Book in a box. Learn how to make a hardbound, hand stitched, book and a beautiful matching slipcase to keep your book in.

This is an ideal course for those who would like to start  bookbinding but may not be able to commit to the 5 week Beginning Bookbinding course, or those who wish to brush up their skills. We will be using locally made hand marbled papers for the end papers and to line the slipcases.  You will leave with the skills to reproduce this again at home. All materials and equipment will be provided. Stapleford Granary has easy parking.

Doug Mitchell, a highly experienced book conservator, will lead the day, under his guidance and tuition you will learn the basics of book repairs using a variety of cloths, papers, tissues and adhesives. Through a mix of demonstration and practice you will learn how to: Deconstruct a book in a safe and systematic fashion, repair both individual pages and sections, prepare your book should it require resewing, replace the end papers, undertake any repairs to the

cover in order to allow new material to be added.

This day is suitable for all levels of expertise including students new to bookbinding all materials and equipment will be provided, but you will  need to bring with you one or two hard cover cloth bound books, no bigger than A5 and with a stable book block,  (as time is limited), that you are happy to replace the end papers on. 

Boxes! How we love boxes! During this class we will explore a variety of box options including stacking, dividing and alternative lids whilst also learning (through demonstration and practice) the all-important skills of cutting and covering. Although we will work to the same template there will be the opportunity to personalise with covering and lining materials. A beautiful selection of locally made Payhembury Marbled Papers will be available to choose from as well and co-ordinating buckram which is a sturdy book and box covering material. Participants will leave with one completed box along with materials, instructions and skills to extend the project into a ‘stack’.

All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice.  

Stapleford Granary has easy carparking.

We will use the beautiful orchard surrounding Stapleford Granary for some of our source materials, and spend the morning creating our cyanotypes. Cyanotypes are negative prints of an object, in this instance flowers/plants, in the recognisable ‘blueprint’ colour. Cyanotypes are produced from a camera-less photographic printing process developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, St. John’s College/Cambridge graduate.

Your favourite cyanotype from the morning will then be used as the covering material for your hardbound book made after lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a unique one-off personal design for your book/s.

All materials are provided and you will leave with the skills to continue practicing your own cyanotype photography and to reproduce the style of book again at home.  Stapleford Granary has easy car parking.

You will learn new techniques in each 3-hour session to complete four beautiful book structures along with a lined slipcase to hold your treasured prototype collection. All of the skills can be 'mixed and matched' so that you have a myriad of design possibilities.  

Week 1: Introduction and Quarter Bound Single Section 
Week 2: Concertina Binding 
Week 3:  Hard Bound Journal
Week 4:  Japanese Stab stitch
Week 5: Lined Slipcase 
 These classes are booked as a block but if you would like to attend one or more as a 'taster' email me and I can advise you on space availability. 

All materials are included in the fee and for this programme you will also be provided with the materials to do your 'homework' ;-)  
Stapleford Granary has easy carparking.

You will learn new techniques in each 3-hour session to complete four beautiful book structures along with a lined slipcase to hold your treasured prototype collection. All of the skills can be 'mixed and matched' so that you have a myriad of design possibilities.  

Week 1: Introduction and Quarter bound single section
Week 2:  Concertina Binding
Week 3: Hardbound Journal
Week 4: Japanese Stab stitch 
Week 5: Lined slipcase 
 These classes are booked as a block but if you would like to attend one or more as a 'taster' email me and I can advise you on space availability. 

All materials are included in the fee and for this programme you will also be provided with the materials to do your 'homework' ;-)  
Stapleford Granary has easy carparking.

Japanese-style Album

This binding is one of the earliest 'book' shaped bindings dating back to China in the 14th century.  Today these books are used as sketchbooks, notebooks and with a little extra reinforcement, which you  will learn in this class, albums or scrapbooks. During this workshop you will learn one of the four stitch styles used in traditional Japanese bookbinding . These are beautiful structures to which you can add a variety of creative finishes. You can also design your own stitch patterns!     Suitable for beginners.

This workshop will take place at The Lodge Flower and Craft School, and ideal venue in a wonderful and peaceful location. Please follow the link above to book via their website.

Slight controversy over the title of this binding as the inventor (Anne Goy) wishes it to be known as CrissCross Binding but let's not split hairs or threads. This one is a beauty combining the best of western and Japanese bindings resulting in a closed but exposed spine which lies flat when open; a very versatile book that can be used as a journal, sketchbook or even photograph album. 
This workshop is suitable for everyone whether you are a beginner or are looking to learn a new technique.

Stapleford Granary has easy parking.

Doug Mitchell, a highly experienced book conservator, will lead the day, under his guidance and tuition you will learn the basics of book repairs using a variety of cloths, papers, tissues and adhesives. Through a mix of demonstration and practice you will learn how to: Deconstruct a book in a safe and systematic fashion, repair both individual pages and sections, prepare your book should it require resewing, replace the end papers, undertake any repairs to the  cover in order to allow new material to be added.

This day is suitable for all levels of expertise including students new to bookbinding all materials and equipment will be provided, but you will  need to bring with you one or two hard cover cloth bound books, no bigger than A5 and with a stable book block,  (as time is limited), that you are happy to replace the end papers on. 

 Miniature books are always admired and  loved. In this class you will learn how to  scale things down and produce a  selection of beautiful miniature books  that will be fully functioning and useable.  You will make a long stitched leather  bound book as well as some different  hardbound and folded book structures.  These will make ideal gifts, keepsakes,  necklaces or even Christmas tree  decorations.

 All materials will be provided. Stapleford Granary has easy car parking.