Bookbinding with Monica Peters

One-day workshop | 10.00 am – 3.30 pm

Discover the pleasure of making your own handmade books in this relaxed, hands-on workshop. Working with simple tools and materials, you'll learn three versatile book structures that provide a foundation for further creative exploration.

Throughout the day you'll make a collection of unique books using new and recycled papers, card, needle, thread and glue. The techniques you’ll learn can be adapted to create journals, sketchbooks, photo albums, recipe books, travel diaries, artist's books, or thoughtful handmade gifts.

No previous experience is required. Suitable for ages 14+.

What you'll learn

During this workshop you will:

• Learn the basic principles of handmade book construction.
• Prepare and fold pages to create different book formats.
• Create three different book structures using:
• Saddle stitch binding – a simple sewn binding ideal for notebooks and journals.
• Japanese stab binding – an elegant exposed-stitch binding suitable for sketchbooks, albums and keepsake books.
• Accordion (zigzag) fold books – a folded book structure perfect for storytelling, collage, drawing, photography and display.
• Gain confidence using basic bookbinding tools and materials.
• Explore ideas for personalising your books through the choice of papers, covers and decorative elements.

By the end of the workshop you'll take home three completed handmade books, together with the skills to continue making your own at home.

Materials

Basic materials and tools will be provided.

To personalise your books, please bring along:

• Card for book covers (new or recycled).
• Plain, coloured or decorative papers for inside pages.
• Magazines or printed papers for collage.
• Photographs, drawings, maps, letters, sheet music or other papers you'd like to incorporate.
• Any favourite decorative papers, threads or lightweight embellishments.

The possibilities are almost endless, and every book will be unique.