St.Paddy’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2016 by sproutspress

Despite the fact that today is St.Paddy’s day, I have to admit that I really do like green. It’s one of my favourites! So, I’ve gathered a nice selection of my green items to share, see below for details.

Clockwise from top left:
–Medium Cloth Journal with Ribbon Bookmark
–Elegant Quick Notes in Mint Polka Dots
–Journal Adventure Kits
–Ex Libris Handprinted Bookplates in Emerald, Rectangle
–DIY Bookbinding Kit in Green & Cream
–The Everyday Notebook with Leaf Pattern
–Ex Libris Handprinted Bookplates in Emerald, Square
–Elegant Quick Notes in Green & Blue Floral
–Fancy Coptic Journal with Reclaimed Leather & Brass Closure, Green with Gold Dots

The Longstitch/Linkstitch Technique

Posted on March 8, 2016 by sproutspress

Spend a sunday afternoon learning this gorgeous bookbinding stitch and make your own journal!
I’ll be at Graven Feather this sunday teaching a bookbinding workshop; everyone will learn the tools of the trade, make their own cover and bind it all into a journal to take home. If this sounds like fun to you, click the link below for details and to register.

What: Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop (see picture for examples)
When: Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
*Appropriate for beginners and those wanting to brush up on their bookbinding skills.

To learn more about this workshop and to register, please go here.

Can’t make it on Sunday? No prob, I’ve got more workshops coming up! Go to the Workshops section of my site for details.

The Studio on a Sunday (On a Monday)

Posted on March 7, 2016 by sproutspress

On Sunday I was in a different studio, out of the city, teaching my craft to a lovely group of folks! This is the Guelph School of Art, and it is one fun place to teach! To the left is a wall (yes, a wall) of art supplies for every type of art imaginable! To the right you can just make out the drying rack for printmaking and other 2D art that might need to lay flat to dry. And those windows! Letting in all that natural light!!

This was a coptic binding workshop and everyone left with a finished project. Covers they designed and collaged, then bound into a nice little hardcover book using the coptic stitch. As I tell everyone who takes my classes: if you want to retain what you’ve learned, make another book within 1 week. Practice makes perfect!!

I have more workshops coming up, the next one is this sunday here in Toronto at Graven Feather. Take a look at the Workshops section of my site for details, more are in the works and will be announced shortly!

Newsletter Sign-Up Time!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by sproutspress

The Sprouts Press monthly eNewsletter goes out this Thursday! You have until wednesday evening to sign up!!

I write to subscribers about my latest projects, inspirations, ideas for using your handbound journals, upcoming events and other goings-on.

Wanna join the fun? Go here to subscribe.

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.

New Items!

Posted on February 26, 2016 by sproutspress

Good news: Craft Arts Market is re-stocked and ready for all you book-lovers, journal writers and sketchbook fiends!

If this isn’t your local handmade/hand crafted items shop, it’s totally worth a day trip to St.Catherines to check them out. Make sure to leave enough time for a fresh, vegan doughnut from their next door neighbour (seriously, don’t forget this part).

To see a list of Sprouts Press current retailers, go here.

Arrow Stitch Bookbinding Workshop!

Posted on February 25, 2016 by sproutspress

Have you been watching the flurry of bookbinding workshops I’ve been hosting, wishing you were participating and learning how to make your own books?

Good news! This sunday is the next one; Arrow Stitch Bookbinding Workshop (see picture) and it’s here in the city! We’ll be making the hardcover version, and then learning how to stitch it all together.

To learn more & register, go here. (Only a couple of spots left!)

Wordless Wednesday 24.02.16

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Bookbinding with Sprouts Press!

Posted on February 19, 2016 by sproutspress

The steps to binding a simple, hand made book:

View this post on Instagram

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.