Studio Sunday

Posted on January 22, 2017 by sproutspress

While I’m taking a day off today, yesterday I was at CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild). I was teaching folks the joys of deconstructing old books and making them into new ones using the coptic stitch.

If you’ve missed the first couple of workshops for 2017, don’t worry, there are more coming up! Just visit the workshops section of my website to see a full list. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer your questions via email (sproutspress@yahoo.ca). See you in the bindery!

Studio Sunday

Posted on January 15, 2017 by sproutspress

Today I’m over at the Guelph School of Art teaching folks the ins and outs of coptic bookbinding. Look at those gorgeous windows and all that natural light!!

If you missed out this time around, don’t worry, I’ve got more bookbinding workshops planned to keep you busy during these cold winter months! Take a look at my workshop schedule to see if there’s one near you!

Latest Projects

Posted on January 13, 2017 by sproutspress

I’ve been adding a lot of new journals to my etsy shop lately. One of my favourites, this time of year, is this little wintery gem. I love the soft icy (ice-creamy?) colours and that the gold is metallic.

DETAILS
This book is part of the Fancy Coptic series, in size small. As always, the closure features reclaimed leather and brass hardware. Along the spine a thick protective paper is sewn for durability but also to keep any bits of paper you save between the pages from falling out. As with all my coptic bound books; it lays flat when open. Sketchers and left handed folks rejoice!!

See it here.

Deconstructed & Reclaimed: A Coptic Bookbinding Workshop

Posted on January 12, 2017 by sproutspress

I’ll be teaching the Coptic stitch in this workshop, I’d love if you joined me! This is the perfect class for those wanting to learn how to make a hardcover book, without the need for a book press.

Learn how to craft your own hand-bound hardcover journal using discarded books. This workshop will introduce you to the tools of the trade, materials, and techniques to deconstruct a book and repurpose it into a new journal, using the Coptic stitch to bind the book.

When: Saturday January 21, 2017 10am – 5pm
Where: CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), 80 Ward St. Toronto
For more information and to register, go here.

Coptic Bookbinding Workshop!

Posted on January 9, 2017 by sproutspress

Join me this sunday for a coptic bookbinding workshop in Guelph! (details below photo)

What: Coptic Bookbinding Workshop
When: Sunday January 15, 2017 10am – 4pm
Where: Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham Street North, Guelph

For more information and to register, go here.

Studio Sunday

Posted on January 8, 2017 by sproutspress

After a bit of a break from it all, Sprouts Press is back and ready for a new year!To start things off I’d like to introduce my newest retailer; Twist Creations in Quebec!! This is a lovely boutique, with two locations, that I’m so thrilled to be a part of! They have both sizes of leather journals, in all the colours.

In other news the first Sprouts Press Newsletter for 2017 will be going out this week. If you’re not already a subscriber why not give it a try? I send one email per month about bookbinding, upcoming classes & shows, latest projects, ideas to use your journals, and sometimes contests or giveaways. Sound like fun? Go here to subscribe!

Boxing Week Sale!

Posted on December 28, 2016 by sproutspress

Hope you’ve all had a chance to take some time for yourself and reflect on 2016, while thinking ahead to the new year just around the corner. To make things a bit lighter and a bit brighter, I’ve decided to hold a sale! **BOXING WEEK SALE!** 20% off everything with code NEWYEARNEWJOURNAL at checkout! Start 2017 with a brand-new, hand-crafted, unique journal! Nothing like a clean slate to start the year!!

Sale ends January 1, 2017. Applicable to Sprouts Press’ etsy shop only, discount applied before shipping and taxes.

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!

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.