From Bedroom to Workroom

My name is Marenne Hoeksema. I am a creative bookbinder based near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I created my first book in 2008 during an Artist Book Workshop class at my art academy and fell in love with bookbinding. In the years since, I have taught myself all the bookbinding styles that sparked my interest. Since 2012 I share a workroom with my roommate, making creating and storing books a lot easier than working from the desk in my old bedroom. It also provided me with enough space to start experimenting with paper making and marbling. In 2013 I decided to move my online shop to Etsy in the hopes of reaching a wider and international audience.

Much of my work is centered around (re)imagination. I enjoy recycling materials like vinyl records, public transport tickets, computer parts, etc, and turning them into something brand new. Often, I simply fall in love with a material and really want to work with it. You can imagine then, that I am a bit of a collector. It often happens to be that I already have all the materials I need for a newly imagined project.
I love the challenge of thinking up new ways to use old bookbinding techniques in a modern way, thereby using technology like 3d printing and laser-cutting to aid me and open up a whole new spectrum of possibilities.

I sell ready-to-buy books as well as custom made books. For the first category you are welcome to take a look in my Etsy shop. For the second category you can find inspiration in my portfolio. I enjoy creating the perfect book for (and with) you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me (without any obligations)!

Whether you see my work as art or craft, my books are foremost objects to be used. A book is made to be read, to be written in. It is made to be passed down through generations. It’s a holder of information. If they ask, I tell my buyers this. Go ahead and start filling it with ideas. If my books are being used, they are doing the job I made them for!

I am always open to new exiting projects or collaborations. Are you a designer who knows exactly what you want? Together we can definitely create it! But I can also create the lay-out of artbooks in very small editions myself. Imagine your poetry, (short) prose, photography, artwork, recipes, etc. in several unique hardcover books to give to your friends or to show of. I can also transform your annual report, yearbook, thesis, etc. into unique works of art or durable hardcover books. Or perhaps you would like a unique journal, sketchbook, notepad or photo-album matching your own taste and wishes?