Leap!

Posted on February 29, 2016 by sproutspress

This is a Studio on a Sunday (on a Monday) post, with a theme: Leap! (because it’s February 29, get it??)

If you’ve followed along here for a while, you’ll know that our Spring 2016 workshop programming is moving along, with some new classes being offered in addition to the favourites. This weekend was no exception, as the Arrow Stitch Workshop took place at Graven Feather on Sunday.

Getting to the theme of this post, Leap, I wanted to take a moment to say a big Thank You to everyone who comes out to my workshops. There are quite a few people new to bookbinding that come out to try their hand at this craft.

While it’s fun and exciting, I realize that it can also be a bit daunting at first. I’m always so proud when, at the end of class, everybody takes a step back and admires the handiwork and craftsmanship they might not have known they were capable of. To me, this is taking a leap; to trust yourself and your abilities. Maybe it isn’t bookbinding for everyone, maybe something else, but taking a leap and learning about yourself (ourselves) is always rewarding and so worth it! Thank you!

To learn more about Sprouts Press workshops, go here.

Bookbinding with Sprouts Press!

Posted on February 19, 2016 by sproutspress

The steps to binding a simple, hand made book:

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A post shared by Sprouts Press ~ Carolyn (@sproutspress)

Some more of the fun I’ve been having over on instagram as part of my local Etsy team’s February challenge! As the caption says, it’s a video of a very basic bookbinding technique, one I teach in all my workshops, to get everyone familiar with the process of making a book from scratch.

To see a list of upcoming workshops, go here.

Upcoming Book Binding Workshops!

Posted on February 12, 2016 by sproutspress

Besides making my own journals and offering them for sale, I also teach my craft at various galleries and art centres across Southern Ontario! Below is a list of what’s coming up. *Please note that ‘Creative Coptic Bookbinding Workshop’ at CBBAG is now full, but I’m offering a variation of it at the Guelph School of Art, on March 6 of this year.

Creative Coptic Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday February 21, 2016. 10am – 5pm
Where: CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), 80 Ward Street, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Sunday February 28, 1pm – 4pm & Sunday April 17, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Hard Cover Coptic Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday March 6, 2016. 10am – 4pm
Where: Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham St. North. Guelph, Ontario.
For more information and to register, go here.

Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm.
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Wordless Wednesday 10.02.16

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Newsletter Sign Up Time!

Posted on February 9, 2016 by sproutspress

The February Sprouts Press newsletter will go out later this week, this is your reminder to subscribe, if you haven’t already. If you’re already a subscriber, and know someone else who might appreciate my notes, why not pass the link along?

I send my newsletters out via email, once a month. While content varies month to month, there’s always a list of upcoming workshops, shows and other goings on. Sometimes there’s even special surprises just for subscribers!!

To subscribe, go here.

A February Challenge!

Posted on February 5, 2016 by sproutspress

I know that I’ve shared a bit about myself here on the blog. But it’s just the basics, the expected ‘about me’ kind of information. This is why I’m pretty excited to share this next bit with you!

For the entire month of February, I’ll be participating alongside my fellow Toronto Etsy Street Team members for a 29-day Instagram challenge! Each day is themed and a bit different from the one before, but combined they’ll bring together everything that is my little company. If you want to get a bigger picture of what my company is about and who I am (really), head over to Instagram and follow along here: @sproutspress.

Hope to see you there!

Studio Sunday (on a monday)

Posted on January 25, 2016 by sproutspress

Yesterday I taught a lovely and talented group of folks the Longstitch/Linkstitch bookbinding technique. It was my first workshop of the year, and I’m so pleased with everyone’s eagerness to learn a new skill, the results were fantastic!If you missed this one and want to join in the fun, check out the other upcoming workshops below. (Yesterdays class will be repeated on March 13 at Graven Feather here in Toronto). There are classes all across Southern Ontario, read on to see if there’s one near you! I also teach a few different bindings, so if you’ve taken one and enjoyed it, why not keep up your skills and take another? As they say; practice makes perfect!

To see a the full list of workshops, with descriptions, updated as new dates are added, go here.

Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop

When: Sunday February 28, 1pm – 4pm & Sunday April 17, 1pm – 4pm

Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Hard Cover Coptic Bookbinding Workshop

When: Sunday March 6, 2016. 10am – 4pm

Where: Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham St. North. Guelph, Ontario.
For more information and to register, go here.

Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm.
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

January Bookbinding Workshop!

Posted on January 21, 2016 by sproutspress

I’m kicking off the 2016 workshop season on January 24, with the Longstitch/Linkstitch class. Join me and learn to how to make a book from scratch, leaving with your very own, hand crafted journal!

What: Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday January 24, 1pm – 4pm & Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm.
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

How to open a Starburst Book Ornament: A Video!

Posted on January 5, 2016 by sproutspress

You asked and I listened! Here’s a quick little video of how to open a Starburst Book Ornament, from Mini Book to Starburst! Easy peasy!!

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A post shared by Sprouts Press ~ Carolyn (@sproutspress)

There are a few of these little guys left, along with some other holiday items, all on sale over in my Etsy shop! See them here.

A Case of The Mondays!

Posted on January 4, 2016 by sproutspress

The holidays are over so it’s back to work! But don’t worry, I don’t actually have a case of ‘The Mondays’*, I love my work! And I’m pretty excited about the plans I’ve made for this year, more to come soon! I’m also pretty pumped for all the good things that will happen that I don’t know about yet. What can I say, I’m one of those weird people who enjoys change and surprises!

In the meantime, I’m still wrapping up the details of 2015 on the business side of Sprouts Press. I’m reminded of some of my favourite pieces from last year, especially this wintry blue Fancy Journal! Perfect for one of the first real days of winter here in Toronto.

*If you don’t know what it means to have a case of ‘the mondays’, you need to watch the movie ‘Office Space’. Seriously, it’s hilarious.