To the touch, the leather bindings of Susan Green’s books are soft and supple; some with linen and silk ribbons adding texture. They look gorgeous, too – goatskin and calfskin covers (vegans can opt for cork textile from protected Portuguese cork-oak forests) glow in autumnal crimson, scarlet and blackberry, or strike a quieter note of ivory. The paper is folded and torn the traditional way, leaving softly ‘deckled’ edges. ‘The tactility is important,’ says Susan. ‘The books are used to honour the intangible, as wedding guest books, memory books and heirlooms. Yet the feel, even the smell, all help bring the memories into being again as you flick through.’
