SoB/DB Joint Workshops 2021-22

In conjunction with Designer Bookbinders the Society organises an annual series of weekend workshops. These workshops offer structured, intensive learning from established teachers and are designed to stress the ‘hands-on’ approach where students complete a structure or technique following demonstrations from the teacher. The size of each workshop is limited to allow students to benefit from individual attention.

We’re delighted to be offering our 2021/22 series of DB/SoB Joint workshops and would like to say a big thank you to the tutors and all of you who have been so patient during the often-changed programme dates during the last year. We hope very much that our plans can go ahead.

This series we have eight rather than the usual six weekends, which include two held over from the 19/20 series.

We continue to tread cautiously, so bookings for the first two weekends will open on 1^st August. We hope that the rest of the series will be bookable from 1^st November. Please do not book for any workshops other than the first two before this date.

Weekend workshop fees are £185 for DB and SoB members and £205 for non-members.  Each has a materials fee payable on the weekend direct to the tutor.

Further details and booking forms will be available from Sarah Burns sarah@the-burns.com Or 01643 841116

At last we hope we can meet and learn together again….

Mark Cockram and Kip Perdue

Paper Cut Drum-Leaf Artists’ book

Studio 5, Barnes, London

25/26^th September 2021

A special workshop co-hosted by paper cut artist Kip Perdue and bookbinder /book artist Mark Cockram,

During the first day participants will create unique pages and spreads, exploring colour, texture, line, form and space, using various papers and a knife. The second day will concentrate on constructing the book, a successful flat-back case binding with simple board structuring techniques. Lots of tips from Mark on making and binding!

Ann-Marie Miller  

Conservation Enclosures

Southern Bookcrafts Club, Winchester

16/17^th October 2021

Conservation housing and enclosures are an essential weapon in the preservation armoury.  This two-day course will cover various types of conservation enclosures, such as phase wrappers and their variations, archival book shoes and fascicules. Participants will make each housing option, learn about the manufacture of the structures themselves and be able to make informed choices about when to use them.

Fill that page! A bookbinder’s guide to creative design practice

Sue Doggett,   

Venue tbc

26/27^th February 2022

Dig out your paint boxes, coloured pencils, inks and messy materials for a weekend of practical, experimental creative work.  Explore how to approach that blank piece of paper and the beginnings of a design. The two days will include a series of demonstrations, practical creative exercises and plenty of guided workshop time. Sue will also talk about her own approach to creating artists’ books and bindings and how to build the content of a book, starting from scratch.

An Introduction to Islamic Bindings,

Kristine Rose-Beers 

Bayntun bindery, Bath

12/13^th March 2022

This workshop will introduce the Islamic binding structure. Participants will make a model of an Islamic book, drawing on structural features from historic exemplars. Twined chevron-patterned endbands will be sewn, and various decoration techniques will be used to ornament the covers, including the application of gold.

Some experience of bookbinding would be useful.

Deluxe Full-leather Notebook

Tom McEwan

30 April /1^st May 2022

Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, Scotland

This binding style was derived and adapted from an original, early Victorian pocket  notebook.  The structure has several interesting features, including laminated boards which are sculpted and shaped to create a faceted, angular appearance.   The page edges have a deckled/uncut finish and endpapers are of marbled paper typical of the period.

Beginning Tooling

Dieter Rader, 

Dragon Press bindery, nr Carmarthen, Wales

23^rd/24^th April 2022

This workshop will teach participants the fundamental techniques of hand tooling on leather. Suitable for those with no experience, it also offers a thorough refresher course for anyone wanting to gain confidence in their finishing.

The use of foils and various alternative materials will also be touched upon. While focusing on working with hand tools, type holders will be briefly introduced if wished.

Colour, Texture and Pattern on Book Cloth

Ruth Brown 

Leah Higgins Studio, Eccles, nr Manchester

18^th/19^th June 2022

On this course we will be using a wide range of techniques to make marks, texture and patterns on fabric which we will then convert to book cloth. We will experiment with mono-printing, screen printing and numerous ways of making marks on fabric, as well as playing with colour and tone.

You will take home a range of sample pieces for reference when you create your own cover fabrics or  which can be used for small book projects.  All the techniques we will use can be done easily at home with a small set of equipment.

An Elegant Method of Board Reattachment

Emma Fraser, 

Wellcome Collection, London

9^th/10^th July 2022

This method was designed for use on tight back bindings where one or more of the boards are detached but the spine and sewing is intact. During this workshop we will examine and discuss various methods of board reattachment, followed by a demonstration of my method.  Participants will then prepare the simple tools and materials needed before being guided step by step through the process on their own examples.

A knowledge of book structures and book conservation techniques is recommended for this ‘hands on’ workshop.