If you’ve been following along, you know that April is a busy month for Sprouts Press. There are many shows and workshops happening, everyone seems to love journaling and sketching this time of the year.
So, today I’ve been working on a new batch of Adventure Journals, just for this month’s shows: Makeology and the Wayzgoose Book Arts Fair!! If you don’t know about these shows, just click the ‘Shows‘ tab along the top menu bar of my site to learn more.
Hope to see you soon!
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!
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.
Today in the studio I’m working on some Mini Book Necklaces for a retailer. They’re tiny, functional, beautiful and inspirational. They are designed to keep your hopes and dreams close to your heart. And, of course, they’re made from reclaimed materials.
To read more about these little gems, and other book jewellery I make, check out a previous blog post here.
This weekend I’ve been working on putting together materials for some new items! This is just a sneak peek after a photoshoot late last week. Stay tuned next week for more info and to see the full items!! Till then, happy Sunday!
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.
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.
This week I’ve introduced some new books to my online shop. There are still some more left to add, but I thought I’d do a quick introduction, since this is what’s happening in the studio today.
These books are all one of a kind Starburst Journals! They make great journals and albums, as the design of the binding allows for the addition of paper ephemera or photos to some of the pages.
See them all here.
Today in the studio, not so much making things. It’s more of a planning and research kind of day, with a cup of tea, my notebook and a few implements (you can never have too many implements).
Organization and inspiration are two of my favourite things; Uppercase magazine has it all this issue! Spending the day inside, out of the cold rain and enjoying the beautiful pages of this magazine and getting excited for 2016.
Today the studio is quiet, as it has been for the last few days while I get some much needed R&R. It’s the time of year when I reflect on what 2015 was all about; what worked, what didn’t, and where I want to take this little company in 2016. 
I’ve got some big plans in the works and I can’t wait to share them with you as they unfold. But for now, I’m enjoying wintery walks, library books, ukulele-ing, and my favourite journals and pens.
Stay tuned for continued, regular blog posts right here, lots of new goodies in the online shop, and lots of social media posts and updates!
I’ve got some great new journal designs finished, just in time for the holidays!!
One of my favourites of the new designs; the Plaid Fancy Coptic Journal (pictured above).
These books are substantial, sturdy, and incredibly tactile. Especially since the covers are plaid fabric!!! Great for cozy sketching or fireside journalling.
You can find these books at the One of a Kind Show here in Toronto. To see my other Fancy Coptic Journals online, go here.
If you plan on attending the One of a Kind Show, don’t forget I’m holding a contest and you could win a pair of free tickets to the show! Otherwise, to purchase discounted tickets online, go here.
Sprouts Press 