Western 2025 events

September 20th Saturday

Use of Magnets with Diana Illingworth-Cook at ~Stoke St Mary Village Hall, Stoke Road, Taunton, TA3 5BY

Magnets are so much fun and offer exciting opportunities to book artists, binders and box makers.  Displayed as part of the design or discreetly hidden under covering material, they can hold things closed, hold them open or even keep things in place.  In this workshop we will be exploring the properties of different types and sizes of magnets and their use as closures, attachments and hinges.  You will make a set of samples contained in a simple wrapper box that will inspire your imagination and creativity and enabling the inclusion of magnets to enhance your own work.

November 9th Sunday

Leather Work: Mosaic and Crumpled Onlays with Nesta Davies at Stoke St. Mary Village Hall, Somerset

Spend the day learning how to produce elegant and striking ‘Mosaic’ onlays.  A technique used to great effect by Design Bookbinder Sally Lou Smith in many of her bindings.  We’ll also look at how to create ‘crumpled’ onlays, which can add interesting textured areas rather than the usual smooth onlays.  Some experience in paring and working with leather would be helpful to get the most out of this workshop.