Hi Everyone,

Jim Croft made his final crease in this fold of space and time yesterday morning at 10:04 am, surrounded by his immediate family and music on their homestead in Pokey Creek. While he wasn't able to attend in person, he and his family were able to facetime in for the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Guild of Book Workers in Iowa City meeting this last weekend. And, never being one to shy away from enjoying a good joke with himself, I like to think Jim was holding out to say his final 10-4 till precisely 10:04, since he was also born on October 4. What a guy, one-of-a-kind.

There are more plans in the works to honor Jim's life and work, and to continue his legacy. We'll keep you up to date as they develop.

For the time being, Tim Barrett has written and shared this beautiful homage:

Jim Croft was a master at book binding. Of that there is no doubt. When he was in the zone, and hitting his stride, everything about a book he was making was thoroughly wrought, the paper, the sewing, the boards, the headbands, the brass clasps. He worked until each part was right and entirely integrated with the whole. He worked until it was completely, honestly, and utterly done. The result in his best books was so well executed it hurt to behold the damn thing. You felt lucky just to be around it, and to know the guy who made it. Which brings me to the other thing Jim was a master at: living life, living his work in his life, and enjoying every second of it. He was a life force. Like I say, you felt lucky to be around the guy, to know him as a fellow human being. So, we are left feeling someone, something has been taken away from us. But at the same time, we know down deep that Jim worked his way into each of our hearts and souls, just by being himself. And we also know that the way we celebrate him at this moment is to keep him alive in our lives and work, in the way we interact with others. That gesture will keep him among us. No question about it, we were all lucky to have had Jim Croft as a friend, colleague, or family member.

With Love,

Brien
Brien Beidler
Beidler Made
Bookbinding and Toolmaking
www.beidlermade.com

Emails are checked Tuesday and Thursday​

Brian, Tim, and all who made the Lifetime Achievement Award possible,

Thank you for these meaningful recognitions that honor Jim and the legacy that he created. What an extraordinary maker and human! So very glad to hear that he was able to receive this well-deserved award.

10-4, good buddies,

Marnie

From: Beidler Made brien@beidlermade.com
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
To: gbw@list.guildofbookworkers.org gbw@list.guildofbookworkers.org
Subject: [GBW] Jim Croft
Hi Everyone,

Jim Croft made his final crease in this fold of space and time yesterday morning at 10:04 am, surrounded by his immediate family and music on their homestead in Pokey Creek. While he wasn't able to attend in person, he and his family were able to facetime in for the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Guild of Book Workers in Iowa City meeting this last weekend. And, never being one to shy away from enjoying a good joke with himself, I like to think Jim was holding out to say his final 10-4 till precisely 10:04, since he was also born on October 4. What a guy, one-of-a-kind.

There are more plans in the works to honor Jim's life and work, and to continue his legacy. We'll keep you up to date as they develop.

For the time being, Tim Barrett has written and shared this beautiful homage:

Jim Croft was a master at book binding. Of that there is no doubt. When he was in the zone, and hitting his stride, everything about a book he was making was thoroughly wrought, the paper, the sewing, the boards, the headbands, the brass clasps. He worked until each part was right and entirely integrated with the whole. He worked until it was completely, honestly, and utterly done. The result in his best books was so well executed it hurt to behold the damn thing. You felt lucky just to be around it, and to know the guy who made it. Which brings me to the other thing Jim was a master at: living life, living his work in his life, and enjoying every second of it. He was a life force. Like I say, you felt lucky to be around the guy, to know him as a fellow human being. So, we are left feeling someone, something has been taken away from us. But at the same time, we know down deep that Jim worked his way into each of our hearts and souls, just by being himself. And we also know that the way we celebrate him at this moment is to keep him alive in our lives and work, in the way we interact with others. That gesture will keep him among us. No question about it, we were all lucky to have had Jim Croft as a friend, colleague, or family member.

With Love,

Brien

Brien Beidler
Beidler Made
Bookbinding and Toolmaking
www.beidlermade.comhttp://www.beidlermade.com
Emails are checked Tuesday and Thursday​

This is sad….but what a life Jim led and what a beautiful legacy he has left all of us! So glad he heard and saw the beautiful heartfelt tribute and honor bestowed at the Iowa Standards! Thank you Brian and thank you Tim 💔Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 15, 2025, at 9:23 AM, Beidler Made <brien@beidlermade.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Jim Croft made his final crease in this fold of space and time yesterday morning at 10:04 am, surrounded by his immediate family and music on their homestead in Pokey Creek. While he wasn't able to attend in person, he and his family were able to facetime in for the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Guild of Book Workers in Iowa City meeting this last weekend. And, never being one to shy away from enjoying a good joke with himself, I like to think Jim was holding out to say his final 10-4 till precisely 10:04, since he was also born on October 4. What a guy, one-of-a-kind.

There are more plans in the works to honor Jim's life and work, and to continue his legacy. We'll keep you up to date as they develop.

For the time being, Tim Barrett has written and shared this beautiful homage:

Jim Croft was a master at book binding. Of that there is no doubt. When he was in the zone, and hitting his stride, everything about a book he was making was thoroughly wrought, the paper, the sewing, the boards, the headbands, the brass clasps. He worked until each part was right and entirely integrated with the whole. He worked until it was completely, honestly, and utterly done. The result in his best books was so well executed it hurt to behold the damn thing. You felt lucky just to be around it, and to know the guy who made it. Which brings me to the other thing Jim was a master at: living life, living his work in his life, and enjoying every second of it. He was a life force. Like I say, you felt lucky to be around the guy, to know him as a fellow human being. So, we are left feeling someone, something has been taken away from us. But at the same time, we know down deep that Jim worked his way into each of our hearts and souls, just by being himself. And we also know that the way we celebrate him at this moment is to keep him alive in our lives and work, in the way we interact with others. That gesture will keep him among us. No question about it, we were all lucky to have had Jim Croft as a friend, colleague, or family member.

With Love,

Brien

Brien BeidlerBeidler Made

Bookbinding and Toolmaking

www.beidlermade.com

Emails are checked Tuesday and Thursday​

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