Studio Sunday (on a Monday!)

Posted on December 14, 2015 by sproutspress

Yesterday was my last bookbinding workshop for 2015! I’m so happy with the response these classes have received, and how eager people in learning to make their own handbound books!!With that in mind, I’m pleased to announce that there are some new workshops for 2016! I’ve kept everyone’s favourites and added a couple of new classes (and a new location!) to the roster. While you don’t have to have any prior bookbinding experience to take my classes, they are great chance to dust off your bookbinding skills and get a refresher in technique.

Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday January 24, 1pm – 4pm & Sunday March 13, 1pm – 4pm.
Where: Graven Feather 906 Queen Street West, Toronto

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

Creative Coptic Bookbinding Workshop

When: Sunday February 21, 2016. 10am – 5pm

Where: CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), 80 Ward Street, Toronto

Hard Cover Coptic Bookbinding Workshop

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

Where: Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham St. North. Guelph, Ontario.

Pro Tip: Workshops are a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday shopping list, especially if you plan a day of it and take the class together! (Most of my Toronto workshops start at 1pm, why not go for brunch and then a class?)

Make something for the holidays!

Posted on December 11, 2015 by sproutspress

Join me for a fun book making workshop this sunday! Read on for details.

This sunday I’m back at Graven Feather teaching another bookbinding workshop, just in time for holiday giving!!

Learn how to design and craft your own hand bound journal, to keep or gift! 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. No previous art experience is required.

When: Sunday December 13, 1pm – 4pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
Cost: $65, materials included.

For more information and to register, go here.

Newsletter Sign Up Time!

Posted on November 9, 2015 by sproutspress

The November eNewsletter is going out in the next couple of days! If you’re not already a subscriber, now is the time to sign up! This edition is a good one; lots of holiday tips and craft show goodies!!

To sign up, go here.

Bookbinding Workshop!

Posted on October 31, 2015 by sproutspress

Next saturday I’m teaching the Hardcover Arrow Stitch Journal workshop at Graven Feather! That’s just one week away, if you’re interested sign up soon as spots are going fast.

What: Hardcover Arrow Stitch Journal Workshop
When: Saturday November 7, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto
Cost: $75, materials included

For more information and to register, go here.

Bookbinding Workshop!

Posted on October 22, 2015 by sproutspress

Join me this saturday for a fun morning of bookbinding! I’ll be teaching the Longstitch/Linkstitch binding at Graven Feather.

First we’ll decorate papers, then bind them into a journal. Everyone leaves with a finished project.

What: Longstitch/Linkstitch Bookbinding Workshop
When: Saturday October 24, 10am – 1pm
Where: Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West, Toronto

For more information and to register, go here.

Opportunities

Posted on September 24, 2015 by sproutspress

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.

Big Thank You!

Posted on September 15, 2015 by sproutspress

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.

The Studio on a Sunday

Posted on September 13, 2015 by sproutspress

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.

Bookbinding at Graven Feather: a Workshop!

Posted on September 8, 2015 by sproutspress

Day 336/365This 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.

Learn the Arrow Stitch

Posted on September 3, 2015 by sproutspress

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.