summer 2026 | Four all-day, in-person sessions
9:30 am-5:30 pm
Registration coming soon. Please contact me if you are interested.
The girdle book is a Medieval binding structure featuring a long extension of leather which could be attached to a traveler’s belt. The leather extension terminates in a decorative knot.
This workshop will guide students through the construction of a girdle book on the foundation of a typical Medieval binding: Text block sewn on double raised supports; wooden boards shaped all around, with special attention given to the inside spine edge to match the text block’s natural shoulder, then laced on and pegged; sewn primary and decorative endbands, fully-covered in leather and blind-tooled, strap and pin closure, simple bosses at the corners, parchment page markers.
This workshop requires a dremel or drill, plane or rasp, and a 1/4" or 6 mm chisel.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. To complete the material in the time scheduled, it is essential that students should be proficient in sewing on a variety of supports, rounding, backing, measuring for and applying spine linings, and have some experience working with leather. Students should be making sewn books independently, outside a workshop setting. Please contact me if you are unsure if this workshop is the right fit for your current skills, or an appropriate stretch if you're ready for your next challenge.
The goal is to end workshops on time as scheduled, but timing must depend upon the group’s overall speed and skill level. Please be flexible within an hour on workshop ending times.
This is an in-person workshop. Details on travel, lodging, and working in the studio in FAQs
Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.
summer 2026 | Four all-day, in-person sessions
9:30 am-5:30 pm
Registration coming soon. Please contact me if you are interested.
The girdle book is a Medieval binding structure featuring a long extension of leather which could be attached to a traveler’s belt. The leather extension terminates in a decorative knot.
This workshop will guide students through the construction of a girdle book on the foundation of a typical Medieval binding: Text block sewn on double raised supports; wooden boards shaped all around, with special attention given to the inside spine edge to match the text block’s natural shoulder, then laced on and pegged; sewn primary and decorative endbands, fully-covered in leather and blind-tooled, strap and pin closure, simple bosses at the corners, parchment page markers.
This workshop requires a dremel or drill, plane or rasp, and a 1/4" or 6 mm chisel.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. To complete the material in the time scheduled, it is essential that students should be proficient in sewing on a variety of supports, rounding, backing, measuring for and applying spine linings, and have some experience working with leather. Students should be making sewn books independently, outside a workshop setting. Please contact me if you are unsure if this workshop is the right fit for your current skills, or an appropriate stretch if you're ready for your next challenge.
The goal is to end workshops on time as scheduled, but timing must depend upon the group’s overall speed and skill level. Please be flexible within an hour on workshop ending times.
This is an in-person workshop. Details on travel, lodging, and working in the studio in FAQs
Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.
