Request a workshop

I am happy to teach by request in a location of your choice, whether that’s here on Iona or travelling farther afield to your location. Listed below are some ready-to-go workshop topics, or get in touch with your own ideas and we’ll work together to sculpt a bespoke workshop suited to your topics, interests, and skill levels. If you’d like to book one of these for your group please contact me for availability and further information.

Entry level

These workshops are all appropriate for beginner bookbinders, whether that’s people with absolutely no experience at all or those with some experience looking to pick up new skills. All materials are supplied, as are the tools for use during the session.

Two hour workshops

Bookbinding taster session – A short hands on session for complete beginners. Exact style of binding changes year to year so I don’t get bored teaching the same one!

Half day workshops

Concertinas for artists – Concertina books are ideal structures for artists wishing to encase their creations between covers. This half day version uses pre-decorated papers on the covers and blank paper inside.

Drum leaf binding – Another beginner structure ideal for artists. This structure is well suited to showcasing artwork, is easily made with just a few basic hand tools, and requires no specialised equipment. This half day version uses blank paper inside and provided decorated paper for the covers.

Beginner / beginner plus level

These workshops are aimed at those who may have done a day or two of bookbinding, though many are also accessible to those with no experience at all. Feel free to get in touch if you’re unsure if the level would be suitable for your group or yourself. All materials are supplied, as are the tools for use during the session.

Half day workshops

Mini book ornaments – Make a fully operational tiny book ornament. A great seasonal workshop as the books can be hung on Christmas trees are used in gift decoration.

Keepsake book re-using a special bit of fabric – Take a beloved piece of cloth (old t-shirt? baby blanket? favourite tea towel?) and repurpose it as the cover of a new book, made completely by you.

Full day workshops

Tweed spine book – Make a beautiful blank book with tweed spine covering. Single origin Iona Tweed will be provided, or local tweeds / tartans can be used if preferred.

4-in-1 (turning) box – Make a clever wee box that opens up to reveal four trays. The papers and board are all pre-cut for the workshop.

Debossed and inlaid book covers – Make a simple hardback book with debossed and inlaid designs on the covers, using booklcoth and paper materials. Both Art Nouveau and Bauhaus inspired designs are available.

Drum leaf binding – Another beginner structure ideal for artists. This structure is well suited to showcasing artwork, is easily made with just a few basic hand tools, and requires no specialised equipment. This full day workshop includes time for participants to illustrate their own pages and covers.

Swedish medieval semi-limp binding – A long stitch binding using a style of sewing found in the collections at Uppsala University. The covers are paper with an insert, giving it the ‘semi-limp’ structure. The books lie flat when opened. The decorative paper used on the covers can be chosen to suit the venue – the example shown above uses William Morris prints for a workshop at Kelmscott Manor.

A bevy of booklets – Make a number of different basic bindings that can be easily replicated at home with a very basic set of tools. Both single page and folded page bindings will be used. Ideal for book artists looking for ways to shape their work into books or new binders to learn a range of techniques in a short space of time.

Glaswegian stab binding – Make a modern hard covered stab bound book with sewing inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Mackintosh inspired long stitch binding – A full day workshop for lovers of books and the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Create your own blank book with leather spine and decorative stitching on the spine. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.

Two day workshops

Bookbinding for artists – Spend the first day making a number of different basic bindings that can be easily replicated at home with a very basic set of tools. Both single page and folded page bindings will be used. Day two will be spent putting those structures into use on your own creations – come with a project in mind or with a blank slate.

Intermediate level

These workshops are aimed at those with some bookbinding experience, ideally having taken other workshops and are comfortable sewing a book on your own though. Feel free to get in touch if you’re unsure if the level would be suitable for your group or yourself. All materials are supplied, as are the tools for use during the session.

Full day workshops

Japanese style wraparound book box – Spend an afternoon making a beautiful box that envelopes a book or object inside. This full day workshop involves measuring and cutting boards to suit your own book / object.

Two day workshops

Historic and contemporary limp bindings – a chance to spend some time doing a deep dive into the beauty of limp structures. The first part of our time will be spent re-creating limp bindings found on historic books, the second part making a model of a contemporary limp structure based on learnings from the historic models.

DIY stab binding design – A two day workshop walking through the steps to creating your own stab binding designs. We’ll finish by bringing those designs to life on a stab bound book to take away. The first day of this workshop can be run as a Glaswegian stab binding workshop, open to beginners as well as those staying on for the second day.

Talks

Typography for book artists – Drawing on my background as a graphic designer in the publishing industry, we’ll cover basic concepts of typography for use both on and in books. One hour, requires use of a large screen or projector.