2018 could be the year you try your hand at making your own journal, sketchbook, album, or some other useful handmade book! - read on to find out about the range of bookbinding workshops i have available in Brisbane throughout this coming year...
There's a terrific variety of workshops on offer, including old favourites like Coptic binding and classic leatherbound journals, plus brand new workshops such as the fancy looking Criss-cross Longstitch, and others that offer opportunities to try something a little different, including wrap-around journals, Secret Belgian binding, and fun Longstitch-bound books using found materials (like vintage novel covers or cigar box lids!).
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Quick overview for 2018:
Sunday 25 March................Wrap-around leather journals (Longstitch binding)
Sunday 29 April...................Coptic bookbinding
Sunday 29 July....................Longstitch journals (leather spine + hard covers)
Sunday 19 August...............Criss-cross Longstitch
Sunday 23 September.........Secret Belgian binding
Sunday 18 November..........Leatherbound journals (cross-structure binding)
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All bookbinding materials and tools are provided as part of every workshop. And all templates and instructions are also included to allow you to continue making more books at home :)
Cost: $90 per person, per workshop
Location: All workshops are held in a well-lit, air-conditioned space at the Wellers Hill Arts Hub, 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi.
Bookings: To book your place, please email Michelle on the address below (or there's an email link in the blog's sidebar), or txt/ph 0412 550 981
Scroll down below for pics and all the extra details relating to each individual workshop.
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WORKSHOP ONE
Sunday 25 March 2018
Wrap-around leather journals (Longstitch binding)
Learn how to make your very own wrap-around soft-leather journal, hand-stitched using a Longstitch binding technique and featuring a magnetic closure.
In this workshop all materials are provided, and you can choose from a variety of eco-friendly upcycled leathers, an assortment of different papers for the book’s pages, and a colourful range of waxed-linen threads, all coming together to make a unique and personalised book.
Longstitch binding features a linear pattern of coloured thread sewn up and down the spine directly through the leather, without the need for glue. This simple hand-sewn binding enables the book to open completely flat and makes it perfect for journals, diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks and sketchbooks.
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of a variety of Longstitched leatherbound books, and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers if you want to use these in your book)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
The blue and red stitched books above show the traditional straight Longstitching, while the book with mustard-yellow thread is an example of the sewing technique known as French-link stitching, which you're also welcome to try in the workshop.
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WORKSHOP TWO
Sunday 29 April 2018
Coptic binding
Learn the traditional craft of Coptic bookbinding by making two different Coptic-bound books, one a classic hard-cover, and the other with a soft leather cover.
In this workshop all materials are provided, and you can choose from an assortment of different papers/card, a colourful range of waxed-linen thread, and a variety of upcycled leathers (for the soft cover book) to make two unique and personalised books.
Coptic binding is a simple handsewn technique characterised by two separate covers and a distinctive chain-stitch sewn across an exposed spine. The decorative sewing even allows the book to open beautifully flat, making it perfect for binding your own journals, sketchbooks, scrapbooks, albums, or notebooks.
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of Coptic-bound books, and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers if you want to use these in your books)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
Coptic-bound books using a variety of materials and different cover options.
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WORKSHOP THREE
Sunday 29 July 2018
Hardcover Longstitch journal (leather spine + hard covers)
Learn how to make a useful and practical journal with a soft-leather spine and two hardboard covers, hand-stitched using coloured thread and a beautiful Longstitch binding technique.
Your book's hard covers can be created from 'found things' such as vintage hardcover novels, cigar box lids, or boards wrapped with interesting papers (such as designer wallpaper, fabric, or handmade papers). Bring your own hardcover 'found thing' or use something from the variety supplied.
All materials are provided in the workshop, and you can choose from a selection of eco-friendly upcycled leathers, an assortment of different papers for the book’s pages, and a colourful range of waxed-linen threads to make a unique and personalised journal.
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of a variety of Longstitched books (both hardcover and soft leather covered), and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers you'd like to use in the creation of your book)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
This unique Longstitched journal features a vintage cigar box lid as its front cover, and a back cover of leather wrapping around to form the book's spine.
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WORKSHOP FOUR
Sunday 19 August 2018
Criss-cross Longstitch sketchbooks / journals
Make yourself the perfect sketchbook or journal, created with buttery-soft leather covers, your choice of papers inside, and hand-stitched using coloured thread using a fancy criss-cross Longstitch binding technique. The books we make in this workshop are approx A5 in size, and can include an optional elastic closure and/or paper lining to the inside of the leather.
Bring along your own mix of creative papers (drawing or watercolour paper, coloured or patterned papers, etc) or use something interesting from the variety supplied. Your personal selection of leather, papers, coloured thread, and decorative stitching pattern will be sure to create a very individual and unique book, just how you like it.
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of a variety of criss-cross Longstitched books, and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities shown.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers you'd like to use in the creation of your book)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
Criss-cross stitching, personalised choice of art papers, black leather covers with rounded corners, and an elastic closure - this Longstitched sketchbook has personality!
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WORKSHOP FIVE
Sunday 23 September 2018
Secret Belgian binding
Try your hand at making a hardcover journal with Secret Belgian Binding, featuring paper-wrapped covers and hand-stitched with a distinctive thread pattern across the spine.
In this workshop all materials are provided, and you can choose from a variety of interesting and decorative papers to cover your book boards, plus an assortment of different papers for the book’s pages. And with waxed-linen bookbinding thread in a wide choice of colours, you'll be able to make a unique and very personalised book.
Secret Belgian binding features a linear pattern of coloured thread criss-crossing over and between the spine and the two covers, holding the cover boards together without any need for glue, and the page sections are then cleverly stitched in to the spine. This hand-sewn binding creates a sturdy binding and enables the book to open completely flat, making it perfect for journals, diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks and sketchbooks.
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of a variety of Secret Belgian bound books, and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers if you want to use these in your book)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
Examples of Secret Belgian bound books created from paper-wrapped hard covers.
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WORKSHOP SIX
Sunday 18 November 2018
Classic leatherbound journals (Cross-structure binding)
Learn how to make a classic leatherbound journal, with your choice of papers inside, hand-sewn using a traditional binding technique known as Cross-structure.
In this workshop all materials are provided, and you can choose from a variety of soft upcycled leathers, an assortment of different papers for the book’s pages, and a colourful range of waxed-linen bookbinding thread, all coming together to make a unique and personalised journal.
Cross-structure binding has been around since medieval times, and is distinguished by sections of pages sewn onto the leather 'fingers' of the covers, either leaving the colourful stitching exposed or concealing it behind the spine panel of leather (both styles are taught in this class - your choice of which you'd prefer to make).
Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. You'll be able to examine finished examples of a variety of Cross-structure leatherbound books, and draw inspiration from the variations and possibilities.
All tools and materials are provided as part of the workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home (i.e. A3 cutting mat, a metal ruler, craft/Stanley knife, pencil, awl, bonefolder, and any sheets of fancy/coloured/found papers if you want to use these in your book)
Comprehensive instructions and templates are also included, to enable you to continue making more books at home.
Location: 140 Weller Rd, Tarragindi (plenty of parking available)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $90 per person
Bookings essential: Phone/txt 0412 550 981 or email:
A close-up of a soft leatherbound journal created using the Cross-structure binding technique. This book uses a deep plum purple leather for the back cover (with the fingers coming around to the front) and a lighter lavender purple leather for the front cover, to give a distinctive two-tone effect. Exposed binding, a window cut-out on the spine, and an assortment of deckle-edged papers inside, make for a unique journal.
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