helenHANDMADEBOOKS - Range of Classes

Classes Offered

I hope you enjoy learning about the range of classes available. This is our basic programme and I do add other book and box structures or offer one-off events. All classes are designed for beginners but of course, the more you do, the more confident and dexterous you become. All of the materials and tools are provided for each class so there are no hidden costs.

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	Beginning Bookbinding This 5-week or weekend series is designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the basic skills of bookbinding. We complete four different structures - case bound, quarter bound, concertina and Japanese stab stitch - as well as a lined slipcase in which to store your 'prototype' collection. The styles are carefully chosen so that they each represent a finished project or can be ‘mixed and matched’ to provide a myriad of creative results ensuring you are never again short of a notebook or gift! You finish with your own beautiful collection to use or to refer to as you practice your new skills. All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice. As far as possible, we use easily available tools and materials so that you can put your learning to immediate use but pre-prepared kits will be available should you wish to avail of them.
	The Wrap An alternative or addition to the more traditional books above, this long weekend or 5-week programme explores four more beautiful and versatile structures as well as more advanced box-making. Styles include long stitch, Islamic-style, Wrapper (suitable for use on old and damaged or new books), and Posh Paper (after the Dos Rapporte) all held together in a lined and lidded box All equipment an materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice. As far as possible, we use easily available tools and materials and pre-prepared kits will also be available. You will leave each class with your own unique book along with the skills and instructions to recreate the same project at home ensuring you are never again short of a notebook or gift! This course is suitable for beginners or ideal as a follow on from the Beginning Bookbinding course.
	The Artist's Collection This new long weekend or 5 week course will enable you to make a very versatile collection of books that are designed to show their decorative stitching as well as being very functional. They all lay flat when opened and in use, making them ideal as artist's books for sketching, painting or journalling. The collection, all filled with watercolour paper, consists of two hardbound Long Stitched bindings, a Crossed Structure binding, made with either a leather or washable paper cover and a two sectioned Origata binding. These bindings are all chosen to compliment each other and when completed they will be housed in a matching slipcase in order to display their decorative spines. This course is suitable for beginners, or if you have already completed the Beginning Bookbinding 5 week course this course will enable you to build on your skills, and provide you with a wonderful set of decorative, contemporary books.
	Mixed Media Journal During this one-day class you will learn a 'speedy' leather or vegetarian ‘washable paper’ binding and then construct your own refillable journal with a mixture of papers, envelopes and pockets to suit you, finished off with a matching integral pencil and elastic closure. This structure is ideal as a Travel Journal or Gardening Journal and would also make a fabulous Cookery Journal with places to pop all those quickly-jotted recipes from friends or the treasured notes from family. The choice will be yours on the day. Suitable for beginners
	Japanese Stab bound Box During this one day class you will learn to make a box with a stitched lid, following a traditional Japanese Stab bound pattern. You will have the opportunity to learn how to have a magnetic fastening for your box too. The inside of your box will be covered with beautiful Japanese paper and the outside in a co-ordinating buckram, which is a sturdy book and box covering material, of your choice. You may decide to have the lid and plinth in one colour and the sides in another. Suitable for beginners
	Diamond Longstitch During this one day class you will learn how to make your own journal with a decoratively stitched leather or ‘washable paper’ spine, which includes space for an integral pencil or pen. This is a beautiful, interesting and versatile book structure that opens flat when in use. There will be a variety of coloured threads and a range of cover papers available to choose from including some hand marbled paper. Suitable for beginners
	Single Page Loop Binding Most classes teach techniques for binding a number of sections of pages into a book but of course there is often the need to bind single pages too. During this workshop you will learn how to stitch single pages into a decorative book form. This book lies flat when open and is popular amongst other things as a scrapbook or an artist portfolio. once you've done this class it will be possible to bind anything 2-dimensional into a book form - tiles, slates, sheets of perspex or balsa wood; even paper! Suitable for beginners.
	Japanese-style Album This binding is one of the earliest 'book' shaped bindings dating back to China in the century. Today, these books are used as sketchbooks, notebooks and, with a little extra reinforcement, albums or scrapbooks. During this one day 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! The traditional labelling is a technique which can be transferred to other books. Suitable for beginners.
	Coptic Binding The historic and beautiful 'coptic' binding is a very popular class. The binding allows the book to lie perfectly flat and also to open to 360 degrees, making it popular amongst other things as a journal, travel book or artist sketch book. Also, the exposed spine stitching has enormous visual appeal. During the day you will learn how to prepare the pages for binding as well as decide on your own personal decorative style for board covering before getting to grips with the stitching. You will also have creative input on the appearance of the spine itself. Suitable for beginners.
	Secret Belgian binding 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.