SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS
March 9 - May 11, 2027 | 10 online sessions.
6 - 8:30 pm Eastern | 5 - 7:30 pm Central | 4 - 6:30 pm Mountain | 3 - 5:30 pm Pacific
Workshop fee includes all supplies.
The basic structure of a fine leather binding has changed little over the past 300 years. The text block is sewn onto supports, the spine carefully shaped, and the boards laced on. The book is covered in leather that has been precision-pared for protection, flexibility, and a sumptuous presentation.
Students will complete one full leather binding with edge-to edge doublures, double-core multi-color sewn endbands, suede flyleaves, and champhered boards. There are many ways to execute each of the steps required to craft a full leather fine binding. For this workshop our doublures will incorporate a leather hinge rather than the hinge being part of the endsheet construction. A temporary section will reserve space in the joint and for the thickness of the doublure.
A partial list of required tools: Scharfix, spokeshave, paring knife + strop.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. Prerequisites: Leather Binding I: Fundamentals, II: Raised Bands, and III: Fine Binding or equivalent. Students should be making full leather fine bindings 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.
Workshop fee includes a supply packet including most supplies: goatskin for covering, materials for the flyleaves and doubures, sewing supports and thread, endband silk, supplies for endband cores, book board, various paper and cloth linings, and a book in sheets comparable to those available on this site.
Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.
Thursday April 1-Monday April 5, 2027
Two spaces remaining.
Five in-person sessions | 9:30 am-5:30 pm instruction, with open studio until 7:30 pm
Students will create ten binding structure models. These models will remain unfinished so the engineering remains visible for future reference.
Structures include: Tacketed binding, Crossed Structure, Ethiopian, Medieval, Laced-on boards, Scaleboard, Split Board, Case Binding, Sewn Boards, Non-Adhesive Paper Case.
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 constructing reinforced endsheets, marking up, sewing on a variety of supports, rounding, backing, measuring for and applying spine linings. 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.
Workshop fee includes all supplies. Paper for the text blocks will be mailed in advance to be folded and pressed.
This workshop requires a dremel or drill, plane or rasp, and a 1/4" chisel. Students who will not be flying are encouraged to bring their own, familiar sewing frame and small finishing press.
A forty-five page illustrated guide outlining key structural features of each binding, and providing numerous references for further study is available, print on demand from Lulu.com.
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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.
Thursday Feb 25-Monday March 1, 2027
Three spaces remaining.
Five in-person sessions | 9:30 am-5:30 pm instruction, with open studio until 7:30 pm
The basic structure of a fine leather binding has changed little over the past 300 years. The text block is sewn onto supports, the spine carefully shaped, and the boards laced on. The book is covered in leather that has been precision-pared for protection, flexibility, and a sumptuous presentation.
In this workshop, students will further develop their binding and leather-working expertise including sewing on flattened cords or frayable tapes, rounding, backing, paring, and covering. New skills introduced: the addition of false raised bands to a hollow back, and paring and placement of leather corners on a half-leather binding.
These are basic techniques all binders should be familiar with, and ready to execute when the project demands. This workshop is also an excellent review for someone who would like to refresh their skills.
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 constructing reinforced endsheets, marking up, sewing on a variety of supports, rounding, backing, measuring for and applying spine linings, paring. Students should be making leather bindings independently, outside a workshop setting. Some homework may be required between sessions.
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 supply packet included in the workshop fee includes goatskin for covering, paper for endsheets, sewing supports and thread, endband silk, supplies for endband cores, book board, various paper and cloth linings, and a book in sheets comparable to those available on this site. Paper for the text blocks will be mailed in advance to be folded and pressed.
A partial list of required tools: Scharfix, spokeshave, paring knife + strop. Students who will not be flying are encouraged to bring their own, familiar sewing frame and finishing press.
Workshop fee includes complete supplies with a book in sheets comparable to those available on this site.
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.Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.
Private instruction for individuals and groups on topics of mutual interest is available in person, online, and in your lab or studio.
I am prepared to teach the skills and techniques covered in any of my workshops.
The fee is $100 an hour, billed in half hour increments. Any student supplies, supplies needed by the instructor for a demonstration, excessive preparation time, and travel expenses will be billed in addition.
Online private instruction sessions are not recorded.
There will be limited availability for online private instruction outside the months I am teaching online workshops, roughly March-May and late September-early December.
Please contact me to arrange topic and dates before making payment.
Leather Binding Techniques: Fine binding sewn on stubs plus edge decoration intensive
June 8-13, 2027
9:30 am-5:30 pm instruction, with open studio until 7:30 pm
The basic structure of a fine leather binding has changed little over the past 300 years. The text block is sewn onto supports, the spine carefully shaped, and the boards laced on. The book is covered in leather that has been precision-pared for protection, flexibility, and a sumptuous presentation.
This workshop will begin by crafting a library of edge decoration samples. The text block will be sewn on stubs; leather-jointed endpapers and hand-sewn, multi-colored endbands will be added; and forwarding and covering will continue for rounded, backed, full leather fine binding. Additional decorative techniques will be incorporated as time permits.
A partial list of required tools: Scharfix, spokeshave, paring knife + strop.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. Prerequisites: Leather Binding I: Fundamentals, II: Raised Bands, and III: Fine Binding or equivalent. Students should be making leather bindings 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.
Workshop fee includes complete supplies with a book in sheets comparable to those available on this site.
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.
Holiday and Every Day: Another quick notebook
This is a one-session workshop.
Please select Thursday, December 3 or Tuesday, December 8
6-8 pm Eastern Time / 5-7 pm Central / 4-6 pm Mountain / 3-5 pm Pacific
This workshop is fourth in an annual series of easy to construct notebooks for last minute holiday gifts or for yourself.
This year’s topic is the Sewn Boards Binding with Sewn-In Wrapper.
This variation on the sewn boards binding is based on a model by Gary Frost in the University of Iowa Library. Before sewing, a long strip of card is hinged around the one of the pair of thin folded boards that start and end the book. After sewing, the card is folded around the front board, across the spine of the book, and again around the rear board to rest inside the fold. A spine lining provides support. The result is a lightweight, flexible book protected by a stiff cover. The wrapper can unfold as a wide panorama, presenting book arts possibilities.
Once you learn the technique, you can construct this book in not much more than hour, and a several in an afternoon. Start using your notebook as soon as the adhesive is dry or make a mountain of them to have a selection of handmade gifts always ready.
In this workshop you will make one notebook. Your finished book plus detailed instructions will be a valuable reference for future work.
Note: Students must provide their own supplies for this workshop. Scroll down for the tool and supply list.
This is a fast-paced workshop for students with some experience making sewn bindings, and with gluing up and lining spines.
Download workshop handout here prior to the session.
The online format is a series of live tutorials via Zoom. The tutorials are recorded and the videos are available to registered students for 90 days. Students need not be present for the live sessions. A Zoom link will be sent the week before class. Please check your spam filter if you have not received the link within 24 hours of the session.
Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.