#thingswithwings

I wanted to bind a fic for a friend, and I decided on this iconic Schitt's Creek fic that was the first podfic they recorded. It is also my longest bind so far, and maybe as long as I'd put in one volume? I don't think it's too unwieldy, though.

Everything was going smoothly - almost too smoothly - when I got impatient and ironed on the vinyl before the glue was completely dry. I suspect that's why the original cover (in "Patrick Brewer button up shirt blue", thank you very much) got all splotchy. Or maybe the fabric was too thin. I dunno.

So I decided to remake the cover in "Patrick Brewer's tight jeans denim" instead. And I think it all worked out for the best. I adore how it looks.

And the holographic HTV? I love how it changes color depending on the light and it behaved quite nicely for me. (Again, patience is key with HTV.)

Gold? Blue? Copper? Depends on the light!

The text block didn't give me nearly as many problems. It all went together smoothly, whew! And my new sewing frame did help when it came to stitching this behemoth together.

Fonts used: Body: Vendetta OT Chapter headings: Didot LT Pro (IYKYK) Title: Gazzetta

Final details... (endpapers came from the Craft Consortium Ink Drops-Ocean pad.)

KNOWN ASSOCIATES by @thingswithwings​

Fandom: Captain America Pairing: Steve/Bucky, Steve/everybody else too

Summary Steve Rogers isn’t a self-made man. Or, how a tough little Brooklyn fairy got turned into Captain America, and then turned back.

297k words 823 pages

A heavily researched and vivid portrayal of 1940s NYC queer culture, a journey of identity and growth following Steve to present day.

This book contains an appendix of 27 pages of meticulously annotated sources, bibliography, and notes.

Binding

Printed on Domtar Multipurpose Cream 20# Bond. Sewn with 100% linen thread on 100% linen tapes.  Applied endbands. Trans pride ribbon bookmark.

Half-bound in red cloth and marbled cotton rag paper from India. Endpapers are Cavallini & Co Vintage Office Ephemera. The outer case colors were selected to compliment the colors in the endpapers.

Titles and headers are set in Lydian, for another touch of vintage. (Designed by Warren Chappell in 1938, popular through the 40s-60s and currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity.) The text is set in Garamond.

Big Book Energy

This book was a journey to get done. And most of that was caused by the sheer length.

At 823 pages / 297k words this fic is pushing the bounds of what I normally want to put in a single volume. It's maxed out. This creates additional issues in the binding process.

First, the print spooling process failed. When a story is a real monster it exceeds the memory of some or other component of the print send process. The result is that the file prints, but there will be surprise page transpositions. (e.g. pages 1-367 are fine. Then where 368 should be, you see page 17 instead. Then 369 picks back up as normal)  In this book there were about 15 page transpositions. You don't receive an error message that this has occurred - so you discover them later when you start to fold up the signatures. In total I had to make three trips to do reprints on this book. This took a month.

Next, the spine rounding/backing. I attempted to back the spine, using a hammer to shape the edges of the spine. This worked out well on one copy and not so well on the other, leading to other issues in the construction. I sent the good copy to the author and kept the wonky, out of square one for myself.

Finally, I had to do the final squeeze in my old homemade plywood book press because the book + brass edge boards was too tall to fit inside the victorian copying press I use for most books. This is more difficult to set up right and can easily lead to more wonkiness if it’s out of square in the press. I have to stand on top of the press to bolt it down.

a little late but here we go!

praying for sparks in the dark (in the heart) by susiecarter "Him," the Bat repeats, in a low and deceptively soft growl. "I don't know who he was," the man says immediately, taking this cue and running with it. "I don't, honest. Honest, I swear to god. Nobody did. He just showed up, that's all. Asking about you, asking everybody what they knew, if they'd ever seen you, what you'd done. Metropolis," the man adds belatedly. "He had that look, you know? Clean. Said his name was—Carr, or Kemp, or something. Something like that." (Or: in a universe where Bruce becomes aware that someone's looking into the Batman, he goes to the effort to track down Clark Kent. It doesn't play out quite the way either of them expected.) Clark/Bruce, 20k, E

having let go forever the fallacy of ever being alone by gyzym This time there are shitty dogeared paperbacks Arthur wouldn't be caught dead reading piled on the coffee table, and half-finished crosswords tucked into the bookshelves, and the far wall is hung with that tapestry they'd bought in a shit part of London on a whim. This time they've spent all day fixing their sink and there's a mug of yesterday's tea sitting on top of the television and it's not just Arthur's living room at all. Arthur/Eames, 16k, E

A Sure Thing by lightgetsin "Okay," Peter says, and there's a rasp in his voice. "Repeat after me: theft is not foreplay." Neal/Peter, 3k, E

perfect strangers by susiecarter Batman and Superman are fucking. Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent are a great cover for fighting crime, and also might be dating. Bruce and Clark have no idea what they're doing; but they definitely aren't going to be able to talk themselves into stopping. Clark/Bruce, 15k, E

run to the river (dive in) by susiecarter MoS AU: With one successful fishing season already under his belt, Clark's finally getting comfortable on the Debbie Sue. He just wishes this guy Dixon hadn't signed on with them, because the way he watches Clark is really starting to give Clark the creeps. (Or: Bruce goes undercover looking for enhanced individuals before BvS instead of after—and finds one.) Clark/Bruce, 5k, M

Took Me By Surprise and Then by thehoyden After the second surgery in New York, Charles doesn’t anticipate anyone keeping vigil by his bedside — and certainly not Tony Stark. Charles/Erik, 5k, T

as to which may be the true by susiecarter It isn't difficult to go on in the wake of Superman's death. His resurrection, though, poses a problem—especially when it turns out there's no such thing as the right moment to explain that Martha Kent's obnoxious billionaire friend? Is also the man who tried really hard to shove a kryptonite spear through Clark's face. Clark/Bruce, 53k, M

Blue Devils by VillaKulla /blo͞o ˈdevəl/ noun, inf: a feeling of despondency, depression, or low spirits origins: Old American West Billy/Goody, 4k, M

Spree by thingswithwings "So, okay, Britta," Annie says, "this thing you gave me is seriously just a scrap of ripped looseleaf that says 'IOU one shopping spree at A Woman's Touch.' I do not even know what that is." Britta does an excited little leap in the air and claps her hands. "It's me deciding to help you discover your true womanhood." Britta/Annie, 4k, E

embroidery appreciation by Annie D Written for an anon on tumblr who requested Natasha and Tony as brotp, or Steve/Tony being schmoopy in love. This is a bit of both. Tony & Nat, 1k, T

and every map is blank by gyzym It's -- topography, Carlos thinks, of a person, of two people, it's so complicated, it's so much easier to just go it by yourself. He doesn't want to hurt Cecil but he doesn't want to keep any part of himself from Cecil, either, and it scares him that that's true, and it scares him to know it's what Cecil wants. Carlos/Cecil, 7k, T

trothplight by arriviste “What a metaphor,” Grantaire said bitterly. “I may dress your windows, but no more. We’ll greet each other in the streets, but you won’t admit me to your chambers or your hearts. I know all the words, all the empty speeches one needs to mouth for membership – I can rattle them off as well as you. Want me to prate Hébert or praise the Supreme Deity? Quote Rousseau or Marat? I can mum them; I don’t, because I don’t mean them, and because I’m an honest sceptic, I’m untrustworthy.” Enjolras/Grantaire, 4k, E

A-Wing, X-Wing, Y-Wait, B-Mine (Please) by ester_inc Finn keeps finding himself in situations where – no, wait, let's start over. Poe keeps ending up shirtless, nearly shirtless, or soaking wet, and somehow Finn is always there when it happens. The universe is either taunting him with what he can't have or rewarding him for good behavior, and Finn can't decide which is more likely. Either way, he's emotionally unprepared for, oh, let's be honest here: Poe's entire existence. It's fine. No big deal. He's working on it. Finn/Poe, 7k, E

Just Give Me Moments by barricadeur Enjolras comes home from a protest to a not-empty apartment. --- "What happened?" Grantaire says. His other hand grips Enjolras's shoulder, as if to keep him from pulling back, but Enjolras is so tired that the energy necessary to break away seems monumental. He lets Grantaire inspect him, says only, "I hit my head." "On someone's fist?" Enjolras/Grantaire, 1k, T

The Rare Gift by triedunture The prompt was "Dean receives an . . . unusual . . . Christmas gift from Castiel." The gift turns out to be wings. Dean/Cas, 4k, M

i love you now like i loved you then (this is the road and these are the hands) by theappleppielifestyle Somewhere in their phone calls after Derry 2.0, Richie and Eddie had decided to finally take that road trip. Richie would fly in from LA, then they’d drive back there from New York. It’ll be just like it could’ve been, Richie had said once. (Or, Eddie and Richie resume.) Richie/Eddie, 6k, M

i guess i should say thanks or some shit believe it or not, charles has a well-thought-out moral philosophy. he doesn’t follow it. but he has thought it out. alternatively: charles and erik douche it up in amsterdam. Charles/Erik, 17k, M

this is your sword, this is your shield by susiecarter Post-BvS, Diana and Lois start to develop a habit of protecting each other. But sometimes habits become ruts, and every now and then it's a good idea to break out of them. (Or: a whole bunch of times Diana and Lois looked out for each other, plus the time Lois ended up feeling like it might be worth it to be just a little less careful.) Diana/Lois, 9k, T

Family Portrait, c. 1840, oil on canvas by littlerhymes Lestat's latest favourite is a painter. Lestat/Louis, 2k, T