From Italy to Austin, the story of Iona Handcrafted Books
AUSTIN, Texas - In 1992, a young architecture student took a trip to Italy that would change her life forever. While sketching century-old buildings, the young student had her backpack stolen in a roman train station by a little gypsy boy. Although the bag was replaceable, something inside was not; her journal.
The next week the student found herself in the city of Venice looking to replace her journal. In what seemed like a twist of fate she came across an old Italian bookbinder making books in the style that old monks would centuries before. She was able to spend the next few days learning the craft herself, an act that would help shape her career and life as an artist.
That architecture student is Austin's very own Mychal Mitchell, bookbinder, and owner of Iona Handcrafter Books.
When Mitchell came back from her trip she unknowingly brought back the teachings that would allow her to open a shop of her own. When friends and family saw her hand made journals, they started requesting their own. "I came back to the states with one of the journals I bought from him, filled it, and started studying. Next thing you know I'm making books for this person and that person, and it kind of accidentally became a business before I ever made it to grad school," Mitchell said.
She has since opened Iona Handcrafted Books in East Austin and although Mitchell never went back to Grad school, she found a way to combine her two interests. To stylize the books in her own fashion, she started using old architecture hardware. "A while back I needed to put my own little zing to it [...] I used door hinges from the 1880's, victorian age." she said, "antique padlocks, actual antique hardware."
Mitchell travels to find the pieces she includes in her work. Although a bulk of her materials are from art shows across the states, she has also traveled the globe to find cultural pieces to add to her work. "I am always picking up little tidbits in Russia, Argentina, France or Vietnam," she said. Mitchell also sources eco-friendly products including paper made from recycled clothes and surplus leather from other industries. Because of this, each handcrafted book is a one-of-a-kind creation.
Journaling itself plays an important role in Mitchell's life and she has been doing for quite some time. "I've been writing in a journal since I was a kid. I hope that I've learned a lot since then but I go back and I look and sometimes I see that I'm doing the same thing I did 20 years ago," Mitchell said, fighting back tears, "or you go back and you say 'ah you remember that moment,' things that I probably would've lost if I hadn't printed it."
Iona Handcrafted Books has been in business for over 20 years and set up shop at the Springdale General here in Austin. What started as a tragedy for Mychal Mitchell in a Rome train station almost 25 years ago has turned into a life calling. You can visit her workshop in East Austin or visit her website to see the unique handcrafted books.
