Carved elk bone, sterling silver, and steel.

Double-Ended Steel Awls and Micro Chisels showing 3 patterns: Hammered, Patterned, and Blackened. Hammered and Patterned Tools are also available through Talas.

Needing something comfortable and flexible for ruling and blind-tooling on leather, I arrived at this pen-like shape: soft point on one end, narrow edge on the other. This little collection shows the natural variations of tone and color in elk bone. Some Elk Bone Awls are also available though Talas.

Some bone folders are offered through Talas.

I found a lot of unused Nigiri Basami made in Occupied Japan. I etched the blades and coated the handles in red rubber.

My take on the traditional Finnish knife style. (An "everyday" tool, not specific to book work.)

Birch bark handles, hand-forged and etched blades.

Three styles of traditional sheathes from leather, wood, and carved elk bone, tooled with hand-cut finishing tools.

2" x 2.5" x 1". Brass, linen thread. 2008. Private collection.

1.5" x 1" x 1". Hand-carved elk bone, handmade flax paper, serviceberry wood pegs, linen thread. 2008. Private collection.

2"x 3" x 2.5". Brass, University of Iowa Center for the Book flax case Paper, letterpress, linen thread. 1999. Collection of the artist.

2.5" x 1.75" x 1.5". Elk bone, handmade flax paper, sinew, parchment, linen thread, graphite. 2005. Private collection.

2" x 14" x 3". Leather, cotton paper, linen and silk thread. 2007. Private collection.

2" x 14" x 3". Leather, cotton paper, linen and silk thread. 2007. Private collection.

Under 2". Parchment, brass, handmade paper, linen thread. 2013.

Under 2". Parchment, brass, handmade paper, linen thread. 2013.

2 parts, each measures 2" x 3" x 1". Brass, linen thread. 2008. Yale University Art Gallery.

Various sizes. Ebony, painted cedar, linen thread, silk and hemp cloth, Coptic binding with willy-nilly stitching, monoprint. 2005.

1.5" x 1" x 1". Ebony, mono-printed linen, linen thread.  2006. University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, WA.

1.5" x 1" x 1". Ebony, mono-printed linen, linen thread.  2006. University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, WA.

2.25" x 1.25" x .5". Hand-carved ivory (which I do NOT endorse, it was a scrap handed down to me from my Gramps), linen thread, suede. 2002.

2.5" x 3". Etched brass, linen thread. 1999. Private collection.

2.5" x 3". Etched brass, linen thread. Utilizing Daniel Kelm's Wire Edge Binding method. 1999. Private collection.

1.25" x 1.75" x 1". Hand carved elk bone covers, handmade flax paper, linen thread, serviceberry pegs. 2008. Private collection.

3.5" x 2". Brass, handmade flax paper, letterpress printed, linen thread. 1998. Collection of the artist.

3.5" x 2". Brass, handmade flax paper, letterpress printed, linen thread. 1998. Collection of the artist.

Various sizes, all under 3". Hand-carved elk bone, white oak boards, handmade paper, alum taw, parchment, brass, mica, linen thread. 2001.

1" x .75" x .75". Handmade paper, elk bone, linen thread. 2009. University of the South, Sewanee, TN.

4.25" x 3" x 2.75". Wood, handmade cotton paper, cotton thread, mica, steel pins, apple, orange and clementine seeds. 2006. The King St. Stephan Museum, Szekesfehervar, Hungary.

4.25" x 3" x 2.75". Wood, handmade cotton paper, cotton thread, mica, steel pins, apple, orange and clementine seeds. 2006. The King St. Stephan Museum, Szekesfehervar, Hungary.

5.5" x 4" x 1.25". Laminated paper, handmade cotton paper, goatskin, parchment, elk bone, linen and silk thread, brass. 2000.

Various sizes. 2001. University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA.

Wood, calf skin, handmade flax paper, linen and silk thread, linen cloth, leather, brass. Tooled with hand-cut brass finishing tools. 2001. University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA.

Wood boards, goatskin, linen thread, cotton text block, brass. Tooled with hand-cut finishing tools. 2001. University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA.

Wood boards, goatskin, linen thread, cotton text block, brass. Tooled with hand-cut finishing tools. 2001. University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA.

Laminated papyrus, goatskin, linen thread, parchment, elk bone, brass. 2001. University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA.

5" x 4" x 1". Wood, milk paint, graphite, monoprinted silk cloth, linen thread. 2007. Private collection.

5" x 4" x 1". Wood, milk paint, graphite, monoprinted silk cloth, linen thread. 2007. Private collection.