My journey of 29.5 steps or minutes

This workshop is about slowing down and drawing your attention into the micro world around you where we notice the magic, even in the mundane. In our haste what do we overlook?

Before the workshop you’ll be sent details of how to record in detail and take notes of a short walk of 29.5 steps, the length of the moon’s cycle. Or seeing what you notice in 29.5  minutes

In the morning of day one of the workshop you will be making a landscape  A6 Leather Long Stitch Sketchbook with Helen, lined with a decorative Japanese paper and filled with heavyweight Fabriano paper. 

In the afternoon and on day two we will be bringing together the details of your short walk of 29.5 steps  or your 29.5 minutes (29.5 days is the length of the moon cycle) to record all the tiny details you’ve noticed.

We’ll use lettering, collage, colour, drawing to expand the walk/time over pages in your Long Stitch sketchbook capturing the magical beauty in what could have so easily been forgotten and missed.

Suitable for beginners.

Bennell Court has car parking

 I came across a rather lovely book many years ago when in Italy on holiday, which has inspired this  small journal. It will have hand torn pages with deckled edges -perhaps a new skill to learn, and will be housed in its own portfolio case making it a very versatile book that can be used as a journal, sketchbook or general notebook.

As with other classes, this workshop is taught so that you can repeat at home.

All equipment and materials required will be provided along with step by step demonstration and practice. This class is suitable for beginners.

Bennell Court has plenty of car parking spaces.

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.

Bennell Court is a lovely venue with car parking

In this half day class you will learn how to make a hand stitched,  hardbound book. An opportunity to dip your toes into the wonderful world of bookbinding.

This is an ideal class for those who would like to start  bookbinding or would like to attend the Book and Page repair day. We will be using a choice of beautiful papers for endpapers and buckram for covers.  

You will leave with the skills and materials to reproduce this again at home.  

All materials, tools and equipment will be provided. Suitable for beginners

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. 

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.

*Please note - 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. 

 This  new Batwing Box is a fabulous box  structure to add to your collection of  boxes or to make as a first box. This is a  beautiful box to both make and use. It is  quite ingenious and opens up to reveal  a  rectangular tray  - useful for  transporting your  bookbinding tools or  using on your desk.  This box was  originally developed by Bep  van  Gesteren. You will have a selection of  beautiful  papers, buckrams and ribbons  to choose from thus creating an individual box for you to go home with.

As with other classes, this  workshop is taught so that you will leave  with the skills to be able to make another at home.

All equipment and materials required will be provided, along with step by step demonstration and practice. Suitable for beginners.

Bennell Court has easy car parking

Join me and make this new very special box with a drawer and lid that closes with a satisfying click due to the incorporation of magnets. Ideal for keeping stationery in or indeed any treasured possessions.

Your box will be covered in  buckram and the inside 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 the skills to reproduce another at home.

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

This is best suited to those of you with previous box making experience.

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

 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.

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

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

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.  

Bennell Court has car parking.

 During this one day class you will explore the possibilities of the wonderful Crossed Structure binding. You will have the opportunity to make 2 books one with a leather,  or a vegetarian alternative, cover and one with a robust paper cover. The spine stitching is visible on this binding and you can add decorative stitching to personalise the covers. This is a very versatile book structure as it lays completely flat when open making it ideal for a variety of uses. All materials and tools are provided along with step by step demonstration and practice.

This class is suitable for beginners.

Bennell Court has plenty of car park spaces

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.