Upcoming Classes
During this one day class you will learn to make two decorative chain stitched books, one with a hardbound cover and the second will be bound in either leather or 'washable paper'.
This is a lovely and very practical binding, it has an intricately stitched spine and lays flat when in use making it a very practical book. These would make ideal notebooks, journals or sketchbooks. There will be a range of decorative cover papers and coloured threads to choose from.
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 had easy car parking and is also close to Shelford Railway station.
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.
10am-1pm
£75 (Early Bird save 20% – £60 until Friday 22nd September – use code ‘IAN20’) Click to book on Ian's website.
Suitable for Android and iPhone
We all know the importance of visual content, and how being able to take and edit high quality photos with a smartphone to use on social media is a major advantage for businesses. But when you’re busy running your own business, it’s hard to find the time, and often a ‘quick snap’ will have to do. Come along to this workshop to move away from the ‘quick snap’ to creating awesome content! Or maybe you’re already taking brilliant photos, but want to learn what else your phone can do. Or need help with editing to create your own consistent brand style.
Join Ian for this fun, interactive workshop and learn all about:
There’ll be a chance for you to take your own photos during the break (completely optional, feel free to just eat cake!) which we can edit in the second session.
You’re welcome to stay for more chat and lunch after the workshop officially finishes at 1pm, available to purchase at the cafe.
You’ll leave this workshop able to take high quality photos with your smartphone, knowing how to edit and enhance your images and use them effectively to maximise your impact on Instagram. This workshop is also a great opportunity for you to connect with other like-minded professionals and share ideas and tips.
During this one day class you will learn how to make your own A5 soft leather long stitch sketchbook, filled with Fabriano paper complete with either a leather tie closure or a metal stud. You will have a choice of stitching patterns to make your book more individual.
There will be a range of coloured leathers and coloured threads to choose from.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway station.
Sketchbook Diaries
With Chrissie Nicholls, the author of ‘The Diary of an Artist in Lockdown’.
Learn ways and tricks to document your life visually, using collage, hand lettering, illustration, maps and so much more.This packed workshop will give you the confidence to start recording not just the wonderful things that happen in life, but also the small details and the tricky moments.
We all know journalling is good for our souls and peace of mind but not everyone can sit and write, some of us want to include drawings and some of us speak in images rather than with words. We’ll also cover sketchbook nerves and how to overcome that first mark on the page.
If you can draw, think you can’t draw, haven’t drawn for a while, then this workshop is for you. All levels welcome, everyone will learn something and take away a sketchbook and head full of ideas!
Please bring one of your hand made books with you to use for this workshop.
More information about Chrissie can be found here: www.inkpotandpen.com Instagram @inkpotandpen
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.
*To get the most out of this one day class I would recommend that you have some bookbinding experience and that you have made a 'cased in' book, to enable you to understand how to deconstruct your book for repair.
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.
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.
Learn how to make this wonderful Pop up Book in a slipcase, it is an adaptation of the pop- up book in a box by Hugo Peller, this one was designed by Christine Hammond.
It is an intriguing structure. You will make a quarter bound hardback book and a co-ordinating slipcase before making an outer cover with integrated ribbons. It is this outer case which allows the book to pop-up on opening and when it is put back into the slipcase it will automatically close the lid.
The lid will have magnetic fastenings so there will be lots of new learning opportunities over the course of these two days.
A selection of decorative papers and buckrams will be available for you to choose from. All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice.
This course is not suitable for complete beginners.
Create your own map and turn it into a pop up book
In this two day workshop inksmith and mapmaker Chrissie Nicholls will take you through the journey of making your own unique map.
This workshop is about the art of telling a story in a map; recording an area, a memory, or a made up location. Using traditional and new mapping techniques and elements you will bring together your thoughts to create a very personal piece of work. We will begin with a discussion about maps and their importance to us in our everyday lives. You will design and draw your map working towards a finished piece, when finally you will use a traditional fold to transform your flat map into a pop up one and bind it into a cover.
The days are full of instruction and information as you journey with your map. You’ll be able to bring together drawing, lettering and collage techniques with support, guidance and humour throughout the day. You don’t need to be confident with your drawing or lettering, all that’s needed is just a curious and open mind.
The materials for the workshop are supplied but you are very welcome to bring your own colour pencils, watercolours or pens. We will be in touch a fortnight before the workshop with information about what to bring with you as reference on the day. We have fun in these classes and discussion is encouraged at points through the day so we can learn and be inspired by each other.
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.
Boxes! How we love boxes!
Join me and make your own three tiered lidded box with a lid that closes with a satisfying click due to the incorporation of magnets. Your box will be covered in buckram and the internal trays lined with a Japanese paper of your choosing . 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.
Stapleford Granary has plenty of car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford railway station.
Over the two day weekend you will learn the art of Eco Printing with Jane Goodall. Eco printing is a contemporary printing technique that reveals the hidden colours, forms and textures of leaves and plants.
During the morning on Saturday you will learn the techniques that will enable you to transfer the natural pigments and tannins from the plants to create unique botanical prints on paper. One of these prints will then be used in the afternoon to create a unique, one -off personally designed hardbound book, taught by Helen.
On Sunday you will use these techniques to advance your skills and work with textiles, culminating in creating your own unique and beautiful silk velvet scarf.
This course is suitable for beginners and all materials, tools and equipment required will be provided. You may wish to bring your own apron.
During this new class we will make 3 items, two stationery containers, a pen pot, a memo pad holder, and a post it note book, (not shown in the image).Ideal gifts for the forthcoming festive season
Although we will work to the same template there will be the opportunity to personalise with covering and lining materials. There will be a selection of beautiful papers to choose from including Japanese chiyogami and marbled papers and co-ordinating buckram which is a sturdy book and box covering material.
Stapleford Granary has easy carparking.
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, suitable for beginners.
During this 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. You will learn (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 your box with the covering and lining materials and your choice of thread. Participants will leave with one completed box along with instructions and skills to reproduce another at home.
During this 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.
You will learn (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 your box with the covering and lining materials and your choice of thread.
Participants will leave with one completed box along with instructions and skills to reproduce another at home.
Walk (or skip) beside me into the world of lettering
This workshop is designed for people who wish to explore, play and improve their hand lettering style. It is not a calligraphy class with hours of drills or for calligraphers wanting to brush up their already honed skills, it’s very much a taster class for people wanting to explore and have some fun with lettering. I’ll guide you through some modern day handwriting and calligraphic styles as well as looking at much older scripts and see how we can modernise them.
We will cover quite a lot in this one day workshop so don't expect to be able to 'do' a lettering style perfectly. This is about developing your own style with which to then work with and improve.
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