Hand Bound Bookmaking Experiments

Ok, so! Experiment time!

I'd like to try my hand at making small homemade books for a variety of purposes. Firstly I would like to be able to make portfolios for self-promotion mailers. Additionally if the process is efficient and the result looks really cool I might want to make editions of hand bound artist books for sale.

The options I've come up with so far (which I am not sure are viable for either purpose):

Staple Binding
+ Fast. Makes half and full sized books. Durable for small amounts of paper.
- Visible staples look cheap, though some kind of binding tape on top might help if there's also a cover. Need to buy a long-arm stapler.

Simple Saddle Stitch
+ Fast. Durable for small amounts of paper. Opportunity to use colored thread for added visual punch.
- Requires new hole punching equipment. Only half-sheet sized books.

Hand-Stitched
+ Can add as many pages as needed without sacrificing durability. Has the potential to look damn cool with the right paper even without extra coverings.
- Many steps make this process very time consuming. Special equipment is needed to improve efficiency and reduce risk of physical harm. Still, sharp objects and the pressure needed to piece several layers paper make self-injury a small hazard.

Ribbon Loops
+ Can use standard hole punches on computer paper to prepare the sheets and cover quickly. Relatively Durable and high potential for adding unique materials. Comparatively easy cover inclusion.
- Not as tight as a sewn book binding. Dependent on knots for durability.

Hybrid Loops - tie small stacks together across the binding edge like in hand-stitching, but also use the ribbon loops to fill the holes and attach the cover.
+ Can use standard hole punches on computer paper to prepare the sheets and cover quickly. Relatively durable and high potential for adding unique materials. Comparatively easy cover inclusion.
- Might take a little longer than plain ribbon loops.

The simple saddle stitch technique is shown on this page. It appears viable for sending out booklet sized portfolios.

The ribbon loop process is one that I haven't found strict documentation on but was inspired by the photo at the bottom of this page about traditional portfolio binding. I have high hopes that the process could be successful, for larger books and ticker stacks of paper. Because it relies on precut papers and a regular three-hole punch for everything the work time should be minimal and I won't need to get a giant paper cutter right away. If it's not holding together after a little experimental abuse, I'll try my hybrid loop/stack solution.

If anyone knows of another efficient homemade bookbinding solution, please let me know! If the handmade thing fails, there's always lulu and the iPhoto book printing (at least for promo). I just think it would be really cool to be able to do it myself if I want to because it would lend me a lot of flexibility in how I present my own work.