bookmaking

I began in 2012 as a self-taught bookmaker when I founded my micro-press Grow & Grow, where I taught myself innovative book design, digital layout, printing, and physical bookmaking, as well as selling online & in person at markets. Since then, I have been building my skills by making one-of-a-kind notebooks & sketchbooks for artists made entirely from reclaimed materials which blur the line between ‘craft’ items for use and ‘fine art’ objects. Since 2015, I have been working as Lead Risograph Printer at the Centre for Expanded Poetics where I make prints and full length books on our risograph.

I am currently accepting commissions with a focus on chapbooks of poetry and artist’s books with innovative designs.

Below, you’ll find examples of my personal bookbinding projects, commissions, and risograph printed artworks & books.

shop available notebooks and art

Contact me for commissions and inquiries at jessica_bebenek@yahoo.ca

notebooks

Smith-Rider-Waite Tarot Series (2019 - present)

Each notebook is custom made from 1-2 cards selected by the client from the classic Smith-Rider-Waite tarot deck. I use just one deck, so once a card is chosen, it is no longer available. Every notebook is one-of-a-kind. Made entirely from reclaimed materials.

Herbs series (2018-2019)

A series of notebooks created by dissecting and using every part of a guidebook on folk and medical histories of herbs, Herbs: A Connoisseur's Guide by Susan Fleming (1990). Every notebook is one-of-a-kind. Made entirely from reclaimed materials.

Lord Byron themed custom notebook, for Joe MacNeil (2019)

Made entirely from reclaimed materials.

La Lune series (2018-2019)

A series of notebooks created by dissecting and using every part of a French-language children's textbook, La Lune by Isaac Asimov. Every notebook is one-of-a-kind. Made entirely from reclaimed materials.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Card Series (2019)

A series of four small notebooks made from bonus artworks by Pamela Coleman-Smith included in the Smith-Waite Centennial tarot deck. Every notebook is one-of-a-kind. Made entirely from reclaimed materials.