These are pictures of some of my more unusual work.    Some of the books pictured on this page include:
Props for TV shows "CSI" and "Touch"; Medieval spine with braid/gold; 2 x 3 foot book; Stuntman Book; Miami Heat Book; Shaq; Miami Heat; Scrolls Ceasar's Palace; 1870 Bible; Shark's Tooth Book; Pershing's Battle Plan; Workshop in Florence; 9-11 Project; Katrina Project; Foster Grandparents; Taos Workshop; CD folder; Film Project; 25 foot Accordion; Harvard Divinity School Exhibit; Rustic Last Will and Testament

I love to do custom work, and if you want something REALLY UNUSUAL, impossible to duplicate, I bind many books in the leather from old jackets, purses, belts, a leather chess board,  gold-tooled leather desktop.  Sometimes people have provided me with a meaningful garment such as a vest, belt, motorcycle jacket, and I have made them into books of their choice.

Over the years I have also run many WORKSHOPS for adults and kids. 

This is the latest newspaper article about me.

Below the pictures, see notes from customers.

 

Over the years I've filled unusual requests from such people as the Hollywood prop master from the TV show CSI, and another who wanted ancient-looking books made for a movie, Caesar's Palace who needed 300 leather and parchment scrolls, the Miami Heat who wanted a large scrapbook of their championship season for each of the players, and a church that wanted a huge 3 foot tall book for their altar. One woman gave me a vest and some belts of her late husband's from which I made a legal pad holder trimmed with the belts for each of her children. A man gave me an old motorcycle jacket to make into photo albums for his children and grandchildren. The possibilities are endless - and a lot of fun!  

See some of my own original old leather books here

See the Process of Leather Bookbinding here

NOTES FROM CUSTOMERS

2012

Sandy,

Georgeous, stunning!  I can’t stop looking at it!  Few words because I’m speechless!

Thank you again!

2011

Dear Sandy - Ended up being fantastic!  Here is a picture of our book on the front of the bar as you walk in. Thanks again!

Dear Sandy - The purpose of this brief note is to inform you that I received the four leather books which you bound for me. I love them. They are masterpieces all. [Thank] you for the time, love and artistic craftsmanship which you poured into this work.

Dear Sandy - Looks gorgeous!!!

Dear Sandy - the product was beyond my expectations.  I absolutely love it.  The one I purchased from you before was much smaller, so I sort of surprised myself because I forgot the size of my first order.  I was actually expecting to replicate that smaller one, but this blew me out of the water.  Again, thank you soo much for the patience.  It is something I will cherish for my life and hope to get much mileage out of. 

2010

I received your book today, and it is simply AMAZING!!!! It is even more beautiful than I imagined! MANY MANY THANKS!! I'll be sure to send you a picture with my dad holding up the book because it is an incredible piece of work and I am so thankful for your beautiful talent. Thank you again and I hope you have a very happy Holiday season!

Perfect. Better than I had pictured it to be in my head. Thank you I love it so much. You're an artist! The color leather with the gold lettering goes beautifully together. I just can't tell you how much I appreciate the excellence of your work - I can't wait to give it to her on our wedding day, she will LOVE it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Sincerely,

Sandy I received the book and it’s wonderful.  My husband thinks so too!  Thanks for your effort in making this special Christmas present for my father.

Sandy    I received the Breviary in the mail today and it is so very beautiful.  The craftsmanship and leather quality are top notch and I am so happy with the spine ribs, lettering and decoration. It is exactly what I pictured and the leather smells awesome.

2009

Sandy -- I'm delighted beyond words!  The book is simply majestic and I'm so pleased with how it has turned out.  I'm so glad that I came upon your website and learned about your services. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Sandy The bibles safely arrived today. Like a kid at Christmas, I spent the morning peering out the window while checking my watch in anticipation of the appointed time the mail arrives. The bible emblazoned with 'Robin B... R...' took my breath away. I stared; I touched; I stared some more. The ultimate compliment of a chosen gift arises when the giver experiences that wistful tinge of regret that it is not for oneself, as I did. Thank you again.

 Sandy,The package was here when we got home from the wedding yesterday.  WE LOVE IT!!  It is truly lovely and we cannot wait to give it to our nephew and his new wife.  We know it will be a treasured keepsake just as we had hoped it would be. Thank you so much for all your work.  My husband likes it so much he wants to get one for our family.  I just may be back in touch on that as I think it would be a wonderful Christmas gift for him.  I promise I’ll give you time to recover from your move before I place that order.

Hi - I just wanted to let you know we’ve received the leather book and it looks amazing!  We will keep you in mind for all of our next orders and this time in a timely manner.  Thanks again for the rush!

dear sandy  -  we have received our bible that you did for us with such great care. it is so very beautiful that we wanted to say thank you. you are quite an artist and pat and i will always treasure this beautiful book, and as we pass it down we know our little family will also appreciate what you created.   -  best wishes

Jan. 2009  Sandy, I received the book last night and it is WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so very much, it is even more exquisite in person and live! Thank you thank you!!! You do excellent work! Regards,

Dec. 12 2008:  Hi Sandy,I love it!!!!! The book looks Fanstatic!!!!!! just how I pictured. Thanks so much for woking with me to accomplish this in such a short peroid of time. I know my son will treasure his Fathers words bond it a book and pass it on to future generations.

Nov. 2008:  Dear Sandy - the books are absolutely beautiful -- the show [CSI] will air- 1/29/09 on cbs 9pm pst. thanks very much-- great job!, propmaster, CSI

March 13 2008:  Sandy, I received my bible and am so thrilled with it. It is everything I had hoped for and more. As a matter of fact, my son asked me if he could borrow it. Rather than risk my never getting to use my own bible, I have just placed an order for another bible for him (with his name on it). I know that this bible will be with him as he grows into adulthood and will only get better with age. Thank you so much for all of the care that you put into making it.

I'm writing to let you know that I received the bible yesterday.  It is so much more beautiful than I pictured it would be.  Thank you so much for the work you did.  I can't wait to give it to my husband for Christmas.  We are expecting our second child in March, so I am looking forward to recording our life together in the Family Record Section.  This will be a family heirloom.  Thank you again.  God Bless and Merry Christmas!   

Dear Sandy, I received my red morocco Bible yesterday and I'm absolutely thrilled with it! Thank you for making an already very special book even more special; I shall treasure it and it will accompany me on many journeys... I shall keep looking at your website, and may well be back soon to purchase the other pocket Bible as a gift (I know just the person to give it to!)For now, kindest regards,

Dear Sandy - [concerning the 25 foot accordion book seen above and available on the "Ancient Styles page), ordered for a wedding reception] We rocked!!!!!!!! I received many compliments about the guest book being the best part of the reception. And that was saying alot given the high quality of the event. Marciam Brock and I all want to express our thanks for your wonderful book. It was absolutely perfect. I'll send a few more pictures of individual page sets for you.

I received my leather bound Qur'an and for some odd reason I was instantly moved to tears. It's a magnificent book as is and your work on it was positively awesome! Thank you sincerely

Dear Sandy, What a wonderful pleasure it was to open my "new" Bible and feel the so-soft lambskin. Thank you so much for the time you took and your obvious labor of love to re-bind my Bible. My Mom pointed out the appropriateness of lambskin for a Bible. Thank you again

Sandy, I was so delighted when I opened the package containing The Renaissance styled Illuminated Family Holy Bible. The beautiful Calfskin leather, the gold lettering on the spine and front, as well as the leather engraving are all first class! I have had people admire it today and tell me it is truly a work of art! Sandy You outdid yourself!

Hello Sandy,  I received the bible today and I wanted to extend my gratitude for your amazing work. The leather is very handsome and the workmanship is nothing, if not exquisite. I'm so pleased, in fact, that I'm planning on writing a review to post on my site.

Sandy, thank you again. I'm quite sure that I'll always have this bible around and I'll enjoy it all the more because of your very fine talents.Take care; and good fortune in all your endeavors.

Dear Sandy, I purchased an old leather wrap journal for a friend in December 2001. She uses it everyday and I think its time I invest in one myself. Since I am graduating teachers college soon and need a day planner for my classroom, I would require a large refillable wrap journal. I was just wondering if you could possibly make it out of either the very old brown leather or the brown coach leather. Would it also be possible to put a pocket on the side of the front cover? Please let me know! Warmest Regards

Hi Sandy, I ordered one of your limited distressed leather refillable wrap journals a few years ago and it has been a constant companion in my briefcase. It never fails to elicit a comment from someone when I am writing in public!

Hi Sandy,  I received the scroll last night. Thanks, it is wonderful. Ihave to tell you that this scroll and the signatures of witnesses of baptism has set a precedence. Our pastor has asked the women's mission team to make available to anyone who wants one, a book or maybe when they see the scroll this sunday, they will want to use them. Anyway, you are a blessing for providing this possibility. thanks! again, the scroll is beautiful.

Sandy, I received the journal yesterday...it is beautiful. It is amazing to me that you can create such a piece with your own two hands. Thank you for working with me on this...it is perfect.
Just as a sidebar...the journal is for my boyfriend. Born on the same day, in the same hospital, our parents shared a room until Jonathan (ever the competitor :) beat my entrance into this world by a whopping 40 minutes... two weeks from now we will announce our engagement.
The journal is a gift in honor of this special time.
While that probably means little to you, I am so excited to be able to give him exactly what I had in mind. Thank you for making that possible.
Thank you again for all your help - I am beyond excited about seeing your work.
God Bless

Dear ...[this is a letter of reference], I chose Sandy Kahn of Old Leather Books for a client's project (19 custom bound books) out of the whole field of binders both here in Cincinnati and on the Internet simply because of the quality of her work and who she is. My field is publishing and I have worked with both commercial and custom binders but every appropriate job that comes my way from now on will go to Sandy. My client was so impressed by talking to Sandy and seeing samples of her work that he intends to meet her the next time he is in Boston. She has unfailingly gone the extra mile for me and has been a delight to work with. If your project falls within the range of her services I can't imagine that you will be disappointed. Any other questions please let me know.

Thank you Sandy- My manager LOVED the book in-person... it's perfect!! I'll be in touch, if we need to add more pages, or if we have any other needs. Your work is very unique & I'm so glad I found you.

Hi Sandy... We just received the journal we ordered in today's mail. I can't thank you enough... it is nothing short of exquisite! (my 17 year old son's word!) The journal is meant to be a special Christmas gift for a good friend who is currently facing serious chronic illness... possibly life threatening. We wanted the present to be very special this year... and you have certainly provided that for us. Again... thank you!

Sandy - For graduation, my boyfriend bought me a very old leather wrap journal. He watched me carry mine with me - LITERALLY - everywhere I go and liked the idea of it so much that HE wanted one, too. And if you'll recall, in June or July I called and ordered one for him as well. You even customized it with a pen holder for him.
I just wanted to let you know how much both of us love our journals. I'm afraid that most people would buy a journal and you'd never hear from them again, but I wanted you to know that both he and I LOVE our journals. I use mine every day and he uses his almost as frequently. The journal has inspired me to write again. I used to write a lot and I find it to be a very healthy release for me. Sometime back, I stopped. And now, I find that I can hardly wait until evening to shower, crawl into bed and have "alone time" with my journal. I love closing every day with it.
Thank you for your wonderful product!! Keep up the excellent production.

Hi Sandy, I got the leather wrap journal I ordered for my boyfriend's birthday today, and it's *just* what I had hoped for. Thanks so much! I think he is going to be thrilled with it. It's nice to have stumbled across somebody who is doing something that is so obviously close to their heart.

Sandy, I love the job you did on my book!!! I love how you made the flap, that gives it a perfect look. The leather is great and I love the color! Thank you so much Sandy!!!! I love it!!! I couldn't ask for anything better.