Instructor: Bari Zaki

There are no group Zoom workshops currently scheduled. That said, the full-length live recording is available, either on its own, or with the option of scheduling a private or semiprivate workshop (in addition to the recording). No previous bookbinding experience is necessary. See the dropdown below for pricing.

What you’ll make: A sweet pair of diminutive books with woven headbands, measuring 3 x 4½ x 1¼. Inside are ten tiny 4-page signatures folded from Stonehenge paper; pages measure a petite 2¾ x 3¾. The covers are made from two Atelier Écluse blue & white decorative patterns, and have an envelope/pocket on the inside front & back covers. These make lovely little sketchbooks or mini-multimedia marvels. They also look truly lovely on a table or shelf. (Our postal muse immediately commented that you could write a little story or travelogue and illustrate it with stamps.) We will make one book together in the workshop, and you will make the second book on your own, with the complete recording for reference and refreshment.

About the structure: This binding technique dates back to at least the 14th century. Back then this binding style was accomplished using a piece of vellum (parchment-like animal skin). It was also made without glue, just stitching and folding and weaving on the leather bands. Fast forward to the 21st century, we have many contemporary & lovely materials to choose from to create this modern take on a medieval structure.

Part 1: We begin, as always, with a brief introduction about paper grain and a review of workshop tools. Next, we will fold 3 Stonehenge sheets into 10 petite 4-page signatures (for a total of 78 serendipitous sides). We will mark up the spine for stitching, then sew the signatures onto two leather strips. The loveliest detail: You will weave the other two leather strips onto the top and bottom of your book-block creating your woven headbands.

Part 2: You will make your cover from a luscious sheet of Atelier Écluse handmade paper, which we will score and fold around the book-block, and then we weave the leather strips through the cover. You will finish up by making a pocket/envelope for the interiors of your front and back covers. A very Happy Modern Medieval Moment Indeed!

Your kit includes all the materials (but not the tools) you’ll need to make a pair of Modern Medieval-bound books with woven headbands. 

Nota bene: As always, I will record both lessons as they are happening, and the recordings will be available for you, with no interruptions or delay, almost immediately after each session.

2 sheets of Atelier Écluse handmade paper 7 x 11”

6 sheets of Stonehenge drawing paper 11 x 15”

8 leather strips ⅛ x 8

2 skeins of embroidery thread (two colours)

1 spool of unwaxed linen thread

4 double adhesive strips

1 embroidery needle (No. 18)

Tools needed: Bonefolder, shipping clerk’s knife, lightweight awl, medium awl, X-acto knife. You will receive a 20% discount on all tools ordered for the workshop (via refund after your workshop purchase). You can purchase these tools individuallyhere.

Ancillary tools needed: scissors, metal ruler, triangle ruler in two sizes, 6 in. & 10 in. (30º / 60º recommended), pencil, small piece of beeswax (optional), and a cutting mat.

The two palettes shown here (left to right) are: Blue & White and Sky & Twilight. 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). To order additional sets of materials, please e me and I will be in touch extremely promptly. It’s $185 per additional set, with no shipping fee if you order at the same time as your workshop registration.

No previous bookbinding experience is necessary. You will have ample time during each step to ask questions while we work. If you have any questions now, please feel free to call or e me to discuss!

I look forward to sharing my long-standing love of working with paper, and bookbinding with you in this two-part, eight-ish hour workshop!