I appreciate the comment, Books. I have not paste washed before and appreciate any insight. When you polish the block, what do you use for polishing? Thank you, again!

Thank you for the sage advice, as always, Philip.

Thank you for catching that Fadi. And I appreciate the experience share. I will try both.

Oops, thank you!

Brilliant!

Beautiful and inspiring!

Hi Bruce, I have also experienced mould spots (that don't come out easily) when wetting undyed leather. I see Phil's response and recognize this could be from metals in the tap water and also wetting the leather for too long. I will try distilled water and less time soaking, quicker to a dry environment.

@Veronica (Nica) Ohhh - yes, how clever! Will send you an email. Love that Kathy Kamei ring?!

Nica! You are in Mill Valley! So is my studio. We must connect for coffee and with your friend Jon B!

Great job! You could also forgo the brass hardware on the side straps and do a pretty stitch pattern, saving hardware and time with covering buttons. Yes, interested in gusset edges. Very nice job!

I live in the US, near San Francisco, and have found a fellow leather worker not too far away. Happy to connect.

@Fadi Thank you for such fantastic advice. I will be sure to share photos once they are completed. Truly appreciated!

And Fadi, just realized it was Neat's Foot Oil, not linseed, lol. My friend gave me some in a bottle and it didn't have a label. Is this preferable or a leather conditioner to get it to be supple?

It is not really a design, only what I have seen before in restaurants when receiving the check. I am realizing from Fadi's comment, I really don't need to use a board to help mold into a book. (My innate ability to over complicate things!)

Dear Fadi, thank you for your very detailed notes! I really appreciate the time you took and expertise. I am laughing now as I don't know why I have a board. I just thought I needed to have something in the middle when it was folded and weighed down. I will also perhaps not soak it in water to see if simply the V channel and being folded will maintain its shape. The thickness of 3mm is only because I had that hide in my studio. But it is too thick. I will look to split them down a tad. I have Tokonole and will try that for the entire back. Perhaps what I will do next is the following: 1) Get the V Gouge to accomplish the slit in the middle 2) Emboss with logo 3) Use Tokonole to smooth a tad 4) Fold and weigh down the leather to get it into "book" shape 5) Finish with leather conditioner