Workshops in 2016

Want to learn more about bookbinding? Why not come to one of my bookbinding workshops and create your own beautiful books. My facilitation ethos places a strong emphasis on the process of creating and experimentation whilst building your confidence so that you are at ease with creating books in the future, or indeed, showing somebody how to make a book.

1. Sewn Bindings Workshop

In this two-day workshop, participants will create a variety of sewn books, which make excellent sketchbooks, journals or artist’s books. Participants will create their own distinctive books, focusing on two bindings in particular: the Long Stitch Limp Leather binding – an adhesive-free structure with a recycled leather cover; and the French Link stitch hardback binding – a decorative stitch along an exposed spine.

Date and venue:

27th & 28th February, 2016
Graphic Studio Dublin

2. Portfolio workshop

In this two-day workshop, participants will make an A3 size archival portfolio with flaps. These portfolios are ideal for storing prints, drawings or photographs – any that needs to be stored flat in an archival environment. We will start by creating paste papers, one of the oldest forms of decorative paper used by bookbinders. The paste paper will be used for the outside of the portfolios coupled with Buckram bookcloth. By the end of the workshop, participants will have their own highly personalised durable portfolio.

Date and venue:

7th & 8th May, 2016
Graphic Studio Dublin

3. Expandable books

In this one-day workshop, participants will create a hardback sewn binding, which makes an excellent sketchbook, journal or artist’s book. Using simple sewing techniques, participants will be encouraged to develop their own distinctive book binding, one that can expand and evolve in unexpected ways. We will make a loop stitch binding: an exposed sewing in which stitches are shown on the book’s spine. Participants will also get to create some other alternative book structures using simple folding techniques.

Date and venue:

22nd October, 2016
Creative Spark

4. Japanese Album

In two-day workshop, participants will explore a variety of Japanese Stab stitches. This side stitch binding is highly versatile and suitable for a diverse range of books: from flipbooks to photo albums. We will focus on creating a highly personal hardback photo album using gold leaf to decorate the cover. We will also make several soft-back models experimenting with different variations of the stitch.

Date and venue:

5th & 6th November, 2016
Graphic Studio Dublin

Éilís Murphy