Day 361/365
It’s almost the Craft Ontario Show! In just a couple of weeks I’ll have a booth at this show in Wychwood Barns here in Toronto alongside an amazing collection of makers and artists!
For details and directions, go here.
Day 353/365
Today I’m talking about opportunities to learn bookbinding. If you missed registering for one of the classes at this weekend’s Etsy: Made in Canada show*, no worries! I’ve got several more chances for you to learn the art and craft of bookbinding.
*I am teaching a now-sold out 1-hour class at the show, free to visitors who managed to snag a spot at the pre-registration, which happened online.
Bookbinding Workshop – Coptic Binding
Learn how to craft your own hand bound, hardcover journal using discarded library books. Deconstruct a book and repurpose it into a new journal, using the coptic stitch to bind the book. Perfect for anyone looking to brush up on their coptic binding skills.
When: Saturday October 17, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Where: Burlington Public Library, Brant Hills Branch 2255 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario
For more information please go here.
Bookbinding Workshop
In this creative class, students will first learn basic expressive techniques to decorate paper and then how to transform this into soft cover hand bound books. This is a hands-on class, everyone will leave with two finished projects.
When: Sunday October 18, 10am – 4pm
Where: Guelph School of Art, 12 Wyndham Street North, Guelph
For more information and to register, please go here.
Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
This workshop will introduce you to the basic process of hand decorating paper for use as book covers, and then how to incorporate it into a hand bound book using the Longstitch Linkstitch technique.
When: Saturday October 24, 10am – 1pm & Sunday December 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.
Hard Cover Arrow-Stitch Journal Workshop
Learn how to craft your own hand bound, hardcover journal. This workshop will introduce you to the tools of the trade, materials, and techniques to make a hard cover book. Using an arrow stitch to bind the book, everyone will leave with a finished project!
When: Saturday November 7, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.
Day 343/365
This past weekend was a whirlwind of bookbinding fun! I was lucky enough to teach two workshops in two different cities to groups of enthusiastic participants!! Everyone was eager to learn and share their creative spirit, while supporting one another to create beautiful pieces.
It’s a lot of work to offer these workshops and I often leave exhausted. But at the same time I’m always fulfilled by the joy on everyone’s faces when they realize what they’ve just made. I’ve been told that I ‘make it look so easy’, but I know the angst of the beginner bookbinder; we all started somewhere. To spend a few hours in concentration, hand crafting a book (which can be a bit challenging at times), and then emerging at the end of the class, holding a finished piece that is uniquely your own. Well, it’s magical!
In short, seeing everyone leave with a smile while clutching their handmade treasures is so gratifying. And I thank everyone who’s ever come out to one of my classes, eager and open to learn!
And of course, a big Thank You to the awesome, amazing organizations that hosted these workshops: Graven Feather and the Burlington Public Library!
If you didn’t get to attend one of these classes but really wish you had, there are more lined up, please see below. (Please note that the Graven Feather workshop sold out last time. So if you’re hoping to join me for the second round of the Arrow Stitch workshop, register early!)
Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Saturday November 7, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.
Coptic Binding Workshop
When: Saturday October 17, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Where: Burlington Public Library, Brant Hills Branch 2255 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario
For more information please go here.
Day 342/365
Did you know I send out a monthly eNewsletter? I write about all sorts of things: my latest projects, creativity tips, upcoming workshops and events, and other fun goodies!
If you’re not already a subscriber, now’s the time to sign up as the September newsletter goes in just a couple of days. If you already subscribe, maybe you know someone who’d love to read about what I do, handbound books, and leading a creative life.
To sign up, just go here and fill out the form.
Day 341/365
Studio Sunday goes on the road today! I’m at Graven Feather giving a workshop on the Arrow Stitch Binding and I’m really looking forward to it! This Queen West gallery/studio is a beautiful and cozy space, perfect for learning a creative skill in a friendly environment!
It’s a sold out event, so if you wanted to join us but missed out, don’t fret. There are other dates coming up this fall, for this workshop and others! Just go here to see a list of scheduled workshops.
Day 340/365
That’s right folks, only 2 weeks till Etsy: Made in Canada!! I’m super excited and have been working away on some new items just for the show. No reveals just yet, only a quick note so you can save the date!
What: Etsy: Made in Canada Toronto
Where: MaRS Building, 101 College Street, Toronto (right by Queens Park subway station)
When: Saturday September 26, 10am – 6pm.
If you want to get a sneak peek at what to expect, take a look at the vendor lookbook for this year’s show here.
And if Toronto isn’t local to you, check out the main Etsy; Made in Canada page to find a show near you! (This show is country-wide, all on the same day!)
Day 336/365
This sunday I’ll be teaching the Arrow Stitch Journal, pictured above, at Graven Feather! It’s a hardcover book with fancy spine-stitching and I walk you through all the steps. It’s easy and fun, I promise!
Since it’s a hands-on class, everyone leaves with a finished project!
What: Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Sunday September 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
Cost: $75, all materials included.
If you aren’t able to make it out on sunday, there is another date for this workshop, and others I’ll be teaching at Graven Feather throughout the fall. Go here for details and to register.
Day 334/365
If you’ve been following my Instagram, or other social media feeds, then you’ll know that one of my favourite processes is to dye paper with indigo. Well, this sunday was no exception as I spent some time at the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, fondly referred to as CBBAG (pronounced ‘cabbage’), where there was an indigo dyeing session. 
It was a small group of creative women, all of us eager to stretch our creative muscles. People dyed paper, fabric, string, yarn, thread and even buttons!! (I contemplated dyeing a bit of my hair, but chickened out in the end). As these things usually go, what felt like an hour was actually 4 and the day came to an end before we knew it.
Some of the results were really gorgeous – I can’t wait to see the projects these gems become!
To read more about my adventures in dyeing paper, go here.
To see some of the things I’ve made previously with hand dyed indigo paper, go here.
Day 331/365
Join me on Sunday September 13 for the next bookbinding workshop at Graven Feather! I’ll be teaching the Arrow Stitch and applying it to a hardcover technique. This is a hands-on class and everyone will leave with a finished project!
What: Hard Cover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Sunday September 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen Street West (by Trinity Bellwoods Park)
Cost: $75, all materials included
For details and to register, go here.
If you’re not able to make it to this workshop, don’t fret! There are plenty more dates to take a workshop with me, just visit the Workshops section of my site.
Day 328/365
I’m pleased to share that I’ll be a vendor at this year’s Craft Ontario Show! I’ll be among some of the finest artisans and artists for the full 3 day show, so mark your calendars and save the date!
What: Craft Ontario’s Craft Show 2015
When: October 9 – 11, 2015
Where: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street, Toronto
For more information please see the show website here.
Sprouts Press 