Workshops
How to make something awesome!
Upcoming Workshop Schedule
For details click the registration link or scroll down to see a short summary
September 27th
Tool Making
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
Link will be posted when available
Past Workshops
Coptic Binding
This workshop is great for both first-time and advanced binders. It introduces Coptic bindings, the most common form of link-stitch binding and possibly the oldest continuously used book sewing pattern. This style shows off the sewing on the spine and is an excellent choice for books that need to open flat, such as sketchbooks, smash books, and journals.
March 2025 in Minneapolis, MN
Travel Journals
This corporate workshop was designed for Kindle, to give an introduction book history and science, and to provide a hands on experience for employees to make their own Travel Journal.
Oct 2024 - Virtual
Tool Making
So many tools used in the book world are specialized, come to this in-person workshop to learn how to make some of them at a fraction of the cost at most retailers. We will discuss how to make a laying press, wood and plexi press boards, bone folders, punching cradles, and box corner jigs. Depending on time and interests, we will also make a corner trimming jig, bent needles, and/or soft weights (also known as ‘snake weights’) with plenty of time for questions.
July 2024 in Minneapolis
Book History
In this class you will learn from a professional bookbinder about the history of the book. Why they look and act differently depending on when and where in the world they are from. We will look at examples and model books so that you can better understand the terminology related to the structure, repair, and collecting of books.
September 2024 in Edina, MN
When Paper Fails: Paper Repair
This all day workshop explains how paper was made, how it gets damaged, and what we can do about it. We go into techniques and methods of repairing damaged paper.
May 2024 and November 2023 in Minneapolis, MN
East Asian Side Sewn Bindings I
A personal favorite type of binding, this workshop covers the most common style of East Asian bindings, how they were made traditionally, and an introduction to how they can be adapted to modern book arts.
May 2024 and November 2023 in Minneapolis, MN
Book Repair I
This multi-session book repair workshop covers the anatomy of books, how they break and what we can do about it. We cover a handful of repair methods and techniques.
March and June 2024 in Minneapolis, MN and 2017 Alexandria, VA
CrissCross / Secret Belgian Binding
Learn how to make a CrissCross / Secret Belgian Binding. These book covers are sewn using a magic ladder-like pattern. This allows the covers to flip to the back and the pages to lay flat making it ideal for sketchbooks and journaling.
March and July 2024 in Minneapolis, MN
Introduction to Book Repair
This one-session introduction to book repair is a great way to learn how to care for your books and make basic repairs
March 2024 in Bloomington, MN and 2017 Alexandria, VA
Letterlocking
Before security envelopes, people folded up their letters and sealed them using wax, strips of paper, and/or string. In this one-session workshop, you learn some of the history and fold along with the instructor to learn historic methods of locking letters.
October 2024 in Edina, MN and February 2024 - VIRTUAL
Pamphlet Books and Journaling
This one-session workshop teaches (kids and teens) how to make a pamphlet stitch journal and then the art of journaling.
Summer 2023 in Palmyra, NY and Fall 2023 in Bloomington, MN
Artistry of Books Camp, grades 6-9
Each day will include bookbinding, paper decoration, and a short field trip outside (weather permitting!) after lunch. Learn four bindings and several paper decoration techniques in this four-day, in-person book arts immersion designed for ages 12–15! Start by learning the flexagon, an origami-like structure that is part book, part toy! Learn traditional side-stitch bindings, make a tunnel book, and create a “perfect” binding. Experiment with paper marbling, paper dying, and other paper decoration techniques.
July 2024 in Minneapolis, MN and 2018 and 2019 in Alexandria, VA
Suminagashi for Kids
Immerse yourself in suminagashi (“floating ink”) paper marbling! This in-person workshop includes the history of paper marbling across cultures—from its origins in 12th-century Japan and China to its development in Turkey to the present day—and detailed demonstrations of basic techniques and patterns. Come away with unique marbled paper that you can use to make cards, books, collage, and more!
Oct 2024 in Minneapolis, MN
Exploding Books
In this in-person workshop, explore two sculptural book forms that tend to explode out of your hands! The ‘petal fold’ book and ‘Turkish map fold’ are made of folded pages that are glued together with hard covers. These playful book structures are an approachable way to experiment with adding content to make an artist’s book, a sculptural book object, or an elaborate handmade card for a loved one.
Nov. 2024 in Minneapolis, MN