Upcoming Classes
Learn how to make The Elbum, designed by Ben Elbel, a fun and clever album structure which holds its pages by gripping them into a series of articulated narrow pockets. This is a treasure of paper engineering, this project is also a great introduction to concertina folding by hand as it requires precision folding. There will be an opportunity to practice with making a prototype before moving onto your finished Elbum. This is ideal if you are looking for a book structure that will hold individual pages.
This class is suitable for beginners as well as those with some bookbinding experience.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station
Clamshell Box This is a beautiful enclosure to learn and use. It is practical as a casing for books but also for prints, drawings, photographs, music sheets and other flat items. It consists of two three-sided trays that fold elegantly into one another and when made, it is a delight to hear the air rush out of the box as you close it thereby leaving the contents safe and protected from dust.
During this one day class we will construct a clamshell box using a mixture of buckram and decorative papers, you will leave with your completed box and for 'homework' the materials to make a hardbound book that will fit into it.
This class is best suited to those with some previous experience of bookbinding or box making.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station.
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. All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice.
Stapleford Granary has a car park and is close to Shelford railway station.
Would you like the opportunity to work on your own project but struggle with motivation or space at home? Or just want some company of like minded bookbinders?
If so, this is an ideal chance to spend time in my studio where you can use my tools and equipment to work on a project of your choice using your own materials. However if you would like me to prepare any boards for you do let me know in advance and I can advise you of the cost.
There are a range of presses and sewing frames available to use as well as my usual tools kits and cutting mats.
I will be on hand to offer some guidance but this is not a teaching session - as I am likely to be working on my own project, or preparing for forthcoming classes alongside you.
Boxes! How we love boxes! Join me and make your own lidded box that closes with a satisfying click due to the incorporation of magnets. A selection of decorative papers will be available to choose from as well and co-ordinating buckram which is a sturdy book and box covering material. You will learn through demonstration and practice the all important skills of measuring, cutting and covering. Participants will leave with one completed box along with instructions and skills to reproduce another at home.
All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice.
Walk (or skip) beside me into the world of lettering
Playful Lettering Part 2
In this workshop we’ll take the lessons learnt from the Playful Lettering workshop and take a saying or short piece of writing to script in our favourite style and learn how to take this forward to an artists’ book with cutout lettering.
The workshop will start by working with our chosen playful lettering style and refine it, looking at the best way to join letters so that they run well together when cut out.
The design of the lettering will be considered and planned for the best visual impact, along with visual imagery to include into your artists’s book to complement the writing.
You will leave with a beautiful concertina artists’ book encased in a loose paper cover to complete your piece.
To join the Playful Lettering Part 2 workshop you will have needed to complete a Playful Lettering workshop.
More information about Chrissie can be found here: www.inkpotandpen.com Instagram @inkpotandpen
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway station.
Over this full weekend of bookbinding you will learn the techniques to complete four beautiful book structures along with a lined slipcase to hold your treasured prototype collection. All of the skills you will learn can be 'mixed and matched' so that you have a myriad of design possibilities after the course. You will make a Quarter Bound Single Section, a Hard Bound Journal, along with a Japanese Stab stitch book and a Concertina binding, finishing the weekend with a lined slipcase.
All materials and equipment are included in the fee and you will also be provided with most of the the materials to reproduce these books at home.
Stapleford Granary has a car park and is within walking distance from Shelford Railway Station
Most classes teach techniques for binding a number of signatures into a book but of course there is often the need to bind single pages too, particularly amongst artists and printmakers.
During this one-day class you will learn how to prepare and make a ‘loop’ binding. The chief value of this binding is that it holds single pages in a traditional book format. It lies flat when open and is a beautiful structure in which to present prints, photographs or other flatwork. It is also popular as a journal, travel book or artist sketchbook. It is a structure which can be made at home with minimal equipment, and makes a fabulous gift. 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.
Stapleford Granary has car parking
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 an 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.
Lots of appropriate cover papers will be available but if you have a special one in mind, please bring it along.
Suitable for all, whether you are a beginner or wanting to learn a new book structure.
Stapleford Granary has a car park and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station.
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 180 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.
In this 2 day workshop you will be guided by Chrissie Nicholls - Inkpot and Pen to create a small artists’ book that holds flowerpots filled with our closest family and friends, seeds of hope, words of wisdom, rays of sunshine, positive thoughts and we’ll also sieve all the negativity into the compost bin! As we walk around your life’s garden we’ll discover ways to create dawn light and calm moonlight into our daily routines. We’ll also work out how to make the grey dull rain filled days have a positive twist to them!
You will be able to work with collage, drawings, and painting, making envelopes, cut outs and pop ups. You can bring pressed flowers from your own garden, your own bits of ephemera or memories, perhaps some photographs and we’ll create little vegetable and flower patches of happiness and sunshine all captured in a little book that you can keep with you always.
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