helenHANDMADEBOOKS upcoming events

Crossed Structure Bindings, Wednesday, April 29th (29 Apr 2026)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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

Open Studio Session. Thursday, April 30th (30 Apr 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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.

Secret Belgian Binding. Wednesday, May 6th (06 May 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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.

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 easy car parking.

Clamshell Box, Thursday, May 7th (07 May 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

A clamshell box is a beautiful enclosure to learn and use. It is practical as a casing for books but also for prints, drawings, photographs 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.

Bennell Court is a lovely venue with car parking.

New The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday May 9th & Sunday, May 10th, 10-4.30pm (09 May 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

This weekend course will enable you to make this beautiful collection of 4 square books with stitched spines, filled with heavyweight papers and finished with an elastic closure. They all lay flat when opened and in use, making them ideal as artist's books for sketching, painting or journalling.

This collection will be housed in a co-ordinating box with a lift off lid.

This course is suitable for beginners, or if you have already completed the Beginning Bookbinding course this will enable you to build on your skills, and provide you with a wonderful set of contemporary books .

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

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

Dos-à-Dos. Wednesday, May 13th (13 May 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

"In bookbinding, a dos-à-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 -à -Dos book.

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

Batwing Box, Thursday May 14th (14 May 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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

Open Studio Session. Friday, May 15th (15 May 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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?

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.

Open Studio Session. Tuesday, June 9th (09 Jun 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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?

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.

Mapping your World with the Turkish fold. Wednesday, June 10th. (10 Jun 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Create your own map and turn it into a pop up book

In this one 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 day is 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.

More information about Chrissie can be found here: www.inkpotandpen.com Instagram @inkpotandpen

Bennell Court is a lovely venue with car parking.

Coptic Binding. Thursday, June 11th. (11 Jun 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

The historic and beautiful 'coptic' binding is a very popular class.
The binding allows the book to lie perfectly flat, 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.

Bennell Court is a lovely venue with Car Parking.

Diamond Long Stitch Journal, Sunday, June 14th (14 Jun 2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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.

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

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

Book and Page Repairs, with Doug Mitchell. Wednesday, June 17th. (17 Jun 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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.

Make a Punching Cradle and Quarter Binding, Thursday June 18th (18 Jun 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

A Punching cradle is such a useful addition to your bookbinding tool kit. This one is made in 3 parts and folds down for easy storage and transportation, yet it is very robust and stable in use. You will spend the morning making your punching cradle and the afternoon putting it to use, making your quarter bound book with a chain stitched spine. 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.

Suitable for beginners.

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

Open Studio Session. Friday, June 19th (19 Jun 2026)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

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?

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.

New The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday June 27th & Sunday, June 28th (27 Jun 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

This collection will be housed in a co-ordinating box with a lift off lid.

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

Bennell Court has easy car parking.

Show and Tell Session. Sunday, July 5th (05 Jul 2026)

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Inspired by the last Show and Tell session and to celebrate 7 years of Helen Handmade books, I would like to arrange another get together and challenge you to make something with the theme of New Beginnings.

These could be literal, imaginary or metaphorical new beginnings whatever inspires you! - 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 meet from 2.30 -4.30pm there will be a range of cakes and drinks and I will set up the studio with a run of tables in the centre of the room to display all your creations and space to chat and view these.

helenHANDMADEBOOKS upcoming events

Crossed Structure Bindings, Wednesday, April 29th (29 Apr 2026)

Open Studio Session. Thursday, April 30th (30 Apr 2026)

Secret Belgian Binding. Wednesday, May 6th (06 May 2026)

Clamshell Box, Thursday, May 7th (07 May 2026)

*New* The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday May 9th & Sunday, May 10th, 10-4.30pm (09 May 2026)

Dos-à-Dos. Wednesday, May 13th (13 May 2026)

Batwing Box, Thursday May 14th (14 May 2026)

Open Studio Session. Friday, May 15th (15 May 2026)

Open Studio Session. Tuesday, June 9th (09 Jun 2026)

Mapping your World with the Turkish fold. Wednesday, June 10th. (10 Jun 2026)

Coptic Binding. Thursday, June 11th. (11 Jun 2026)

Diamond Long Stitch Journal, Sunday, June 14th (14 Jun 2026)

Book and Page Repairs, with Doug Mitchell. Wednesday, June 17th. (17 Jun 2026)

Make a Punching Cradle and Quarter Binding, Thursday June 18th (18 Jun 2026)

Open Studio Session. Friday, June 19th (19 Jun 2026)

*New* The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday June 27th & Sunday, June 28th (27 Jun 2026)

Show and Tell Session. Sunday, July 5th (05 Jul 2026)

New The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday May 9th & Sunday, May 10th, 10-4.30pm (09 May 2026)

New The 4 Seasons Collection. Weekend - Saturday June 27th & Sunday, June 28th (27 Jun 2026)