to the newly re-purposed paper!

The Importance of Paper

2011-03-10T09:09:00.003-05:00

Interesting video on the significance of well preserved and constructed documents.

Want to learn more about Byron Weston paper?

Check it out on our website here.

Byron Weston Linen Record Ledger has been the National Standard for permanent records since 1863. For over 140 years Bryon Weston papers have continued to meet the highest standards for acid free, archival paper. They contain an alkaline buffer for maximum resistance to deterioration. The purity and intrinsic strength of cotton, coupled with 200 years of experience in papermaking, makes these ledger papers the best choice for permanent records.

Cut Heritage Corrugated Boards!

2011-02-11T10:09:00.006-05:00

So, you've heard the buzz about our Heritage Corrugated Board,
but you haven't yet been able to purchase a full carton...

... well, that's no problem anymore as Talas now stocks Cut Sheets of Heritage Board!

Choose from one of our inventoried sizes, or inquire about custom size sheets, shapes, etc.

We are excited to introduce this new product line, as we have been thrilled with its quality and think that everyone should have an opportunity to use it too.

Extra, extra READ all about it!

2011-01-26T11:24:00.003-05:00

Sick of the cold, and the snow (or lakes of slosh)...

Well, we certainly are!

...and, to help you cozy up in that new Snuggie still sitting in its box from the holidays,
Talas has introduced 2 new and exciting books!

So, go on, get comfy, relieve yourself from the wintery months, and grab yourself a new book:

Art Conservation and Authenticities

edited by Erma Hermens and Tina Fiske

The papers presented in this volume focus on a series of conservation ‘flashpoints’ - painted works, drawings, sculpture, installations, new media, performance, interiors and historic houses, cultural objects - and revolve around three key areas considered vital in establishing or vouchsafing an artwork’s ‘authenticity’: material, concept and context.

The papers, each in their own way, evaluate the critical potential of the pluralized form, ‘authenticities’, creating a platform for a continuous discussion on this important and fascinating theme.

Theory and Practice in the Conservation of the Modern and Contemporary Art

Ed. by Ursula Schadler-Saub & Angela Weyer

Confronts the theoretical foundation and the ethical and aesthetic principles of the conservation of modern and contemporary art, testing the limits and possibilities of the development of established positions and seeking new challenges.

The authors tackle the crucial question - whether there should be specific theoretical, ethical and aesthetic guidelines for the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art - by starting from important historical theories and seeing how these might be adapted to meet the demands of contemporary society in dealing with modern artworks and all the multiform cultural manifestations of today.

Brush off 2010...

2011-01-17T16:15:00.008-05:00

... and welcome 2011 with the help of our new
KOI Water Brushes!

KOI water brushes are lightweight, sleek and perfect
for artists and conservators.

They are made of fine flexible nylon bristles and have a unique water reservoir.
The water level is visual through the transparent barrel and the brushes are available in three sizes to produce strokes from fine to broad.

Great for all types of conservation and artistic purposes.

Visit our website here to order your KOI Brushes today!

Happy Holidays from Talas!

2010-12-21T10:26:00.003-05:00

Stress no more about holiday shopping.

Make Christmas unforgettable this year...
and fill your tree with all kinds of Talas goodies!

Too late to dress your tree?
We’ve still got the perfect gift for everyone on your list:
Talas Gift Certificates.

...well, what more could you ask?

In observance of the season's celebrations our office will be closed:

Thursday, December 23
and will reopen Monday January 3rd.

Happy & Healthy Holidays to all!

Zund Cuts Leather!

2010-12-20T13:53:00.002-05:00

Not only has the Zund been proven wonderful at cutting boards, papers, etc.
but it rose to the challenge when presented with leather!

The image above shows Harmatan Goatskin (brown)
and Hewits Calfskin (scarlet).

Talk about a precise inlay!

Slim Down in Time for the Holidays

2010-12-15T10:33:00.001-05:00

The holiday season has arrived, which not only means
bundles of shopping & a thinning wallet...
i
but also an abundance of sweets and eggnog galore.

Which is why we suggest you slim down in time for the holidays... or at least slim down your leather (and perhaps your wallet) with that Scharf-Fix machine you've wanted for ages!

Treat yourself, or that special person, this holiday season!
(and not only to that extra cookie or slice of cake)

Nothing says "I love you" quite like a paring knife will.
because every slice begins with S.

Zund Training by way of Germany

2010-12-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

Last week was an exciting one for Talas, and in turn for you...

it was Zund training week in Germany!

The week began with 3 intensive days of Impact CAD instruction,
which is the program we will use to operate and plot on the machine.

Sure, lessons were tough... but we still found time for a bit of fun, and of course for sauerkraut!

After the 3 days, we weren't quite Impact Masters by any means...
but we were at least competent enough to begin plotting away!

Below is a picture of a box we cut to specifically fit a notebook.
This box was drawn, creased, scored & cut with the Zund plotter all within minutes!

Assembly of the box was also quick & easy,
and not to mention yielded an extremely sturdy product!

To the left is an image of numerous custom boxes that have all been creased, scored and cut on the Zund plotter, and are ready for shipment.

As you can see, the lay flat design adds additional wall strength (sides are doubled when folded), and also saves a bundle on shipping costs!

These boxes have all been cut from our Heritage Corrugated Board.

Not yet familiar with this board?
If not, it is definitely worth checking out. We are certain you will be as thrilled with its archival quality and rigidity as we are.

Now that we are on the way to becoming Zund Masters,
expect to see production begin in early 2011!

Above is an image of 2 Zund machines hard at work.

And below are some examples of boxes and enclosures:

Germany was fun (but snowy), and training was great - but we are glad to have returned home to NYC where we can begin plotting away on our very own Zund!

Visit with Thornwillow Press

2010-11-29T14:03:00.000-05:00

While most of us probably spent Friday at home, still recovering from all the turkey & mashed potatoes consumed the previous night on Thanksgiving...

... a few TALAS folks avoided the imminent leftovers & headed up north to visit Thornwillow Press.

Needless to say, we were extremely impressed by the scope of their operation and not to mention the quality of their finished product.

Luke Pontifell was kind enough to show us around his large operation.

To the left is a small corner of the shop, including several printing presses designed for a number of functions.

Below is a glimpse at the printing process of some holiday cards.

Thornwillow is involved in all aspects of the job, from start to finish. From papermaking, to plate engraving & production, to printing & burnishing, to envelope die-cutting & lining!

Below you can see the press on the left is set up for die-cutting. To the right, Luke explains his novel approach to polymer stamping to Marge & Jake of Talas upstairs in his bindery.

Some more pictures from the bindery...

Thanks to everyone at Thornwillow for showing us around!

We hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed the visit.

Rice paper, what's that? Japanese Fibers: Demystified

2010-11-22T12:54:00.000-05:00

Western papers are enough to wrap our hands around...
but then we enter the sphere of Japanese Papers.
Welcome to Washi world!

All too often, students visit Talas requesting "Rice Paper".
I don't know what that is, do you?

In the Japanese Paper (or Washi) 101 handbook, papers can be broken down into
3 key fibers: Gampi, Kozo & Mitusmata.

Kozo: (or Mulberry) Used in approximately 90% of the washi made today. This deciduous shrub can grow to a height of 3-5meters, thus providing a very long fiber in the papermaking process.

Mitsumata: This bush originated in China, and can grow to a height of 1-1.5meters. The fibers are shorter than Kozo's, and yield very fine papers.

Gampi: This bush grows to a height of 1-1.5m, it cannot be cultivated and is therefore rare and the most expensive of these 3 materials. The finished paper is somewhat translucent and has a shiny texture.

Now that you are familiar with the key fibers in Washi ,
what distinguishes it from most Western papers?

FIBERS: Washi is made from long natural fibers (see above), which are light and strong in characteristics. They are usually pure in form with little or no additives. Special beating methods are used to facilitate the separating of fibers, and their length remains unaffected. On the contrary, Western Papers are mostly made from shorter fibers like cotton linter or paper pulp. Sizing, filler etc. are often times added to these plant materials depending on the particular paper and its function.

COLOR: Traditional washi papers are often bleached by the sun, water, or snow using methods which date back for centuries. Western papers often employ either chemical & natural methods of bleaching.

PRODUCTION: Sheet production is another very important distinction to acknowledge. Washi is produced using the Nagashisuki method. This means that paper is built up layer by layer utilizing a rocking motion. Fibers are suspended in a liquid mixture with the aid of Neri. Western papers are very different in that they are often formed in just one dip.

DRYING: Drying is another variable that can effect a papers characteristics. In Washi production, sheets are brushed onto drying boards. This means low shrinkage, and papers dry incredibly flat. Western paper is hung on rope to dry, resulting in high shrinkage, which yields in a thicker, denser sheet of paper.

Watch the video below to see Washi production & boarding in a more commercial setting.

Japanese papers can vary quite a bit, but can be easily distinguished from that of its Western counterpart.

It is important to understand these basic principles of Japanese Paper & papermaking before choosing a paper that best suits your needs.

Want to see and feel the different fibers in their final paper form?
No worries, we just so happen to sell a Japanese Paper Sample book.

Like Talas on Facebook!

Win a $100 Talas Gift Card!

2010-11-19T10:08:00.000-05:00

So fans, we need your help. As you may have noticed, Talas recently acquired a new team member, the Zund: digital cutting machine.

We are now on the quest for a Zund “catch phrase”, and are asking you to help us write this phrase… in return we will award our favorite phrase with a $100 Talas Gift Certificate just in time for the holidays!

The Zund is a Digital Cutting Machine that will facilitate the production of custom manufactured boxes, enclosures, etc. It will enable custom work to be produced in both small and large quantities, and make it much more accessible then ever before at prices that won’t make you stop in your tracks.

We’re hoping you can come up with some better ideas, but here are a few we thought of to get your creative juices flowing:

- Custom, now within reach.

- Because custom is the new black!

- Fit in, not out, buy custom.

- Because the shoe doesn’t always fit.

Post or email (info@talasonline.com) your slogans for your chance to win your $100 Talas Gift Card!!

It Has Arrived!

2010-11-15T16:55:00.000-05:00

After literally years of chit-chat...

The ZUND G3 has arrived!

Digital Cutting System
Custom Box Making, and Board/Paper Cutting & Scoring

Are you anxious about all those custom fit boxes that desperately need constructing? Can't find the time or the energy to make them? or the interns?

Let TALAS help, with our brand new Zund G3 that will allow us to custom make boxes to suit all your needs.

What makes our custom boxes different from
other archival boxes on the market?

The router driven software makes large and short run production hassle free and quickly made, without the need of expensive, custom made dies or equipment.

Our construction of these boxes truly makes them a step above the rest.

Choose between metal forged edges, or a tucked wall construction, providing extra rigidity and support when necessary (particularly on larger or weight bearing boxes).

A wide range of materials will be offered, including our full line of Heritage Corrugated Boards which has been regarded as the most rigid and dimensionally stable compared to other comparable corrugated boards. Other available materials include Coroplast, solid fibered board, museum board, paper, etc.

The materials used, in conjunction with the incredibly precise router driven cutter and scorer results in an unprecedented product of the highest quality.

We will also offer the widest variety of complex box styles ranging from clam-shells (laminated to your specified covering material: bookcloth, paper, fabric), to 2-piece boxes, to slip cases, and many designs in between.

None of our designs work for you? No problem. Just send us your template designs, and we can cut and score exactly to your specifications in your requested materials.

The large bed allows us to handle sheets of material up to 70" x 98" for the largest boxes on the market!

Ultimately, we would like our customers to see this machine as an opportunity to let your imagination run rampant. Projects that were deemed unrealistic, and unobtainable in the past due to either size or cost restraints may now become a reality!
Stop by our shop to see it in action, and...
... Say hello to your new best friend for 2011, the Zund G3!

Stay Tuned for more updates as the machine is installed!

In the Movies

2010-11-09T16:46:00.000-05:00

Setting the Stage...

(front door rings, Gwen - local artist & art director for various feature films- is buzzed in to 330 Morgan Ave and proceeds to Talas' showroom on the 2nd floor)

Gwen: I desperately need your help! I was in earlier in the week, and purchased some supplies for the movie I'm working on... remember?

Me: Yes sure, the one the where you had to stage an amateur book conservators bench... I helped you pick out some of the necessities.

Gwen: That's the one! Well, now the director desperately wants a shot of type that reads "The Interpreter". Do you have type?

Me: Sure! We sell brass type, and stock it in Edinburgh in a number of sizes.

Gwen: Can you lease or rent it out because we only need it for 1 scene, and the sets seem to be rather pricey?

Me: I wish, but this it's an extremely delicate product, and even the slightest scratch or ding and I wouldn't be able to sell it to a customer....

(deliberation... Gwen eventually leaves with a list of local letterpress shops and ventures off in her hunt for type).

Later that afternoon I receive a call from Gwen explaining that the producer would like to hire me that evening as a type handler (similar to that of an animal handler). I agreed, and we shot the scene after I set the type and never let it out of my sight!

Anyways, here are a few pictures from the set, the movie is called In The Family. Be sure to keep your eyes opened for it in the near future!

Isn't it exciting when book arts make the big screen?

13th Edition Catalog is here!

2010-11-01T12:43:00.000-04:00

Drum roll please...

After countless weeks of teasing,
the 13th Edition Talas catalog has finally arrived!!!

256 pages, including a 16 page full-color section for your perusing joy.

It was a long road
full of re-prints and nit-picking, but the result is a product that we feel goes above and beyond that of any of our previous editions!
We hope that you feel the same way too.

To the left is an image of a small selection of large scale paper (and palettes) at the printing site.

After countless tweaking & proofs, color was okay-ed for printing, and we were officially on press!!

Many have already inquired... does the new catalog have any "hidden items" (ie the Pulik) like in the 12th edition?
Well, there's only one way to find out now isn't there?!

Catalogs are always gratis, and can be added onto any order for no charge. However, if you are only requesting a catalog, we do ask for customers to cover any shipping charges.

Witches & Zombies & Book Blocks, OH MY!

2010-10-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

Sure, witches, warlocks, ghosts and zombies are scary this season...

but you know what's really scary?
How easily you can case in your own book block!

All you will need to do is follow these 10 steps to bookbinding bliss.

Materials:
PVA Adhesive: Jade 403
Glue Brush
Mull / Super / Tarlatan (one in the same)
Bone Folder or Burnisher
Kraft Paper
Scalpel & Blades
Binder's Board
Covering Material

and of course... your book block!

1. Place the book block between backing boards, a securing vice, or just between your knees. Using your glue brush, liberally apply Jade to the spine of your block. Take your Supercloth, and adhere the center along the spine. Burnish with your bone folder. Now, cover the supercloth with a strip of Kraft paper (cut to the width of the spine), and burnish again - making sure it is secured in place.

2. Place your cover material face down on a sheet of scrap paper or newsprint. Glue the entire back side of your cover material - make sure not to miss the edges and corners!

TIP: Always start from the center & work out to avoid rips, folds, or creases to your material. Work Quickly as Jade dries fast. If you'd like to slow down the drying time - try adding wheat paste or methyl cellulose to your Jade for added drying time.

3. Cut a “center guide” out of scrap - to calculate: add the block height + at least twice the board thickness. Eye or generally gauge the center of the material & place your “center guide.” Now, butt your center boards up to the center guide making sure the top & bottom margins are the same size. Once the boards are down, remove the center guide.

4. Center a second strip of Kraft Paper (same width as your spine) between the boards.
(this is where your spine will go)

5. Now it’s time to trim the corners of your material. Gauging how much to trim can be tricky – but a proper amount to leave extending beyond the corner of the boards is just over the thickness of the boards. Cut at a 45degree angle.
6. Long sides always get folded first. Take your bonefolder and tease the material up – burnishing flat along the edge of the boards. Continue flattening the material to the inside of the boards. Pinch in the corners with your fingernail.

Now fold in the short sides (using the same method as above).

TIP: If you find that your glue is drying out – don’t be afraid to reapply in specific areas. Just be careful to not add to much as to avoid pooling when burnished.

7. Leave to dry under weight for several hours, or as long as you’d like. This will help ensure that your boards do not buckle or curl.

8. Now it’s time to place the book block into the cover. Holding the book inside of its jacket – knock it back against a hard surface to make sure it’s fully in place.

9. Once your block is in place (make sure there is an even extension on the top and bottom) take a sheet of your scrap paper and place it behind the first page in your diary block. Now take your brush and apply a coating of Jade across the whole end page.

TIP: Make sure to completely cover Supercloth as this will act as the chief means of support between the block & case.

Shut the cover, and apply pressure.

Now very carefully, hold the book & case in place and flip.
Repeat the same gluing process on this side.

10. Leave your book to dry under weight - preferably overnight to help ensure flatness and to prevent your boards from curling.

SMILE...
you have finished your own book block!

See, that wasn't so scary!!

Like this tutorial?
Download a copy here.

Texlifil Bookcloth

2010-10-21T10:09:00.000-04:00

Fall has arrived, but summer has sprung at Talas
with our newest bookcloth addition:

TEXLIFIL

This line of paper backed bookcloth has a vibrant range of colors reminiscent of Provence, and is manufactured in France. It has a wonderful sheen and feel, for an elegant high end look.

Do you like working with Iris or Cialux?
Well Texlifil has similar characteristics in 11 eye-catching colors!

The cloth is easy to work with, and can be silk screened, foil stamped, and blind stamped. Excellent for books, boxes, journals, albums and other book and packaging applications.

Don't let winter blues get you down...
Spice up this Autumn with this new line of summery, bright & cheerful Texlifil!!

Guild of Bookworkers: 2010 Standards of Excellence

2010-10-19T12:44:00.000-04:00

Yep, it was that time of the year again...

Autumn arrives and bookbinders from all over the world converge at this much anticipated annual Standards of Excellence meeting.

This year the 3 day long meeting took place in sunny, dry Tucson Arizona.
(certainly a nice change of pace from cold & rainy NY)

As always, the board assembled an impressive lineup of presenters, including:

Michael Burke (Byzantine Binding)
Nancy Ruth Leavitt (In Search of Content, the Joys & Challenges of Creating the Book Form)
Martha Little (Book Forensics: Interpreting Evidence of Structure)
Jeffrey Peachey (Late Eighteenth Century French Binding Structures)

And also, as always, Talas, along with various other vendors exhibited some our goods. The vendor rooms were first only opened to participants, and later to the public & all book enthusiasts alike.

To the left is a view of what our booth looked like.

We were extremely excited to begin circulation of our newest Talas catalog, and not to mention share a number of new products with all of this years attendees!

More pictures (hopefully) to come soon!

But we'll leave you with this cheery photo taken in Pheonix,
in the backyard of Starr Bindery.

Have some photos from the week in Tucson that you'd like to share on our blog?
Email them to info@talasonline.com

Alran Goatskin

2010-10-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

Just when you thought we've introduced enough products
in the month of September...

September ends and October arrives,
which means time for some more new stuff...

Enter: Alran Goatskins

Our newest line of of full-vegetable tanned & aniline dyed goatskins from France.

These skins have a genuine grain and a soft touch.
Their finishing is well adapted to wet works, gold decoration, fillet wheels and titling, among other uses.

The skins are hand boarded 4 times providing a sought after small & round grain.

We are extremely excited to introduce this new high quality but extremely reasonably priced goatskin to our collection of leather & we hope that you are equally as excited!

Available in 11 colors:
Get your Sample Book, or the real deal today
and see what all the rage is about for yourself!

(click on the image above to enlarge and to better see grain pattern)

Sturgeon Glue

2010-10-04T10:54:00.000-04:00

After its long hiatus... Sturgeon Glue is back again!

It was a long and tiresome journey, but we are pleased to announce that we now have our very own Fish & Wildlife Permit, and are able to successfully import this product into the states!

Please see our website HERE for more information & ordering details.

Split French Goatskin!

2010-09-29T09:38:00.001-04:00

Ever want to work in leather but are bothered by all of the work and preparation involved?

Sick of sending your skins off to the mountains to be split?

Worry no longer, as TALAS now stocks a variety of our French Goatskin’s in a “split” variety.
At only 0.5-0.6 mm thick, make these skins an absolute pleasure to work with!

Split French Goatskin

Did I also mention just how very, very economically priced they are?
So, what's stopping you - go and check them out here!

Vegetable tanned and aniline dyes there are 7 colors and available in two grades.

13th Edition Catalog!

2010-09-27T15:29:00.000-04:00

Can't wait until our 13th Edition Catalog returns from the printer next month??

Well, no worries - the new catalog has just been uploaded to our website
& is waiting for you to download your copy today!

Here is a sneak-peak of what our cover looks like:
Our inventory lines have expanded into 256 pages...
(including a 16 page color section in the back, providing a large number of color swatches)

Be the first to get your hands on our newest edition!

For those who still prefer the hard-copy version,
we expect it to be available the week of October 11th.

Fabriano CMF Ingres

2010-09-22T10:49:00.000-04:00

Were you as upset as we were upon receiving notice that
Fabriano Ingres was to be discontinued?

For close to a year now we have been selling out our inventory... that was until the recent introduction of:

Fabriano CMF Ingres

The CMF Ingres is very similar to the discontinued Fabriano Ingres line, however, it only includes natural colored papers and are available for sale at a much lower price point.

The unique grain and the highly lightfast colors are characteristic of these papers. Acid free, they are ideal for fancy paperwork, bookbinding, drawing (pastel and charcoal)and collage as well as deluxe editions, brochures and presentations.

Available in 90 gsm and 160 gsm. All sheets are 27" x 39" (70cm x 100 cm) and grain long.

Interested in this new product & want a swatch book to see what it's really like?

Be one of the first 10 people to email info@talasonline.com with the header "Send me my free CMF Ingres sample book" and you will recieve your CMF Ingres book on the house!!

Please be sure to include your address in your email and we will send you a book, no charge.

Sorry out-of-towners, this offer is only valid for U.S. addresses... but just to fair, if you live outside of the USA and would like your sample book, mention this post in your next order & we'll throw one in gratis!

So get emailing before someone else beats you to it and snags your free sample book!

Marbling Paper, the Age Old Question

2010-09-16T09:25:00.001-04:00

What paper is best for making marbled paper?

This age old question has been asked for centuries... and quite frankly we have always been a little confused as to what the best option may be.

When talking about papers these days, it is nearly impossible to neglect to acknowledge Buffering agents. Most of our papers have them, and they are not a marblers friend! Calcium Carbonate is an increasing buffering agent in many papers these days. This buffering agent is a cheaper "fill" then pure paper pulp, and is infiltrating the fibers of our commercially made paper!

So, you ask, why is calcium carbonate or other buffering agents
so problematic in the marbling process?

The answer lies in the way pigments are absorbed by the paper in conjunction with the sheets wet-strength. Using a filler as opposed to pure paper pulp has a negative effect on both of these characteristics.

What is the answer?
And how can we avoid cheap fillers to help create the best marbled paper possible?

TALAS recently introduced a new product to our ever-expanding inventory of products;
this product is called:

UNBUFFERED BOND PAPER

Originally purposed as an interleaving and envelope paper for archival purposes... we have since discovered its relevance & ideal characteristics suited for the marbling industry.

It is an 80lb text, ph neutral, 25% cotton paper of high quality, free of any buffering agents.

Recently, our customer James Tapley, ordered some Bond Paper to test on his own. This is what he had to say:

I wanted to let you know that the bond marbles beautifully. Sheets can be alumed (the standard one level tbsp per cup water), allowed to dry, and they flatten perfectly for use later. The surface is just the right amount of smooth, not too toothy (which disrupts fine lines) and not to hard and shiny, just right. I'm putting a finished sheet in the mail so you can judge for yourself but you should have no fear in recommending it. My only suggestion would be that you specify grain direction for each of the sheet sizes you offer.

There is a cheaper sulphite drawing paper that Dick Blick offers (Iris Nevins uses it) but it is not near so nice as the bond's surface or wet strength. And while Light Impressions offers the bond at a slightly lower price they don't maintain a stock and customer service is pretty bad.

So thanks, I'll be ordering some more from you. I prefer a 20" x 26" sheet but the offcuts will always come in handy. Hope its a grand holiday weekend for you.
Best,
James

Try it yourself, and be sure to let us know what you think!

Claire Guillot Papers

2010-08-13T14:29:00.000-04:00

We are extremely excited to introduce this line of decorative papers to our collection!

On a trip to the South of France this summer, we met Claire in her studio.

See our website HERE for more information.

This lucky selection of Canson & Hahnemuhle Ingres Paper sits on Claire's shelves... waiting to be transformed into vivid, dynamic & sensational marbled papers!

Papers are created on a variety of colored backgrounds, which create tonal differences and enhance each sheet.

Below, Claire designs the sheet of paper in her marbling bath using her extensive palette of colors & tools.

Claire is entirely self-taught, and each day is a new exploration for her. She is constantly experimenting with new techniques & methods, and studying various marbling styles along the way.

To the left, a sheet of Ingres paper is carefully placed on the finished design.
She uses mainly Oil Paints, which give each sheet a distinct look and feel.

After the sheet is placed, it is removed & rinsed (see images below). Finally, once a sheet is done, Claire waxes the surface to enhance its colors and to facilitate its use.

The final result is a masterful monoprint or sheet of marbled paper that photographs just don't seem to do justice!

Claire Guillot's Papers can be found on our website HERE.
They are selling fast, so get your hands on a sheet now, before they're all gone!

We are currently assembling a permanent line of papers with Claire. We expect production to begin immediately, and they will be listed on our website as soon as they arrive!

Which is your favorite?

Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions:
info@talasonline.com
(212)219-0770

New CAVE Paper Colors!

2010-08-06T12:19:00.000-04:00

This week TALAS introduced 4 beautiful, new Cave paper colors!

#12 Tangerine
#13 Vivid Red
#14 Lime Green
#15 Teal

Handmade paper made from Belgian flax. Designed for the use on book covers, and are extremely strong and have been used for collage, graphic designers and printers. Its strong tooth also makes this paper desirable for work with pastels or other media that require a more textured surface.

See our website for more information:
www.talasonline.com

Lots to Come

2010-07-27T17:42:00.000-04:00

We've been keeping quiet all summer long... but we promise we've been keeping busy!

Here's whats been crackin':
Lots of new & really exciting products!!

A trip to France landed...

several new lines of Goatskin (one is pre-split skins!),
a new line of beautifully handcrafted marbled papers,
specialty brass finishing tools by Alivon Tools,
& yes,
TexLibris Bookcloth....

Here's a small preview:

But, this is just to wet your appetite.. more to come on all all of these new endeavors soon!
Stay posted to be the first to know as soon as these items become available for purchase.

Bushwick Open Studios!

2010-05-04T10:12:00.000-04:00

Mark your calenders for the weekend of June 4th-6th 2010!

Arts in Bushwick presents the 2010
Bushwick Open Studios

TALAS is opening its (now partly-vacant) 3rd floor studio spaces
for a group show presented in lieu of the event!

(Yes, this DOES mean that the Talas building will remain open over the weekend...
although don't get too excited 'cause in true form, the shop will remain closed)

Our conversion and expansion into the 3rd floor of our warehouse has been a slow but ongoing process. Lucky for us, the timing of our completed work has coincided with BOS, thus enabling us to join forces for the show.

More details to come as the date approaches...
... but, for now:

Program & Artist Directory Available at:
artsinbushwick.org

We look forward to seeing all you locals then!

White Stabiltex

2010-04-16T10:57:00.000-04:00

What's better than an overcast Spring Friday?

An overcast Spring Friday with
WHITE STABILTEX
in the mix!

Yes, that's right, back by popular demand, this White Stabiltex is currently gleaming on our shelves.

Imported from Switzerland and used for reinforcing/backing fragile textiles:
stronger and more dimensionally stable than other comparable products.

Stabiltex has good resistance to ultraviolet radiation, decay, bacteria, acids and oxidizing agents. It is produced from fine polyester multifilament yarn, weighs about 13 g per square meter, and is only 85 microns thick.
It can be used to make supporting and protective coverings and is produced in different colors to ensure that it is practically invisible when placed over articles.
100% polyester, 40" wide

Let us know your needs!

Better Late Than Never!

2010-03-10T10:09:00.000-05:00

French Chagreen Sample Books!

Thanks for your patience, the sample book is FINALLY available!
The chart contains all 42 colors.

These skins are noted for their beautiful and uniform finish and for their exquisite color palette.
The skins are finished in a fine crushed pattern, and are exceptional for gold tooling.

Feel free to contact us for more information:
info@talasonline.com
212-219-0770

New CROFT Folders Just In!

2010-02-22T15:50:00.000-05:00

This just in...

CROFT FOLDERS

A brand new delivery of bone folders, each hand carved from extremely dense bones (wild deer, elk & moose)
by Jim Croft!

Available in a variety of shapes & sizes for virtually every use in the book
(or box if you will!)

Text Blocks Have Arrived!

2010-02-19T13:46:00.000-05:00

You asked for them, and now we've got 'em!

TEXT BLOCKS
Got the winter blues? Reminiscing about that wonderful trip you took last summer?
Well now you can relive those memories and finally create that album you've been putting off, and while you're at it... sketch in style with your own semi-handmade journal!

Our text blocks are imported from Europe, beautifully constructed and economically priced.
All blank journals have sewn, folded signatures, A/F paper,
with spine reinforcement and are ready to be cased in.

Blank Journals

Available in various sizes, in either white or ivory paper,
with options that include gilded spine or ruled pages.

Blank Album Blocks
230gsm, ivory colored paper and interleaved with parchment tissue paper.
Available in portrait, landscape or square format.

Wishing we stocked a particular size and/or format?
Let us know, maybe we can get it with our next shipment.

Mounting Parchment & Vellum

2010-01-26T13:08:00.000-05:00

Materials
Vellum: size of board + 40mm all around
Board: 12mm Plywood
Glue: Starch Paste
Lining Paper: Standard (acid-free)

1. Line the upper surface of your board with lining paper - usually white or light cream, as it will affect the color of the vellum. Use Acid-Free paper for longevity.

2. Dampen Vellum on both sides with a wet sponge.

3. Leave until water has sunk into vellum.

4. Please the Vellum face down on the table.

5. Place the Board face down on top of the Vellum.

6. Cut the corners of the Vellum so that, when wrapped, they will fit properly around the Plywood, overlapping on the reverse, but not on the edges.

7. Paste outer 30mm of the Vellum, and the outer 30mm of the board. There will be a thin strip of unpasted Vellum near the front edges. This is to ensure that the glue does not creep under the front surface of the vellum.

8. Pull the vellum around the edge of the board, and press down on the reverse board one side at a time.
Then, one end at a time, push out air as you progress, re-wet edges of vellum if it seems reluctant to stretch tightly around the edges of the board.

If the Vellum does not stay down, use pins, staples, or tape to hold it.

9. Cover reverse of the board with more glued lining paper, removing pins or tape as you go.

10. Wipe the vellum face with a wet cloth to remove grit and marks.

11. Leave to dry. As skin dries it will become taught around the board.

To download the full pdf version of this instructional, click here!

Buffered vs. Unbuffered Tissue

2010-01-07T13:43:00.000-05:00

This question is commonly asked, and we feel it is important to outline the differences,
and thus the preferred uses of each.

Buffered Tissue has an alkaline, or basic, composition (ie pH above neutral; pH 7), which usually is achieved by adding calcium carbonate to these tissues.

Instances when this buffered surface would be preferable are when storing natural fiber based materials (like cotton fabrics, or cotton papers), as well as many synthetic materials. The alkaline properties of the tissue work to neutralize any acidity that come in contact with the material, and thus increase its longevity.

But, beware when using buffered tissue that the paper has not be treated with various other chemicals or processes (like some photographs), as the buffered surface may have long-term negative consequences. For example, if a material is meant to have a slightly acidic composition, it should not be stored with buffered tissue as the neutralization of the material may be detrimental over time.

Unbuffered Tissue is pH neutral, and is preferred when storing materials that by nature have a more acidic composition. These materials are predominately animal (protein) derived ones (like wool, silk, leather, fur...) but also include some color photographs. Using buffered tissue may neutralize these materials to their own detriment.

If you are still concerned about the objects you are storing & their composition,
we usually advise people to go with the Unbuffered Tissue as it is typically a safer bet.

So, in answer to the time old question:
"How can I store my mother's wedding gown & heirloom textiles
to preserve its condition for years to come?"

The answer lies in the material:
Natural plant derived fibers & some synthetics --> Buffered Tissue
Animal derived fibers & some color photographs --> Unbuffered Tissue

And of course always store these items with the appropriate tissue in Acid-Free boxes!

Download this instructional, from our website here.

Happy and a Healthy New Year!

2009-12-23T17:17:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all Happy Holidays & a Healthy New Year from the crew at TALAS!

Keep warm, and remember that we will be closed from Thursday December 24th - Sunday January 3rd.
We will be reopening on Monday January 4th.

Catch you all when we return in 2010!

What would YOU like?

2009-12-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

So my friends, the tables have turned. Today we ask you, what would you like to see on our shelves (that we don't already stock) come next year?
Maybe it's a genre of paper, a particular tool, or maybe a new type of adhesive - whatever it is, let us know. We won't know unless you tell us, so don't be shy.

If it's feasible, we'll do our best to get it into our warehouse & up on our website as quick as we can!

So, start throwing ideas at us, and let's see what we can come up!

Email: jill@talasonline.com
call: 212.219.0770
Or, better yet, let us know right here!

Shop with TALAS for the Holidays (Part IV)

2009-12-16T10:27:00.000-05:00

At this point I assume everyone's begun to get completely wrapped up in the regular holiday season jargon, as it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid. But who can complain, and who doesn't love that warm cuddly feeling associated with this time of year?

Which is why we think you should consider getting cozy on your work bench this holiday season with your cup of spiced tea, and of course your brand new Scharf-fix Paring Machine!

But, maybe the Scharf-Fix isn't for you, and you prefer a Brockman Paring Machine.

Whichever you prefer, treat yourself or someone else this year to one of these time-saving devices, and bring the thrill back into thinning leather!

Need some other leather paring suggestions?
Our Peachey Paring Knifes are presumably our highest end in the realm of paring knives. Crafted by hand, and sharpened to create a razor sharp edge ideal for paring leather.

Just beginning to work with leather, and not quite ready to take the plunge?
How about trying one of these paring knives. Since America seems to remain neutral in regards to varying tool styles - we carry 'em all! Including a new German Paring Knife, which is essentially a hybrid between the English & the French paring knives.

On another note, perhaps a Spokeshave might be most suited to your needs and style. Or, perhaps the simplest and most user-friendly of all of the tools - our Skife Knife.

More questions regarding these tools, or anything else we carry?
Feel free to contact us:
212-219-0770
info@talasonline.com

Shop with TALAS for the Holidays (Part III)

2009-12-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

Gift Guide #3:
Blank Book Journal Kits!

Nothing says you care quite like giving the gift of something homemade. Each book kit comes equipped with pretty much all of the materials necessary for binding your own journal (all you'll need is a bit of Jade glue, a glue brush, and a bone folder).

And if you yourself don't feel inclined to bind it yourself, don't be shy... give the kit itself!

Check out these great & affordable kits here!

Start the year off right with a 2010 Shepherd's Diary Block.

This unbound block, is sewn & glued but will require lining the spine with mull, and casing in.

Make sure to leave that tardiness and forgetfulness back in 2009 where it belongs, and stay on top of your 2010 agenda with this handmade and beautiful diary from England - you'll make sure to always have it by your side!

It's that time of the year again, when our minds travel to Mediterranean locales, but our bodies stay put behind the monitor - so now that you have your life in order with your 2010 Diary, give yourself a little piece of bliss, and try one of our Book Blocks from Spain!

Made from 100% handmade recycled cotton (chiffon) fibers. Acid-free, deckled edges, with a natural grain on both sides.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions:
212-219-0770
Monday-Friday (9:00am-5:30pm)
info@talasonline.com

Shop with TALAS for the Holidays!

2009-12-14T12:11:00.000-05:00

Gift Guide #2: BOOKS!
Give the gift of knowledge this year with one of our wide selection of books and DVDS, and who knows, maybe next year you'll receive some fantastic handbound masterpieces in return for the holidays!

For the aspiring bookbinder, how about: How to Make Books; covers simple folding techniques to more elaborate leather binding that are all illustrated in an easy to follow manner.
Handmade Books DVD, is another great option. This DVD features easy to follow exercises include making single and multi-section books, photograph albums and notebooks.

And how about something for the more experienced binder? Perhaps An Introduction to Gold Finishing or Edge Decoration would be a good choice.

Now you may be asking, but what about my conservator friend? No worries, we have got plenty for them as well! Books ranging from conservation of specific genres, to overall conservation principles.

And if those topics don't seem to cover what it is you're looking for - how about something related to Marbling, or Photography, or perhaps Framing & Matting?

People often say the best knowledge comes from your peers, and we certainly agree, but also believe that books come second to live presentations. So peruse our selection, and let your imagination take flight!

As always, please don't hesitate to call or email is you have any questions.
212-210-0770
info@talasonline.com

Shop with TALAS for the Holidays!

2009-12-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year again already: Gift giving season!

I can't speak for all of us - but I know for sure that I'm typically scrambling at the last minute to find gifts to please even the most difficult of recipients.

But this year, TALAS is making your holiday shopping easy with some wonderful gift ideas! We have put together a list of specialized boutique tools and equipment that any professional or hobbyist would love to receive.

And if you can get her to walk, nonetheless to pull a sleigh, we'd be happy to throw in a complimentary dog-drawn sleigh delivery option for your order! (Please beware, chimney delivers may incur additional shipping costs).

Gift Guide #1:
Boutique Tools.
Nothing says "I love you" more then a beautifully crafted Croft bonefolder, Leino double-ended awl, or a Peachey paring knife! Ok, maybe that's not entirely true, but it sure says you care, and fits more comfortably into your budget this year as opposed to some other hand-crafted gems.

You will find these tools in the Boutique Tools section of our website, plus many other great gift ideas from these three artisans, along with exquisite new hand-crafted Antique Book Clasps from Sean Richards.

More gift ideas to come in the upcoming days before the Holidays!

But, if you can't wait til then, as always, feel free to give us a ring or send us an email and we would be happy to assist you in finding that perfect gift!
212-219-0770
info@talasonline.com

Cutting Binder's Board

2009-12-04T10:13:00.000-05:00

Cutting binder's board can be quite difficult, particularly when working with a heavier weight board. There are many approaches to take when cutting these boards, but I'll lay out a few I feel are important to discuss and address some of the pros and cons of each.

Guillotine: Arguably the best way to cut your binder's board most accurately and uniformly is with a guillotine - however, it is also probably one of the most difficult tools to get your hands on. But, if you are a keen follower of this blog, you will in fact know that TALAS has its own guillotine, and we would be happy to cut your board to your specifications (minimums apply). Now only would this expedite your bookmaking process, it will also severely cut back your shipping costs!
So, what makes this machine so much better for cutting? Well, it has to do with several things. First off, the clamp used to secure your boards is incredibly strong, and will prevent your boards from sliding during the cutting process. Secondly, the blade. The blade of the guillotine is insanely sharp and resilient, able to cut through even a tall stack of boards! This is extremely useful when cutting a larger number of boards which are meant to line up, and also to trim down your sewn book blocks.

Kutrimmer: Ranking in at #2 would be the Kutrimmer. A fantastic tool for anyone willing to make the investment. This cutter has a truly superb clamping mechanism (second to the guillotine) that keeps your material put during the cutting process, and can also accomodate a large number of papers or thick boards. While it may not be as accurate as the guillotine it still does a great job, and has guides calibrated down to 16th of an inch to ensure accurate cutting!
Is a Kutrimmer any different from my run-of-the-mill paper cutter??
The answer is YES! For those of you have ever used a Kutrimmer can relate - the vice that secures the material to be cut helps counter the natural torque associated withthese tools (that will try and rotate your material out towards the blade, and result in a not-so-straight cut).

Heavy-Duty Knife: Probably the most common way of cutting these boards. We recommend the Olfa L-1 Heavy Duty Cutter for the job. To begin, make sure you have a sharp blade, and beware that when cutting boards of this density, your blade will become dull extremely quickly - so don't be afraid to change it sooner then you ordinarily would!
Always measure twice and cut once. Sure you've probably heard this before, but it's really true and all too often comes back to haunt. Take your ruler (preferably one with a cork or cork-like anti-slid backing), and carefully cut applying even pressure, always away from your body.

Do not expect to cut through the board in one pass, depending on the thickness of the board, it may take many passes to get through to your cutting mat. When cutting boards I like to really get above the knife to ensure that I don't begin cutting at an angle; resulting in accidental beveled edges and subsequent edge filing to straighten the cut.
While this is probably the most common way to cut binder's board, there are a lot of variables, and problems that will arise that I feel are important to acknowledge.

First off, we've all heard horror stories of people who accidentally cut into their hands - although there's no advice I can provide you with that will all together alleviate this issue, I can advise you as to ways to best prevent such an injury:

- Always look where your fingers are before making a pass - this seems obvious, but the reason for most blade/cutting related injuries.

- Be aware that knifes sometimes tend to "jump" and/or stray from your straight edge. These unintentional marks can be aggravating later on, and also make it more difficult to follow the correct line in future passes - as your knife is likely to want to follow that stray path time and time again. Keep in mind that it is also always possible for the knife to "jump" up onto the ruler and jeopordize the well being of your fingers and nails. To help vest avoid this casualty, try and cut slowly (never rush) and don't apply too much pressure all at once. It's ok if it takes you a few extra passes!

- Beware that your knife does not angle down under the straight edge, and thus create one of those less than ideal, beveled edges I mentioned earlier.

Karate Black-Belt: We've all seen similar things in the movies... but binder's board is pretty dense stuff - and although I've never tried it myself (nor do I know anyone who has, and nor do I recommend trying) I'm gonna say, this is probably not such a good idea! And I say it's best to stick with one of the aforementioned cutting options...

Botanical Painters Visit TALAS

2009-11-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming the New England Society of Botanical Artists to our shop. Coming straight from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the bus arrived delivering 33 botanical painters to our showroom for the purpose of talking, learning, and purchasing their own vellums & parchments.

People often question the distinction between vellum & parchment. The answer, unfortunately, is not so clear cut. Parchment is the broader term referring to all hides (calf, sheep, and goat). Vellum is a more specific term originally derived from the French word "veux" meaning calf. That being said, calf is pretty much universally considered a vellum - however, depending on the manufacturer, other animal hides may also be considered "vellums".

In the picture to the top right, Jill, describes some of the different characteristics of the parchments we stock at TALAS.
Below, some of the ladies hand select their own South American goatskins (left) & Cowley skins (right).

While everyone seemed intrigued by the full parchments, others were drawn to our cut pieces of parchment (right) , which are great for those who are just beginning to experiment with the material. In the image to the left, Will shows a a small selection of our very large variety of decorative papers and materials to those interested.

Back to the parchments, Jill, helps these two ladies decide on full hides.
This crowd definitely seemed more drawn to more dynamic skins like Veiny Cowley's Calfskins & S.A. Natural Goatskins, as opposed to the more traditional Classic & Kelmscott Cowley's Calfskins.
Although strong in their character, and not always right for everyone, these skins can add a truly gorgeous component to the right subject matter.
I look forward to seeing how you two ladies tackle works on each of your skins!

To the right, Aaron was the only one brave enough to take a knife down the center of this skin to be split between two painters! Talk about a tense moment.

All in all, it was a great visit, as we are always delighted to introduce & share our knowledge to those interested in the the world of parchments, and vellums! It was great to have the opportunity to show our large variety of skins side-by-side to such a warm, receptive audience.

Thanks to all 33 of you for visiting!
And a special thanks to Joyce for sharing her photographs.
All of us at TALAS look forward to seeing the final pieces in the near future!

TALAS visits San Francisco

2009-11-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks to this years Guild of Bookworkers show, TALAS had a fantastic excuse to head west and to spend some time in San Francisco last week.

But before the show began,
we had the opportunity to visit some customers...

Day 1:
Straight from the plane, we made our first port of call at the San Francisco Airport Museum, which just so happens to be conveniently located at the airport itself!
The museum is fascinating, with shows which range from pottery, to baseball, to trains - and pretty much everything else in between. They were even refurbishing some antique pinball & slot machines during our visit for an upcoming exhibition.

Here Aaron and Ken from the museum talk shop in front of a hanging piece of tyvek. And to the right, we see a JAL (Japanese Airlines) model which just arrived from overseas - still in its proper shipping crate, ethafoam plank and all!

Day 2:
The next morning we started things off at the San Francisco Public Library conservation workshop. This place is full of all types of goodies - materials, machinery, handy tools, and naturally: books!

Conservation of the libraries collection can be anything ranging from the simple tipping in of pages to full-blown rebinding and extreme restoration in certain cases. It was fascinating to see the various techniques employed at this facility, and to have the chance to go behind the scenes!

Next stop: the brand new Walt Disney Family Museum which only just opened October 1st!
And in keeping with all over Disney ventures, this museum did not fail to impress. Constructed in a former military bunker, this museum has certainly carved its own identity within its brick facade.
But, do not be fooled by the pristine condition of the museum & artifacts within, as a ton of conservation work has been completed by highly experienced & talented conservators to get things to look the way they do at this museum.

Day 3:
Our third, and last day of museum visits began with a visit to the Paper Conservation lab at the Legion of Honor. Once again, we were extremely impressed by this museum's impressive lab, and behind the scenes facility. Unfortunately I do not have any images from this lab, but it was nothing short of pristine. Plus, I had the opportunity to hold a Rembrandt drawing - so things couldn't really get much better in my point of view! But believe it or not, they did, as the museum's organs were being played for a special event, and we had the pleasure of listening while perusing the museum's collection!

Next stop, the de Young Museum - home of the Textile Conservation, Painting Conservation, and Object Conservation labs. Yet again these labs did not fail to impress, with giant windows framing the gorgeous San Franciscan landscape, and not to mention state of the art equipment.

All of these labs were particularly interesting in how they each use the materials in which we supply in such different manors and to perform different functions.

Thanks again to all of the museums for letting us come visit. It was greatly informative for both Aaron and me, and we hope to be back soon!

Next stop... the Guild of Bookworkers!

Guild of Bookworkers

2009-11-02T10:31:00.000-05:00

Standards of Excellence: San Francisco October 29-31

Every year bookbinders from across the country meet for a weekend of lectures, demonstrations, and purchasing fun!

The location of the show varies from year to year, and from coast to coast. This year the show happened to take place in in San Francisco, and thus, was extremely well attended.

The Guild of Bookworkers currently has a traveling exhibition of works called Marking Time. The exhibit was on show in the San Francisco Public Library during our visit, which was great to have the opportunity to see the show first-hand. In any case, if the show is not traveling to wherever it is you reside, I would highly recommend checking out some of the works on the online gallery (linked above). Not only are they all exquisitely crafted, they are also all very inspiring & intriguing works of art.

The image on the left was taken during the opening reception at the library after the first afternoon of lectures, and the opening of the vendor hall.
The picture on the right is a snapshot from the counter show that the conservators for the library put up called Masking Time. It was an interesting juxtaposition to the Guild's show, and showcased a lot of the conservation techniques employed when restoring works from the collection. This case demonstrated a small array of tools used in the conservation process. But we particularly liked this section as it showcased our TALAS monographed conservation glue brush!

The show continued throughout all of Friday and concluded late in the afternoon on Saturday.

This is a shot taken from inside of vendor hall & location of the lectures as well, conveniently located in the are of Japantown towards the center of the city.

Here you can see a bit of our set-up, complete with items from parchments & leathers, to bookbinding tools, to papers, to books, etc.!

Everyone, not so surprisingly, seemed to particularly flock to our Boutique Tools & Casselli Spatulas.

Some of the vendors (including ourselves) decided to have a little fun being that it was Halloween and all!

Englishmen aren't always so proper. Case and point, the image to the left, our friends and colleagues from overseas in London. This is Will & Rob from Shepherds Bookbinders; this duo is always good fun!
To the right are the 2009 TALAS reps at the Guild, Jill & Aaron. Dressed, of course, as bookworms!

We are certainly looking forward to next years show already!

Beat to a Pulp

2009-10-09T15:27:00.000-04:00

Your Short Guide to Paper Selection

Ever walk into an art store for some paper and get completely floored by the seemingly infinite number of options and indecipherable codes? Don't worry, you are not alone! Below I will map the basics to help you decipher some of the foreign hieroglyphics of paper codes and thus make your paper selection more pleasant and successful in future encounters to come...

SURFACE

HP (hot press): A paper surface that is produced by pressing a finished sheet through hot cylinders resulting in a smooth finish.
q
CP (cold press): A paper surface that is produced by pressing a finished sheet through cold cylinders, the resulting finish is slightly textured.
q
R (rough): Produced by placing wet sheets of paper against textured blankers, or air drying, or both. The resulting surface is heavily textured, or rough.

WEIGHT

GSM: (metric measurement) grams per square meter. The gram weight of a hypothetical square meter of a particular type of paper, a good comparative measure because it does not vary with sheet size.
q
LB: (imperial measurement) Paper weights are measured depending on the most popular end use of a particular grade (examples: "text paper", "cover paper", "bond paper", or "writing paper"). Each of these paper weight categories has its own "basis size" from which to calculate its weight. This weight is determined by weighing 500 sheets of each basis size. For example, the basis size of "text paper" is 25"x38" and "cover paper" has a basis size of 20"x26". Confusing, eh? Basically, when referring to the weight of an imperial measured paper be certain to reference the particular identity of the paper, because as we have learned 80lb text & 80lb cover have very different thicknesses. But, as a general rule of thumb the higher the paper weight, the thicker the sheet of paper.

PRODUCTION

q
MOULDEMADE: Paper made by slowly rotating machine called a cylinder-mould that simulated the hand papermaking process resulting in more randomly intertwined fibers than machinemade papers. These fibers make the paper stronger and more flexible.
q
MACHINEMADE: Paper made on a very rapid running machine called a "fourdrinier". This means of production creates an extremely consistent product.
q
HANDMADE: Made by hand using a mold which is a frame covered with a flat rigid screen in the Western tradition, or flexible screen in the Eastern tradition. In both cases the mold is covered by a flat frame called a deckle to contain the run-off of west pulp. Frames are dipped into a vat of wet pulp, shook to distribute the fibers evenly and drained of its excess water. The wet mat of fibers remaining is the newly formed sheet, which is then dried against blankets and may be hot pressed, cold pressed, or air dried (rough).

2010 Diary Blocks!

2009-10-07T13:12:00.000-04:00

Loads of you have been inquiring... and guess what?? They have finally arrived!

Printed & sewn with TLC from our friends overseas, the 2010 Shepherds Diary is an unbound block that will require lining the spine with mull, and casing in. Diaries have been litho printed on 115gsm acid-free cream colored paper.

The diaries feature the main UK & US holidays, important telephone numbers & websites, year to view calenders (2009, 2010 & 2011) and a host of other handy features.

Supplies limited, so don't hesitate, and order your diary now!

9"x11.5" Davey Board!

2009-09-21T17:58:00.000-04:00

Alas, an economical, manageable, and not to mention inexpensive way to get your hands on a bit of our Davey Board!

Yes, it IS true, we now sell cut sheets of
9"x11.5" Davey Board
(in all thicknesses)

And no, your eyes are not deceiving you! It's just one of the many perks of our new guillotine (see post below) that you all can reap the benefits of.

If this size doesn't seem to float your boat, inquire about
custom cut boards to meet your exact specifications.

Davey Board is a superior quality acid-free (pH level above 7.0) binders board sought after by hand bookbinders for its high density, and single ply construction. These boards have a desirable degree of surface smoothness; high flex strength and excellent corner crush resistance.

So what are you waiting for, huh?
Go on and bind yourself a hard-covered book and enjoy!

Liberon Product Line

2009-09-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

As some of you may have already discovered,
TALAS has become a distributor of the Liberon product line!

While adding the entire product line to our inventory was yet another feat, we are extremely excited to offer these fine materials!
For more than a century Liberon products have been enhancing surfaces and enriching the spirit of homes; furniture, wood and stone flooring, gardens and patio, metals and picture frames - and we are thrilled to add it to our inventory!

Follow the link below & check out our website
for the full line of products offered:
Liberon @ Talas

TALAS Gets a Guillotine!

2009-08-07T11:52:00.000-04:00

So the rumors are verified. TALAS does in fact have its own guillotine!

Nothing ever seems to move quickly, particularly not when you weigh 9,000lbs, but after much shopping around & research we have indeed found our perfect match...

Built some 50 years ago, this machine is still rock-solid (and we're not just referring to its sheer weight).
When researching a cutter, we were told that for the type of materials we we would be predominantly cutting (which is a very dense binders board) that we would want to find the oldest machine out there. While new machines come equipped with all sorts of snazzy bells and whistles, they're really meant to cut PAPER!
Clearly that wasn't going to fly with our needs... we would need something that was built tough enough to stand up to the materials that it would be cutting.

Enter the Seybold 10Z
...old enough to be well broken in, but still showing no signs of wear and tear!...

In anticipation of the machines arrival, we broke down pallet racks & cleared a wide open path for the riggers to bring in the machine onto the ground floor.

The tilt body truck arrived with their monstrous forklift (putting our wimpy forklift in comparison to complete shame) along with the cutter itself, and the riggers got right to work...

At first the forklift was used to pick up the cutter on the bed of the truck. The winch was connected, the truck was tilted back, and the 39,000lb package was slowly lowered with the winch down to the ground! From there it was pretty smooth sailing to its final resting place against the back wall of the building, and with minimal effort the riggers had it off the forklift, leveled out, and attached the side tables.

A few days later once we had an air compressor installed, a seperate team came back to outfit the machine with blades, cutting sticks, and other small parts. Now we were ready for the fun part: training! Most of the training resolves around how to change the blades and how to keep the machine properly lubricated. Most accidents actually happen when changing the blade, and even a dull blade will effortlessly remove fingers if one is not careful (yikes!).

Bottom line is we now have a guillotine,
& we now offer cutting services of:
binders board, mat board, paper, mylar (polyester),
& just about all other paper and film based materials we sell.

Please inquire as to your needs!
As with any new toy, we're stoked at every opportunity to fire this bad-boy up!

TALAS visits Brazil

2009-08-06T15:57:00.000-04:00

As Talas shut their doors for the summer holidays, Marge & Jake took a trip down south of the equator to visit some of our customers & suppliers in Brazil.
Marge & Jake are lovers of all things South American, and were excited to see some of our supplies in use first hand!
First on the agenda was a visit to the National Library of Brazil in Rio. It was here that they finally put a face to the voice of Tatiana, the Chief Conservator at the library. She was very kind & welcoming and took the couple on an extensive tour of their facilities in addition to around the city of Rio.

Jake & Tatiana in Rio

After spending some time with Tatiana, it was on to the National Archives of Brazil! The archives have been in the process of moving to a new facility, and Marge & Jake were lucky enough to have a tour of both the old and the new! Once again, they were very impressed by the type of work being done in these facilities, and were welcomed ever so warmly.

Unfortunately for us, Marge & Jake prefer to treasure these expeditions without any sort of documentation, and as a result... there are no pictures to vouch for these visits!

On the contrary, this next visit was very well documented. This visit took place in a small city north of Rio. It was here where Marge & Jake visited with one of our South American vellum & parchment suppliers.
This small family run business (not too dissimilar fromTalas) took Marge & Jake through the whole process from preserved hide to finished parchment. The road to completion is a rather laborious one beginning with cleaning the skins, to the liming of the skins (to reduce the acidity from their preservation in various materials & thus to ensure their longevity), to the stretching & de-meating of the skins, and finally onto the drying and cutting stages.

Marge in the factory with J.J. (in the white shirt) & Pedro (in the green shirt).

Here Marge discusses the characteristics of the parchments with J.J. & Pedro. Dating back to her traditional training as a calligrapher & working on parchment, Marge is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to this medium.

The love for these materials is mutual and J.J. & Pedro seemed to have really enjoyed talking parchments with Marge during their visit.

After the visit, the four went for a lunch, the highlight of Jake's afternoon! Not that he's not interested in parchments himself... but he has a certain fondness, or rather obsession, for food exploration. That being said, J.J. & Pedro were thrilled to introduce Marge & Jake to the famous traditional dish of the region, which they all shared over lunch!

After their visits, Marge & Jake spent a few more days in Brazil exploring the country on their own before it was back to work in New York! One week never seems like long enough, does it?

TALAS' New Home!

2009-08-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have followed TALAS from location to location around Manhattan know that we have perpetually been on the hunt for bigger & better warehouses to best suit our needs as the company has continued to expand over the years.

While we loved our last location on 20th Street in Manhattan, it only took us 4 short years before the space was completely outgrown. After looking for a new space for our business in one of the outer boroughs of NYC for over 1 year, we found a building that fit the bill:

330 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn NY

The existing owner of the building ran a feather & down company: making custom pillows, blankets, and other items filled with feathers. Here, we'll help you imagine what this place looked like only a few months ago!

This lasted many months, and like most renovations, our moving date was postponed so many times that we're sure some of you began to question if this move was in fact a reality! Needless to say come April 2009 the building was ready, and we took the much anticipated leap across the East River to become true Brooklynites.

Then came the move...

"The Move" of epic proportions spanned 3 full weeks, and involved running four 26' trucks back and forth between two locations on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

We started in the wee hours of the morning & worked through the night such to alleviate issues regarding monopolizing the freight elevator during peak hours & of course to dodge traffic...

On the intermediary days we spread our crew out on both fronts: 1 crew absorbed the inventory at the new location, and the 2nd crew continued to pack and break down the 20th Street location.

During the first week and a half we stayed operational, with the office staff taking orders and the warehouse staff juggling between packing up the "house" and packing orders.

Towards the end things starting getting chaotic... running nearly around the clock, taxing the old unreliable freight elevator on 20th Street, pallets nearly toppling over, and other fun stuff!

When the dust settled it felt as if we had moved mountains, and when you figure that we moved about 60 trucks worth of inventory, many would say we did!

Everyone literally got their hands dirty in all aspects of the move (see image to the right: case & point). For those of you who have never met this gentleman before, this is Jake Salik, the proud owner of TALAS for 17 years! We have yet to encounter a job Jake won't rise to the challenge of.

Needless to say, you should certainly come and pay us a visit at our new location in Brooklyn!

(take the L train from Manhattan to the "Graham Avenue" stop)