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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.