General FAQ

The process is simple:

1. Reach out via the Get in Touch form, email jess@jestercatbinding.co, or schedule a consultation directly.
2. We'll chat about your book, your vision, and your budget.
3. I'll send you a detailed estimate — you approve it before anything gets ordered or started.
4. Once you're happy with the plan, you pay a deposit and we're off!

Yes — custom orders require a deposit before I order materials or begin work. The deposit amount varies by project and will be outlined in your estimate.

The more detail the better, but at minimum I need:

• What the book is (title, size, approximate page count)
• What you want done (rebind, mending, print & bind, etc.)
• Any materials preferences or ideas (leather color, cover style, special features)
• Your general budget range if you have one

Photos are incredibly helpful if you already have the book — just snap a few and attach them to your message!

It depends on what you want! My pricing philosophy is simple: your book, your budget, your choice.

• Materials: You only pay for what your specific project needs, unless you're requesting something niche or that only comes in large quantities.
• Labor: $60/hour for custom work.

A standard novel rebind typically runs $150–$250 total, but it varies based on size, add-ons, and complexity. Want foil edges and premium leather? That costs more. Want a simple, durable rebind? That costs less.

Most projects take 6–10 weeks from deposit to doorstep. Here's why:

• Materials usually take about a week to arrive (Montana shipping!)
• I work on projects when I have studio time available
• Handmade work takes time — I'm not rushing through your book

You'll get access to Cat Tracks so you can check your book's progress anytime. I also send updates if anything changes.

Yes! Here's what I can bind:

• Your original writing (dissertations, novels, poetry, etc.)
• Fanfiction — only if you're the author OR you have explicit written permission
• Public domain books (published before 1928, mostly)
• Your own copy of a book for rebinding (I can't print new copies of copyrighted books)
• Family recipes, journals, cherished worn-out books — these are my favorites!

Not always! I may decline a project if:

• The book is too fragile or damaged for me to work on safely
• It involves copyrighted material I'm not able to reproduce
• It's outside my current skill set or capacity

If I can't take on your project, I'll always tell you why and point you in a better direction if I can. No hard feelings!

If your book is rare, historically significant, or extremely fragile, you probably need a professional conservator rather than a bookbinder. Conservators are trained in archival-level preservation — chemical stabilization, deacidification, reversible repairs, and the kind of work museums rely on.

I'm a bookbinder. I give books a functional second life, but I'm not equipped for museum-quality preservation. Some signs you might need a conservator instead:

• The paper is actively deteriorating or crumbling
• The book has significant monetary or historical value
• You need the original cover or binding preserved exactly as-is
• The damage involves mold, water, or chemical exposure

Rebinding means giving your book a completely new binding and cover. The old binding gets removed and I build a fresh one from scratch. Great for books with damaged covers but intact pages.

Mending means repairing what's there — fixing loose pages, reinforcing fragile sections, reattaching a spine. I'll always try to make repairs as seamless as possible, but depending on the damage and materials, some repairs may be visible. Think binding tape, patches, or reinforcement strips — functional, durable, and honest about what they are.

What I can do:

• Fix loose or detached pages
• Mend minor tears in text pages
• Reattach separated sections
• Basic repairs for somewhat brittle or fragile paper

What I can't do:

• Preserve original covers (rebinding removes them)
• Chemical treatments for damaged paper
• Museum-level conservation work
• Restore severely damaged or extremely fragile materials

Yes, and I take it seriously. Sentimental books are some of my favorite projects — a grandparent's Bible, a worn-out childhood favorite, a family heirloom that's falling apart. I understand what's at stake.

That said, I'll always be upfront with you if a book is too fragile or damaged for me to work on safely. I'd rather tell you honestly than risk making things worse.

Often yes! I can work from reference photos, a style you love, or match an existing book in your collection. The more reference material you can share, the better.

Keep in mind that handmade work has natural variation — I can get very close to a reference, but an exact replica isn't always possible depending on materials and techniques.

Before I ship your book, I send you photos of the finished product. You have 48 hours to let me know if something looks off.

If there's a legitimate issue with the work, I'll make it right — that's what my lifetime warranty is for.

Cat Tracks is my custom project tracker that shows you exactly where your book is in the production process — with a little cat that walks through each stage!

Every customer gets a secure link and password after placing their order. You can check it anytime to see:

• Real-time progress updates
• Personal notes about your project
• Tracking info when it ships
• Fun cat animations as your book moves through production stages

Yes! I teach bookbinding workshops year-round, typically 1–3 classes a month. Wheelhouse in Bozeman is my home base, but I also pop up at other venues around the area for one-off events.

Classes are usually $60–80 depending on the project, and you leave with a finished book plus the skills to make more at home.

Can't make it to a class? Check out my DIY Bookbinding Kits — they come with everything you need to learn at home, because the craft shouldn't be gatekept.

I'm based in Bozeman, Montana, but I work with clients all over the country and internationally!

You can ship your book to me for rebinding or mending, or I can purchase a new book and customize it for you. Everything ships with tracking and insurance.

Books are surprisingly sturdy, but a little care goes a long way:

• Wrap the book in bubble wrap or paper to protect the cover
• Place it in a snug box — too much movement inside can cause damage
• Use a rigid mailer or box, not a padded envelope, for anything hardcover
• Add a note inside with your name, contact info, and a brief description of what you'd like done

You're responsible for shipping your book to me. Return shipping (once your book is finished) is included in your project estimate.

I ship everything with tracking and insurance. If you'd like expedited return shipping, just let me know and we'll add it to the estimate.

Contact me immediately with photos. I'll work with you to file a claim with the carrier or find another solution. Don't wait — carriers have claim windows and the sooner we act, the better.

It depends on the type of order! The short version:

• Custom work (rebinds, mending, print & bind) — all sales final, but defects are covered
• Shop items & kits — returnable within 14 days if unopened and unused
• Workshops — non-refundable but transferable

Every custom order comes with a lifetime warranty on craftsmanship. If something I made fails — a binding that comes apart, pages that weren't secured properly — I'll fix it.

Nope! Not every book needs to survive 500 years in a museum.

I offer materials at every price point because beautiful, durable binding shouldn't require a trust fund. Want a book that'll last your lifetime for under $200? I can do that. Need archival-quality materials for a family heirloom? I can do that too.

I work with a range of materials depending on the project and budget — leather, cloth, specialty papers, book stock, tools, and everything in between. Whenever possible, I source from small businesses, and ideally local ones too. Montana is a little limited on that front, so "local" isn't always achievable, but small and independent is always the goal.

Sometimes! If you have a specific material in mind — a piece of fabric, a leather remnant, something with sentimental value — let me know and we'll talk through whether it's workable.

Keep in mind that I can't guarantee results with materials I haven't sourced or tested myself, and customer-provided materials are generally not covered under warranty if they fail.