Upcoming Classes
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.
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.
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 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
This long weekend course will enable you, over two and a half days, to make a very versatile collection of books that are designed to show their decorative stitching as well as being very functional. They all lay flat when opened and in use, making them ideal as artist's books for sketching, painting or journalling. The collection, all filled with watercolour paper, consists of two hardbound Long Stitched bindings, a Crossed Structure binding, made with either a leather or a washable paper cover and a two sectioned Origata binding.
These bindings are all chosen to compliment each other and when completed they will be housed in a matching slipcase in order to display their decorative spines.
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 decorative, contemporary books .
All equipment and materials will be provided along with step-by-step demonstration and practice. You will also be provided with most of the the materials to reproduce these books at home.
A lovely hands on session for half term for parents/carers and children to work together to learn bookbinding. Suitable for 6 years old and upwards.
You and your child will be making a small leather soft bound book with stitched spine. The class fee is for one adult and one child however, if you would like to bring more than one child with you please email me to see if there is an additional space.
All materials and equipment is provided along with refreshments and homemade cake.
Stapleford Granary has Car parking.
Learn how to make your own journal with a decoratively stitched leather or ‘washable paper’ spine, which includes space for an integral pencil or pen. 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.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford railway station.
During this 2 day class we will make this wonderful 'very useful' deep box, which has a lift out tray and magnetic fastening lid.
This box has been designed to hold your bookbinding tools or threads but has multiple uses. The internal compartments can be adjusted to suit your needs. 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 with the internal layout, covering and lining materials.
A beautiful selection of papers will be available to choose from as well as co-ordinating buckram, which is a sturdy book and box covering material.
Stapleford granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway Station.
We will spend the morning creating our cyanotypes. Cyanotypes are negative prints of an object, in this instance flowers/plants, in the recognisable ‘blueprint’ colour. Cyanotypes are produced from a camera-less photographic printing process developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, St. John’s College/Cambridge graduate.
Your favourite cyanotype from the morning will be used as the covering material for your hardbound book made after lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a unique one-off personal design for your book/s.
All materials are provided and you will leave with the skills to continue practicing your own cyanotype photography and to reproduce the style of book again at home.
Stapleford Granary has car parking and is within walking distance of Shelford Railway station.
In this one day class you will start with making a hardbound concertina binding and then go onto experiment with adding sections and pockets.
We will be using a range of beautiful papers for the covers and there will be a choice of papers for the internal pages, creating some wonderful unique concertina bindings ready to be filled with artwork, writing or photographs. 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
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 easy car parking
Come along and celebrate 5 years of Helen Handmade books by bringing some of your books, maps or sketchbooks to "Show and Tell' and share an afternoon with likeminded keen bookbinders.
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