Instructors: Cat Bennett & Bari Zaki

This Bookful workshop, and its eleven Bookful brethren, was originally presented to a Zoom audience of students from far & wide. We’ve decided to make our full-length live recordings of each of these workshops available for purchase this summer. (The themes of the twelve workshops will never be repeated or reprised, as Cat Bennett & Bari Zaki will keep thinking of new subjects.)

Every recording (12-ish hours-ful) comes with the same kit of sumptuous materials as the original workshop, barring the occasional palette refreshment or replacement. Also included is my sincere invitation to contact me if you have questions or anxious moments whilst watching and making. Enticement: a 15% discount ($44.25!) on your second Bookful purchase, likewise on your third, and so on & so fourth.

This four-session workshop was the ninth Bookful collaboration between Cat Bennett and Bari Zaki. Our inspiration for this Bookful was the arrival of winter—shorter days, frosty weather, and the comforts we enjoy during our winter hibernation—or maybe, in southern climes, palm trees swaying in the winds. And, wherever you are, walking in nature.

What you’ll make: A buttonhole-stitch book measuring 5½" x 7½" x 1⅜", with 40 sheets (for a total of 80 serendipitous sides) of Stonehenge drawing paper. Your pages will have deckled edges on all three sides. The folded (center) edge of the signatures you see through the spine window will be embellished with decorative Wanderlust Papers, adding visual delight to your spine.

Workshop #1 (3-ish hours) – You will fold your sheets of Stonehenge paper to create 10 four-page (a total of 80 serendipitous sides) signatures, with deckled edges on all three sides of each page. Then you will affix your 10 mini-pieces of Wanderlust Paper at the spine-edge folds. Next, you will create your cover by making a “paper sandwich” using: a complementary sheet of Wanderlust Paper, an adhesive backing sheet, and a Stonehenge backing sheet. Then, you will measure, fold, and score the cover, and stitch the signatures into it using the buttonhole-stitch binding technique. You will finish up by making an envelope/pocket for the interiors of your front & back covers, which you will reinforce with an extra folio of Stonehenge for added sturdiness. 

Workshops #2, #3 & #4 (each is 3-ish hours) – In the next three sessions, Cat leads you with painting & drawing exercises using a variety of mediums including watercolour, gouache, coloured pencils, pens and markers. You will learn ways to combine these mediums to create wonderful & whimsical wintery images. Cat also shares her tips & techniques for adding words to your pages. As always, there will be a slideshow of various artists’ work for inspiration. 

Workshop fee includes all materials (but not the tools) you’ll need to make one buttonhole-stitch book with embellished spine.

11 sheets of Stonehenge paper (11" x 15")

1 sheet of adhesive for your paper sandwich (11" x 18")

1 piece of Stonehenge for your paper sandwich (11" x 18")

1 sheet of Wanderlust Paper (11" x 18") for your cover

1 spool of complementary waxed-linen thread 

10 pieces of Wanderlust Paper (1" x 3") for your spine embellishment 

8 strips of double-adhesive tape

Tools needed: bonefolder, shipping clerk’s knife, lightweight awl, triangle ruler, metal ruler, Xacto knife, needle. You will receive a 20% discount on all tools ordered for the workshop (via refund after your workshop purchase). You can purchase these tools individually here.

Ancillary tools needed: pencil, glue stick, cutting mat, and a bit of washi tape. 

The three palettes as shown here (left to right) are Blue Gingham & Blue Flora, Green Flora & Pink Flora, and Pink Flora & Navy Stars. Please order from the dropdown menu below. If you’d like to purchase an additional set of materials, you certainly can. However, you cannot accomplish this in the dropdown menu (because one set of materials is included with the workshop fee). It’s $165 per additional set, with no shipping fee if you order at the same time as your workshop purchase. To order, please e me and I will be in touch extremely promptly. And I will be sure that you don’t receive duplicate sets for making your buttonhole-stitch book (unless you want to).

Cat and I look forward to sharing our love of winter and paper, bookbinding, drawing, painting, and collaging with you in this 4-session (12-ish hours-ful) live-recorded workshop!

About Cat: In her former life, she was a commercial illustrator for 25 years. All three of her wonderful books are available in our shop & online: The Confident Creative, Making Art a Practice, and The Drawing Club of Improbable Dreams. 

“I believe that drawing and painting create happiness. I love teaching because I get to see people discover their own creative genius!” – Cat Bennett