Upcoming Classes
In this last and more festive Open Studio Session of 2024, as well as offering my usual support and advice and space for you to work on your own projects, if you would like to, we will be making some origami Christmas decorations.
As usual please do bring along your projects to work on.
The Sewn Boards Binding, brought to prominence by American binder Gary Frost, is the subject of many conversations and variations and with good reason. As well as being an adaptation of ancient Ethiopian binding techniques it also looks 'bang up-to-date' with its crisp edges and streamlined opening ability. It is a great extension to existing binding skills and is also a very helpful starting point for new binders as it does not require the traditional casing-in process! 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.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station.
"In bookbinding, a dos-Ã -dos binding (from the French meaning "back-to-back") is a binding structure in which two separate books are bound together such that the fore edge of one is adjacent to the spine of the other, with a shared lower board between them serving as the back cover of both. When shelved, the spine of the book to the right faces outward, while the spine of the book to the left faces the back of the shelf; the text of both works runs head-to-tail." (Straight from Wikipedia!)
We will be stitching two multi sectioned book blocks to make our Dos -Ã -Dos book.
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.
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 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.
In this half day class you will learn how to make a hardbound, hand stitched, quarter bound 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. We will be using a choice of beautiful papers 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
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station
Join me over 2 days to make your own unique, tiered, hexagonal box that closes with a satisfying click due to the incorporation of magnets. There are also magnets that hold the box together, in a different way, when opened making a diamond shape at the top. This is rather challenging to show in the photographs!
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. Please note - there is more cutting of grey board than usual, in this box making class.
All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice.
*Not suitable for beginners*
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford railway station.
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.
Inspired by the last Show and Tell session to celebrate 5 years of Helen Handmade books, I would like to arrange another get together and challenge you to make something with the theme of Journeys.
These could be literal, imaginary or metaphorical journeys - Hopefully you will be inspired to make either a book, box or map and bring them to this "Show and Tell' and share some time with likeminded, keen bookbinders.
I suggest we have drinks and cake and meet from 11am - 1pm with the same set up as before, a large run of tables in the centre of the room to display all your creations and space to chat and view these.
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. We will be using a choice of beautiful papers for endpapers and buckram for covers.
This is a fun class for those of you who would like to learn how to make a multi sectioned shaped book.
Just a word of warning there is more cutting involved than usual, as you will be cutting both the boards and pages and will be able to design your own heart shaped template, or you can follow the one I will be using.
As with other classes, this workshop is taught so that you can repeat at home.
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.
During this one day class you will learn how to make your own A5 soft leather long stitch sketchbook, lined with a beautiful Japanese paper.
These gorgeous books will be filled with a heavy weight Fabriano paper and finished with either a leather tie closure or a metal stud.
You will have the opportunity to design your own stitching patterns to make your book more individual but don't worry there will be examples to help you. The photograph shows a range of beautiful books made in a class.
There will be a selection of coloured leathers and coloured threads to choose from.
The paper used for the sections makes these ideal as both sketchbooks or journals and perfect for using if you come to the Sketchbook Diaries Class with Chrissie Nicholls.
Suitable for beginners.
During this one-day class you will create your own unique, multi sectioned artist's journal. The sections of these journals will be filled with a mixture of beautiful papers graded from off white to black, with each section wrapped in a decorative paper which makes this exposed spine both colourful and interesting. This journal has a wrap around soft cover and lays completely flat when in use making it ideal for journalling or sketching.
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.
Learn to make this new version of a favourite journal which has a decoratively stitched leather or ‘washable paper’ spine, stitched using two colours of thread, and an elastic closure. 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.
This workshop is suitable for everyone whether you are a beginner or are looking to learn a new technique.
In this one day class you will learn how to make a hardbound, hand stitched, half bound book. An opportunity to dip your toes into the wonderful world of bookbinding or expand your skills.
We will be using a choice of beautiful papers for covers and buckram or bookcloth for the spine and corners.
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.
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.
Stapleford Granary has plenty of car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford railway station.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway station..
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.
