Stopan even though you didn't win the competition you are #1 my friend your binding and creations are the top notch and beautiful and luxurious and just fantastic.

I love that little window at the front cover Edit: I do believe you should keep it. Consider it a milestone in terms of design. Maybe incorporate the little window to your other journals, of course it doesn't have to be that intricate. I just thought it would be fun to have a place where you can slip little notes. If not a window maybe a dove for example, in a silver cage that you can open idk. I just really love what you and your dad did with the front cover.

The ability of an artist to see both the beauty and the flaws of their work is a real gift. When you are ready I would love to hear some of the lessons you learned.

I can't believe you didn't win anything. Your work looks so sublime!

Stopan, keep this beautiful book as it is so special to you; your thoughts, your first competition book, and such a masterpiece in metal and leather as well as pages. Just love it and do not worry, now you know what you need to create to show the competition you are there to stay and you are a magnificent artist. Your visions as so beautiful, and your father completes the creation. You are a team to be recond with. Keep on going with your superb books, as we enjoy seeing you create them. Bugaria must be so proud to have sons like you and your father, I would. Love you both and best regards from Canada.

I watch your videos every night. Watching you make these incredible books is enchanting and please never ever stop creating these beautiful works of art. Trophies or contests do not always appreciate the expressive talents in a work of art! You should be super proud! ALL of your work is amazing. ☺️☺️

The book is presenting itself in a sort of understated beauty. Sometimes the most beautiful things are simple, and that is something I appreciate about your book. However, when you opened the book my first thought was “Why that paper in the front?” I expected some beautiful marbled paper, maybe something red with gold and silver sprinkled all over it. The book should be overwhelming when one opens it. Although I completely and utterly adore the textured hand made paper I feel some gilding and some decorative elements were missing. Your book with the Bulgarian byzantine style writing is a great example of the kind of decorative elements that should be included inside the book. I love your work and dedication towards achieving perfection, and this book is a testimony of the journey you’re on. I’ve only discovered you today and will definitely follow your work. Oh, and having a fellow Bulgarian actually win the competition is definitely a great honor and something to be proud of. Congratulations!

Brilliant work, Stopan. The calligraphy is exquisite! Your father did a marvelous work with the metal design along with the paper you made. Congratulations on your expertise. Doesn't matter that you didn't win when you can make a book so beautiful to pass down through the family. I can't imagine parting with it. I love the way you speak English. Utterly charming.

Beautiful and it must lay close to your hart. I did send in a book for the 2022 competition. Your advise to give it a try for everybody who loves to work with bookbinding is so true. The competition is not for winning but for sharing the beauty we invent while making our books. Thank you for sharing. Hope your still work with bookbinding because you (and with this book also your father) give the world really gems.

Thank you for showing us all your talent, and all your lessons learned, too! It's humbling to know that even the master crafters and bookbinders have challenges too!! The book is GORGEOUS! And one day, when I'm working again, I will be buying at least one journal to write and paint my life's lessons.

Wish I had known you did calligraphy... I would have added that to the commission... oh well, next time! Beautiful work ❤️

Ah, there's a dose of aesthetic pleasure) And the reminder that I really should pick up on learning bookbinding craft...

A beautiful work. really happy for you that you experienced the competition.

I am facined! Fantastic calligraphy work you did! the book was wonderful !!!

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your work!

Your work is beautiful and videos you make are a pleasure to watch, hope you’ll win next time

It's beautiful. You should be very proud. :)

Immediately clicked when YT notified me. Thank you again for sharing with us your wonderful entry, hope you win the competition!

Keep the book, put it on display so you can look at it all the time to be an impetus, to ambition for the future to do even better, much success in the future

You are a true artist stopan. Your books blow my mind and my perception of what a book can be. Thank you for inspiring us with your passion!

Stopen I am blown away by your work it is beautiful . I am so pleased to hear that you are going to continue with the competitions, yes it is great to win but also it is great to take part xx

Very beautiful and I love your work.

That is a beautiful piece of art. If anything I make ever comes out half that nice, I'll be thrilled.

Gorgeous piece. Thank you for sharing.

i found you few days ago. You inspired me so much to make my own book. So, thank you. Keep uploading your beautiful work please. Cheers!

Beautiful work. I hope that you will keep making entries. What a wonderful learning opportunity. Thank you for sharing the manuscript pages; I would never have an opportunity to know about them otherwise. I'd keep the book, if it were me, because it was a project between you and your Father and it is your first entry - a book of memories.

You are obviously very talented and will win many accolades in the future.

Stunning work Stopan. Thanks for sharing the details and the flaws. The competition must be very tough indeed. You and your dad are producing ever more rich and meaningful work. Thank you for the inspiration. I'm already excited to see next year's entry!

Hello! I'm begining to learn about bookbinding, as I want to make great books for my poetry, and I just wanted to tell you that your work is very inspiring! So thanks!

Nice work! pleased for you that you had the experience of the competition!

I'll buy it with my SOUL!!! you did a great work along with your dad! Such intricate details! May this help you improve a lot more though honestly it looks perfect for me I'm sure everyone one here would agree! Well if not then they probably know about book binding, maybe they can help? Anyways cheers! If I have the financial capability I would buy it! It's so magnificently done! 💕 Cheers! Have a good one! Edit: just a side note I do think it would be better if you keep it, since it would remind you of what should've been done during the competition, plus it would also remind you of what you can do! You poured your heart and soul into it after all!

Amazing work! I've been watching your channel and instagram for a while and have been planning on trying to learn this craft myself. You're truly inspirational.

That’s so great you got to represent your country And make a bit of history with your entry! The way you create your art and reveal it in these videos invites suspense! I get more excited to see what you’ve made in your films than any Hollywood production! It’s like being a kid on Christmas the way you take us into your work and we get to see all the little details and intricacies of cover, binding and text. Bring on the wonder!! and thank you for sharing a bit of your world... oh yes, my hat’s off to your father for his metalwork!

Man, I am so impressed!!! You are doing great job!

It is just so satisfying to watch your videos💕. I absolutley love your work❣❣ The gates are so creative and behond beautiful. One day I hope to be able to produce the quality I see in your books. I cant wait to see what's next. 😁

❤una belleza de arte sinceramente bellísimos!!

Hello. Im new to your channel and to discovering love for the art of bookbinding. Thank you for your channel. Your creation is stunning!! You should keep it as a family heirloom- especially because your father and you created together and there are some 'firsts' for you both in it. Especially if the beautiful calligraphy inside are your own thoughts and anxieties as you mentioned. The perfect gift for your great grandkids and theirs. The every thing about it and inside it- even it's wonky twist in the spine is unique to this book and makes it one of a kind and a reminder of a "past you' that will become a distant memory one day. But then again, as an a fellow maker (i make pictures and things) I know what its like to make things and want to move on to making another and not wanting to keep every step (piece) in your process as a creator. Its nice to give it to someone else to love and be inspired by and to give new life to than to sit on a shelf and become part of a library of how you became 'you' (or part of you)...sorry- now im starting to think in type rather than think BEFORE i type! ...hahahaha :-) Much respect and love to you fellow human. You are an inspiration and a talented and skilled creator.

There's absolutely no shame in not scoring first place in such a harsh competition, and it's a great way to learn something new even as such an accomplished book binder! Love that book and how much thought and personality went into it. And as much as I would love to get it - I really think you should keep it. It marks an important milestone, hopefully with many competitions yet to follow. It's beautiful way beyond what the eye can see. Thanks so much for sharing this experience with us!

I know this is long after you posted this, but I hope you kept this as a keepsake. I am a new subscriber and I have fallen in love with your work. Tonight I couldn’t stop talking to my husband about The Harvest Book. That book still blows my mind! But this one amazes me on an entirely different level. The doors hiding the tooling reminded me of how you used calligraphy techniques to somewhat disguise your thoughts. It’s like a book of secrets. Of course, perhaps if I spoke and read Bulgarian I might be able to figure out some of your written words. I will never know! I also loved the square theme and how it echoed throughout the book, along with the color crimson. I am sorry you did not win anything, although I understand your explanation. I do think it is quite the accomplishment to be the first person from Bulgaria to ever enter! Thank you for sharing this beautiful gem that was born from your mind and hands.

I love the red leather and the gate on the front, and the whole thing is just beautiful!

I've been getting into Bookbinding myself recently and you're by far my biggest inspiration for it. Your videos are amazing and your work is absolutely incredible, I'm hoping to own one of your pieces myself one day. I often watch your videos to help me relax because they're just so calming. It's so good you get to work with your dad on these projects too. Must be a great way to bond. Can't wait to see what else you make!

Good luck in the competition!

Your work is so imaginative and beautiful.

Well done.

A beautiful work of art

Your book is absolutely amazing. I bet the judges were bribed 😉

Amazing craft

Even if you didn't win the real reward js the experience and skills you've gained along the way. Love you

I stumbled across your channel some time ago and have been bitten by the book binding bug ever since. I love your books and I am ready to start making books myself. Thank you for your inspiration. Yours truly from Alabama, USA. I’m also a sub btw.

Very beautiful ✨💫❣️

Your creativity and workmanship is truly a gift. I hope to one day own a "Stopan." Congratulations for for representing your country. It's a pity that the judges were blind. 😃 Kim

Achei magnífico , aprendo muito em seus videos

I would have at least given you an "honorable mention",,,,, Beautiful work!

Truly amazing is an understatement. Did your dad do the list wax method for the front windows and doors? Is that a perfect binding? The pages are so flat! Could you please show us how you did the paper? Wow!

Hi Stopan, have you ever read A Canticle for Leibovitz? Sci-fi about future where global war happens and technology gets destroyed and everyone has to go back to old ways of doing things and scribe monks get together to save and transcribe all the books and knowledge that they can-by hand. Anyway your work reminds me of this and sorry for the run on sentences!

I just came from reddit. I had no idea about this competition but so disappointed that you didn't win.

Круто,Степан!

That type of calligraphy is indeed very beautiful, but damnit it is hard to read it, SO. DANG. HARD.

Beautiful. Keep it. You can improve others but it has protokala.

Consider this a learning lesson (if all the critiques were valid) to be kept as a reminder of what to focus on and avoid for the next competition. Beautiful tho, nonetheless!

Possibly too late but keep it. It was your first entry after all.

What kind of feedback did you get from the judges? Were there any areas they weren't impressed with or felt you needed improvement on?

One more thing, have you ever tried paper marbling?

What's the name of that Bulgarian story of this monk? Thank you for the inspiration.

степа ты крутой

It is superior to any book I've made my ones are laughable in comparison