Making Tiny Books - Fully Functional Leatherbound Books in Miniature

Hi everyone, I'm Dennis, and welcome to my bindery!
As the first project of 2023 I decided to try my hand at making a miniature book. Miniature books are defined as being less than 3 inches in height, but I wanted to go much smaller! I was so excited about how the first one turned out that I decided to make some more and share them with you here!
These tiny books are not models that just look like books in miniature. They are properly bound, fully-functional books, with all the elements of a regular hand-bound book. And though they are only 1.5 inches high they still have 128 pages each! In this video I use the same techniques and virtually all of the regular equipment that I would normally use to bind a full-size book. Some of the materials I used for these books include:
Tomoe River A4 52gsm paper (cream)
Goatskin Leather
Handmade Marbled Paper (my own)
Linen Thread
Acid-Free PVA Glue
Metallic Transfer Foil
If you’ve enjoyed this video then please consider subscribing if you haven’t yet done so; I do appreciate it! And I’ve got lots of new content in the works, so be sure to hit the bell to get notified when new videos come out!
Thanks for watching!
Dennis
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All original works of art in this video are copyrighted exclusively by Four Keys Book Arts.
Music Credits:
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[@Woodlawn22]

I was in first grade in the 1950's when a little boy and I spent our play time one day carrying out an idea I had to make books for the classroom dollhouse. Using ruled Big Chief tablet paper we cut pages to size, folded them, then assembled these books. We were both delighting in our shared efforts when the teacher landed on us and delivered a rebuke for wasting (our own) paper in this way. This may have been the beginning of my lifelong problem with authority figures!! 🙃 Loved this video and immediately subscribed!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

What a charming anecdote, thank you for sharing it! Clearly your teacher was a troll and their offspring went on to lurk in the darkest corners of internet comment threads.

[@Rocsanna]

@@FourKeysBookArts 😅

[@taitano12]

My favorite teachers were the ones who actually encouraged that behavior. I used some paper from my school binder to do something similar for my sister's dollhouse. My teacher reprimanded me for not paying attention, but the next day, she brought me a couple of books on bookbinding she borrowed from the city library just for me. She was my 4th Grade Science teacher. She and three other teachers like that are the reason for my user/channel name and why I can never stop myself from learning about and, if I can afford it, trying out new crafts.

[@Woodlawn22]

@@taitano12 It's too bad that some "teachers" can be real killjoys and that kids have no power in their sphere of influence for a whole school year but you got a good one. Yay! Crafting and learning forever! And Four Keys Book Arts is offering a goldmine of knowledge here. I am just so surprised at how much skill he has after just a few years. I am charmed by his work and so happy to come across this channel!

[@taitano12]

@@Woodlawn22 The best ones are the ones who refuse to stop caring about their students. Your teacher was not wrong about wasting what sounds like some quality paper, but a good teacher will work with such a distraction; great teachers will harness it. The second most encouraging, but best overall teacher I ever had was my 8th Grade Science teacher. Several of my fellow nerds and I were falling behind in our homework out of boredom but were frustrating the heck out of him by acing all our tests. During first week of the second quarter, we managed to hack into one of the games we were constantly distracted by on his Tandy TRS-80 computers. He was naturally frustrated because we were supposed to be doing our homework. Because that quarter's focus was on computers and we were first and foremost computer nerds, we pretty much simultaneously said "Why?" and another of us said we already knew the stuff by heart and pointed to what we were doing. It so happened that he'd misplaced the notebook that had the passwords to the Trash-80s we were playing with. So, he said he'll bump us up a grade if we could hack into the computer grade files that he kept on those dinosaurs by the end of the week (seriously, it was already 1994 and the school district was installing WANs and connecting to the newfangled 'internet' that came out the previous year.) It was either a Monday or Tuesday, I don't remember which, but it was the first part of the week. During the hour lunch period, it took us five minutes to figure it out, fifteen to twenty minutes to write the program, and 18 seconds to execute the code, and another couple of minutes to print out all his passwords. He laughed and gave us all an A+ for the quarter on the condition that we don't skip class and we get at LEAST a B on each of the remaining tests for that quarter. We ended up motivated enough to get more of our homework in, ace every test, and, bringing in the relevant electronics and computer magazine articles, point out where he should update the curriculum He finally submitted and upgraded to a new computer and some high-end security software - which he had us install as a parting gift at the end of the year (the computer arrived half way through the last quarter of the school-year). We were going off to High School, after all. 😁 One of the most epic teachers I have EVER come across. The runner up was my 9th Grade English Literature teacher.

[@heath780391]

The little book of calm. IYKYK.

[@pclm]

Finally, a book in which I can chronicle my many accomplishments.

[@literallyjane]

The noise of delight I made was so high-pitched it could only be heard by dogs. This is so adorable. I love your work so much. These videos are the best.

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much!

[@SydMakesStuff]

You should consider making book props for stop motion animation films. Your creations look just as good tiny as they do full scale.

[@drawingmomentum]

Love stop motion!... my favorite: Mike Jittlov 😍

[@hoainam113]

I am sicked of stop animation and all stuff of video editing technique. video editor just abuse this for nothing but make motion sickness. In addition, cutting down the process make it difficult to understand all making step

[@DeepFleeceheart]

What? ​@@hoainam113

[@starwarssyl1177]

They're so precious! I was about to say the blue one was my favorite, but then I thought the tan one, and then I thought the red and gold looks very pretty too, and I can't decide. They're all my favorite.

[@Sestra_Prior]

What a delight to watch. No music, no loud sound effects trying to pass themselves off as ASMR ...or whatever the heck it is, and a wonderful end product which I could most certainly find a home for in my 1/12 magic apothecary shop. Thank you.

[@robinatkins5332]

Watching this again today... Feeling serene and joyful. Addition to yesterday's comment: "When I make a book, I fall in love" with the process and the tools, as well as the finished book. OMG, the tools! I have such a case of tool-lust after watching your videos. I've made books and pastepapers for a couple of decades, but only have basic tools: a home made piercing cradle, some nice diver's weights, a stash of waxed linen, etc. At 81 years old, I don't know that I'll be buying a leather shaving tool, but your paper cutting knife? Tool-lust... I will be seeing it in a box on my doorstep soon. Thank you!

[@triciab8751]

My husband said you need a label on the shelf underneath these that says... Short Stories 😄

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Love that!

[@gabrielmaroto18]

These would make the coolest little hand drawn picture books 📚

[@DeeFay-fl1hs]

Absolutely gorgeous. Very clear guidance for making these miniatures which I will try myself. Thank you especially for not adding distracting music over the top of your natural making sounds!!

[@lavadodhugo5181]

ABSOLUTLEY STUNNING! I love books! And to watch you hand make MINIATURE ONES is AMAZING!!!! MORE PLEASE,MORE!!!!

[@lacemakr]

I'm left in awe!

[@firstsun5208]

You do wonderful work! Your workmanship is outstanding. Thank you for not playing annoying background music.

[@phoebegraveyard7225]

Those are lovely.

[@donnarobinson7480]

Wow . Amazing.

[@erindodich5362]

I made a 1 12 scale copy of Bilbo's desk at Bag End (movie version) and I'm using this video to learn how to make the matching tiny Red Book of Westmarch. I love to watch you work on repeat.

[@janicechroman8305]

You got to be kidding! Wow , unbelievable! Such detail. You are incredibly talented. So enjoyed . Thank you .

[@Vimesfan]

This is so timely for me. I am about to make tiny books with my grandson for a miniature bookcase. Well done video.

[@kathleenryan9416]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever, God bless your gifted hands.

[@taraweber4]

This video was amazing. I'm sure I'll be watching it again and again. Why are tiny things SO CUTE??? I actually said, "Aw..." when we saw them on the bookshelf with their bigger siblings. I love them all. Can't choose a favorite. ♥️

[@carmelhill1462]

Amazing. Such talent. Ty for sharing.

[@nancydurrett9319]

Wow, very impressive, thanks for sharing!

[@gay_milhouse1160]

great work! stuart little has a journal for his tiny little secrets

[@BB.halo_heir]

The tiny books next to the larger books in the bookshelf was bliss for me!! Tiny brilliance, thank you! ♡♡

[@lizknudsen9176]

WOW!! You, Sir, are the ultimate craftsman and a genius to boot. I tip my hat to you. One of the most concise videos I’ve ever seen too-excellent captions that clearly explained every single step. My favorite of the three is your favorite. Your work is like the end papers you chose for that book: nonpareil.

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much you are too kind!😊

[@sherylmclaren7202]

captions? what captions? i totally felt like i was missing out on something! lol then i went back and turned on the captions and what do you know? i have captions! lol i am now going to have to watch it again... excellent video! i honestly had no idea how much work goes into binding a book. regular size or mini. i'm in awe of your talent. looking forward to watching some of your other videos. i have subscribed.

[@amandashare1281]

I think they are all beautiful, and you are very clever!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you! 😊

[@MossyMozart]

Actual bona-fide works of art!

[@GeminiStars]

I love the detailing at the end with the brass stamps! It really made the books come alive! The foil is great but even the plain leather stamping is so handsome and satisfying to look at- I love both options.

[@draco5991rep]

I imagine them filled with tiny fine illuminations. Edible plants for example that can be found in the forrest, or little portraits of all my friends, a face book if you will.

[@peterwooldridge7285]

Great video...super camera work....Thanks

[@Agent_Starling]

Tiny books are sooooo cool and fascinating! Thank you for this treat 👍😀. You should do a side hustle and make books for doll houses 📙📗📘🏠

[@creativegenecircle]

I’m so excited to have found your channel. I own a company called fort heritage and frontier rv park… we do spinning and weaving…we are preserving all the old ways… I have always wanted to add book binding to it… this makes me want to even more… can’t wait to find all the tools. Thanks for sharing your craft… it’s masterful… oh and your filming is so peaceful… and your commentary is perfect. Truly beautifully done🥰

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much!

[@TwilightRose2006]

Beautiful!!!

[@timfowler4642]

I like miniature books. My mom made similar ones when she was living and I still have those as keepsakes.

[@wildchildatart]

Now all they need are tiny adventures written in them. Great work!

[@jacquelineteague3545]

They are so beautiful i love them

[@Kenkire]

20:30 Thank you! You are my kind as well. I'm a miniaturist and want to do proper books in 1/12 and 1/24 scale, so I thank you very much for this tutorial.

[@Kenkire]

How would you go about making a book like this from preprinted single pages?

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Wonderful video that shows the beauty of small works of craft & art. A lovely book to fill with tiny art. I also appreciate the silence. I am one who remembers when the only public places besides music venues that had music playing ALL the time were elevators. Now it’s all music all the time - everywhere and mostly not the kind that I like or would choose. 💛💙💛

[@maggiequilts]

Oh! My! Goodness! These little books are beautiful and precious, Thank you so much for the presentation, Hugs. Maggie ❤️🤗🇨🇦❤️

[@lauraletchemaiteetchemaite1753]

Thank you the sharing your video, this tiny books are real pieces of art!!!

[@Alijargo]

At first I thought blue and silver was my favourite, then I saw red and gold, but you're also right about the one without foil, and the nonpareil endpaper... don't make me choose! I love your videos! I can't wait for the next D&D installment. I really want to get into bookbinding. Lol! Thank you for the wonderful videos and beautifully hand bound, hand worked books to look at!

[@petercane6376]

This person really knows about books and how they are made. Chek out the equipment! The presses! I think she makes real books too. So inspiring!

[@jaromir_kovar]

Hello Dennis, thank you for another healing video. Since I have discovered your channel (and subscribed) my soul feels a bit better. With your creations, you are bringing to this world something which wasn't here and now is. That's a beautiful type of magic. And I feel the world needs exactly this. Patient, calm, respectful creation of precious and beautiful things. Thank you for that! :o)

[@beatricetreadwell5785]

Yes, indeed!❤

[@CL-we8tn]

It's a lovely thing to say, and I agree wholeheartedly.

[@amandastratton8242]

Such beautiful work love them all

[@dorisartman]

I agree, well said.

[@PqV72MT4]

I agree with you. It really is what this chaotic world needs.

[@Feeoryne]

Dennis you are an amazing book artist and excellent at making and editing videos!! I must admit I am a little envious of your awesome tools! Thanks for sharing!

[@darygal64]

Amazing work!!

[@XyerDark]

These are great and if I found a pen small enough I'd probably bring one along with me at all times to take notes. Also I don't know how helpful this can be to you but as you keep offcuts of leather like me, one use I found for it is to make them into small laces which are not really strong on their own but can then be used for decorative knots or simply to keep a more "rustic" book closed. You can obviously use different colors of leather intertwined together for some nice effects, I personally really like mystery braids and you can even give them round them by rolling the strands between your table and another surface for a less rough look.

[@meganrasila2236]

It's Tomoe River paper, so maybe a Japanese EF fountain pen?

[@coastalphriends4913]

Micron 001?

[@bethgoldowitz4765]

Such meticulous work, and the tiny books are charming!

[@cutecatilikecat70]

wow! just wow! these mini books are so beautifully detailed!

[@luluwolfgirl53]

Those are adorable. Also mega props for the steady hands and precision skills.😮 wow!

[@sandrascovell1112]

Thanks you for this marvellous tutorial x

[@blindkimberly1360]

Wow. Beautiful books! Well done. Very well done!

[@wendymanning9617]

My first time watching one of your videos, definitely not my last. Really enjoyed watching you make the tiny books. Thank you

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much!

[@chelseahill1257]

This is one of the most inspiring and zen videos I’ve ever seen! Absolutely love your process and your tools and I can only dream of having a bookcase full of miniature books like these! Definitely on my to do list

[@cperronable]

I am mesmerized by your attention to detail. They are all beautiful!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much!

[@allonewordcaps]

I like the tan one best. Looking forward to your other videos. 😊

[@sawfish3206]

Tiny treasures.I like that you use freehand/trained eye approach with your creations.

[@Rene.Rondeau]

Absolutely mesmerizing. I'm glad KZbin suggested this in my feed!

[@daveturnbull7221]

There is simply no way I could choose a favourite - I love them all!

[@danoux0]

WONDERFUL!!!! I just love your work!

[@romonaelrod7870]

I love tiny books. They are so cute and realistic.

[@janettimms8913]

adorable, I love bookbinding and particularly tiny books. Thank you

[@JeaneRobinson]

Beautiful workmanship! I love bound books. Hope your hands heal up soon.

[@hellsingmongrel]

Oh man, yes! This is exactly the stuff I'm getting started making. I collect large-scale dolls, and I plan on giving mine a tiny library, and I'm the type of nerd that when I make things, I want them to be made "authentically." When I subbed to you, it was so I could learn from watching the way you did things for my tiny projects. This is just PERFECT!

[@brianaschmidt910]

I did this with a doll and a robe a la francaise (She was too small for boning. And the boning I had cut for the pocket hoops were a disaster, but she has the right outline and I'm happy especially with how the head turned out)

[@janetwebb2701]

Absolutely phenomenal!

[@yasi1890]

Wow, amazing!

[@thanemoeller8309]

I love that blue and silver one - it reminds me of a Bible I had as a kid.

[@cw2071]

Mind quietly, charmingly and utterly blown 😌

[@ivetteazares5286]

Wow beautiful. Love the tan/orange

[@gailcason3652]

How absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful job!

[@emilypenn6295]

Internally screaming at how well the blue book came out, the contrast is gorgeous~

[@HalfGiantCraft]

I am a neurodivergent bookmaker and this video makes my heart so happy! So glad I stumbled on your page - you most definitely got another subscriber!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you so much!!

[@LaineyBug2020]

These would be awesome for tiny sketchbooks & paintings!

[@spooklyboo2337]

Wow…I want one…so very cute. They touch a place deep inside reserved for fairies,gnomes,and all little people in a magic land in my mind…don’t have the cool tools but maybe can improvise…thank-you kind sir for that !

[@ediehumphrey4452]

Incredible craftsmanship, you do an absolutely amazing job thank you for sharing I look forward to see more of your work

[@kayequinn7146]

Can't choose a favorite. I have never seen this before. I'm 👏. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this.

[@petegalvs]

The silver and blue is my favorite, although they're all pretty adorable!

[@robinatkins5332]

Adore! When I make a book, I fall in love; and when I watch you make these tiny books it's the same... in love again!

[@TheGrandFanelli]

It felt so satisfying after you cleaned up the edges on the signatures. I was holding my breath during the trimming!

[@kathite1379]

That's great work. I'm excited. So small and so precise. 🤩

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you! 😊

[@reinaldorey3939]

I love miniature and your books are the most beautiful things I've seen 👏👏👏👏👏

[@KatrinaLongman]

These things are so effing cute! The leather tooling, with and without foil brings joy to my tiny black soul and the attention to detail is so phenomenal makes me wanna scream, "Yes! This! This is what you should be doing!"

[@danbates2760]

When you started to work on the 2nd book's boards I said to myself, "Glueing Montage!". Yes, we are your kind of people. Excellent craftmanship.

[@cindyholton7234]

Wow! I love them all. I have some tiny books in my inherited dolls house - but nothing like this quality. I was spell bound watching you make these. I want to have a go myself now. Thank you for sharing.

[@Platypi007]

I think the brown one with the blind tooling impressions is my favorite. The red with gold foil is striking, though! This was enthralling to watch. Everyone make sure you have captions turned on if you're interested in knowing what's going on!

[@LynnWilliams-g7q]

That little blind tooled book belongs to me now! I love it.

[@VEE-rd7cu]

Your Craft has put me in a trance; it's so calming; it connects with my soul...In my next world, children will be taught this or any craft to quiet & expand their little minds... You are appreciated. Blessings to your hands...

[@rowanwax]

Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship!!! Thanks for sharing!❤❤❤ 📚 ❤❤❤

[@shoogerplumb9107]

Red and gold! What a treat!

[@thesani5723]

Beautiful and impressive work!

[@Rocsanna]

They're all adorable and just like with kids or pets, you simply cannot love one more than the other!

[@binnad7091]

Wow! Ok, was I the only one who, at each stage, figured out what level of detail he was going to on that step and kept saying, "For real? Are you serious right now? Seriously?" Because it was all so completely AMAZING! I want a 101 video on each step of the fine bookbinding process, materials, etc. I'm so inspired! I desperately want to see one of these little books in person.

[@markedis5902]

Watching you work is a real treat

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thank you!

[@LKDesign]

What a wonderful little collection. Thanks for sharing this with the world.

[@dustystrings36]

I REALLY enjoyed watching this process! It is too hard to pick a favorite. VERY FASCINATING!

[@ysel6287]

Thank you. What a treat to see a true craftsman at work. My favourite is the book with the blind tooling, very elegant.

[@SelinaSky]

Wow... They are so beautiful!! I enjoyed every moment of watching this process of you creating these sweet tiny books!

[@lauramoir7505]

The best half hour of my day was watching you make these. They are amazing. I think the tan one is my favourite.

[@tammycox9789]

Watching you do this is very calming and relaxing.

[@negotiableaffections]

How could this video NOT get a like&subscribe? Fantastic - I imagine a future documentary maker waiting eagerly for the archivist to place the book on the big book-pillows with white-gloved hands, and its one of these teeny-tiny masterpieces!