Provided as a Free Service by J. Hewit & Sons Ltd.

Society of Bookbinders, London and South Mastercraft Classes - Spring 2008

Please note: All mastercraft classes will now start at 10.30, with a half-hour break at 12.30 and finish at 3.00

17th May (Saturday) Chris Damp ‘What goes on under the covers?’ Secrets of the springback binding revealed.
Chris began his binding studies at the (then) LCC in 1992, going on to Guildford College where he did some work on book conservation and then took a Post-Graduate Diploma in Book Conservation at West Dean, which included a spell as an intern at the British Library, ‘a great learning experience’ says Chris. In this Mastercraft Class he will be demonstrating the secrets of the springback, looking at the sewing structure, the lining of the spine, the making of the spring back itself and the construction of the binding. He will also discuss the decorative bands and lacing that are often found on such bindings and the suitability of this binding style to albums, memorial books etc.

The class will be held at the Congregational Chapel, Kelly Street, Kentish Town, NW1. See above for directions.

La Cantoria Scuola di Restauro, Firenze, Italy

For summer 2008, La Cantoria is pleased to provide new courses. Beside the 2 - 4 weeks introductory courses to conservation techniques, they are also offering workshops of a duration of 1-2 weeks in artistic fields related with conservation: fresco and mosaic techniques, wood gilding, oil painting, and others.

Check new summer opportunity following this link to their web site . Their Secretary is at your disposal for any further question on dates and other information.

LA CANTORIA – SCUOLA DI RESTAURO
Via Chiantigiana 158 – 50012
Grassina FIRENZE

Learn to bind in Surrey

For those wishing to learn bookbinding, The Otter Bindery now offers 1st Saturday in the month bookbinding mornings, which are for all levels from beginners upwards. If you would like to come on one of these workshops please email marysa@otterbookbinding.com or telephone 01932 845976.

These workshops are designed to offer bookbinding in a relaxed cottage setting. There is no need to pre-book, but please email or phone, to confirm your attendance two days in advance so that I know numbers. The purpose of these workshops is to afford a cost effective and enjoyable half-day of bookbinding for those wishing to pursue this craft. Ideas can be discussed and projects undertaken gradually at the pace of the student with interactive discussions between tutor and students so that everyone¹s project is a learning tool for the other students. Students can start on books and continue to work on them throughout the Saturdays available.

The day starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm. Students may wish to bring a packed lunch with them. The cost is £50. The dates available are below.

• Saturday 7 June 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 5 July 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 2 August 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 6 September 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 4 October 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 1 November 2008 10am-2pm
• Saturday 6 December 2008 10am-2pm

In addition to these workshops and subject to interest and demand, The Otter Bindery organises longer weekend workshops bringing in outside professional bookbinders with different expertises. Subjects covered include paper repair, book restoration, gold finishing, box making and fine binding. For those wishing an intensive in one of these areas please email an acknowledgment of your interest via email to marysa@otterbookbinding.com. The price for the intensive one day course is £150. This is subject to two or more individuals wishing to partake.

One day individual tuition is available by appointment between 10-4pm at a cost of £170 and half day for £85. This is for those wishing to further the craft with more tutor support. This has proved popular as a gift and Gift Vouchers are available on request. Otter Bindery is available to tutor groups, schools, art centres, business and institutions in creative bookbinding. Please ask for details and prices.

The School for Formal Bookbinding in Plains, PA USA will be offering the following classes in 2008:

May 17-18: Introduction to Titling and Tooling

June 9-13: Introduction to Leather Binding
June 16-20: Full Leather Binding
June 28-29: Book Edge Gilding

July 14-18: Cloth Binding Conservation
July 21-25: Leather Binding Conservation

August 18-22: Bible Restoration and Binding
August 25-29: Edition Binding

Sept. 6-7: Introduction to Paper Repair
Sept. 20-21: A Contemporary Leather Spined Box

There is a five student maximum for all classes,and housing is available for all students if desired. The costs are: $200 tuition for weekend classes; $500 for week-long classes and $800 for two one-week classes taken in sequence. Housing is $20/night with a reduction for stays of two weeks. There are materials fees for certain classes.

The classes are taught by Don Rash, a student of Trudi and Fritz Eberhardt and practicing hand binder for almost thirty years.

For complete class descriptions and other information please visit the website at www.donrashfinebookbinder.com, or call 1- 570 821 7050.

CBBAG Workshops - Winter + Spring 2008.

2008 WKSP-19 Checkerboard Album
Instructor: Betsy Palmer Eldridge
Location: 24 Castle Frank Cres., Toronto
Duration: 1 day: Sat., May 10 Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Course fee: $95
Materials fee: $10 payable to the instructor
Prerequisites: Bookbinding I, or the permission of the instructor
This one day workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn the checkerboard album structure. Based on the Flexible Chain-back Photograph Album patented in Philadelphia in 1865, this structure has a number of advantages that can be useful in modern album structures. Participants will make a model to take home.

NEW 2008-WKSP-20 Dos-a-Dos Books
Instructor: Louise Granahan
Location: CBBAG Bindery
Duration: 1 evening: Fri., May 23 Hours: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Course fee: $40
Materials Fee: $10 payable to the instructor
Prerequisites: none
The dos-a-dos or back-to-back binding, a structure with 2 opposing spines, was often used for religious books (i.e., the Bible on one side, and Book of Common Prayer on the other). The two books share a centre cover, so each of the books open in the opposite direction. Participants will make a simple dos-a-dos covered with decorated paper and exposed sewing.

2008-WKSP-21 Secret Belgian Binding
Instructor: Louise Granahan
Location: CBBAG Bindery
Duration: 1 day: Sat., May 24
Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Course fee: $95
Materials fee: $15 payable to the instructor
Prerequisites: Some bookbinding, box making or sewing experience or the permission of the instructor
This one-day workshop introduces an historical binding attributed to the Belgians. Many options are available in the decoration of the book. This binding yields an attractive and very sturdy book with a decorative pattern of coloured waxed linen threads on the spine. Visiting Artists Series

2008 WKSP-22 Japanese Paper Repair Techniques
Instructor: Don Etherington
Location: CBBAG Bindery
Duration: 5 days: M-F, June 23 - 27
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Course fee: $500 members/ $560 non-members*
Materials fee: included in course fee
Prerequisites: BB III or the permission of the instructor
This workshop will introduce participant to Japanese paper repair techniques for both leather and cloth bindings. Participants are asked to bring several bindings with problems, some of which will be selected for repair.

Further information and booking at: www.cbbag.ca/workshp.html

Summer 2008 - Workshops in St. James's Church Rooms, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire

Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th August

Both two-day workshops run from 10am – 4pm. The cost, excluding materials, is £35.00 for one day or £60.00 for two days.

These workshops are a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time at bookbinding. Held in the spacious venue of St James’s Church Rooms in Chipping Campden, with an excellent permanent range of equipment to use.

Attendance both days is not essential. Working on a one to one basis enables the student to devote their time to their own projects. Flexible attendance can be arranged to enable you to organise the days around other commitments.

The workshops are for beginners and those with some experience. It is likely that John Pursey of Hewits will be visiting us during both workshops.

For any further details contact Anne Weare on +44 (0)1285 760328

Collective Workshops 2008, Wellington College, Berkshire

The collective workshops is an eleven day residential conference with classes in book, paper and print techniques. High quality tuition will be provided emphasising solid working practises in an inspiring environment. Ten subjects are being offered by experienced tutors from Europe and North America.

A group of practitioners from the various book arts fields have come together as The Collective to organise the first Collective Workshops event. This will be held in July 2008 at Wellington College in Berkshire, England.

Through intensive daily class sessions, shared meals, evening lectures and specially arranged visits, there will be a unique level of creative exchange and inspiration.

The Collective are: Michael Burke, Heather Hunter, Philippa Jones, Dominic Riley, Lori Sauer and Jill Sellars. Further information on this exciting event can be obtained from the Collective web site at: www.collectiveworkshops.org

Book North 2008

During 2008, we are running a series of bookbinding workshops in Barkisland, near Halifax. The workshops will run from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm daily: large bindery - small classes. The cost is £70 for each two-day workshop and £180 for the five-day workshops. The cost will include most materials and buffet lunches. Details of local accommodation can be provided.

Barkisland is located in the lovely Calder Valley, which is great Yorkshire walking country. It is within easy reach of Halifax, and the M62 between Manchester and Leeds

The 5-day workshops are:
Inlays & Onlays & Related Techniques with Peter R Jones: 19 - 23 May 2008
Gold Tooling with Tracey Rowledge: date to be advised.

For further details or to book a place, contact Hilary Henning on 01932 787268, or email hilary.henning@tiscali.co.uk. If you want to hear about future Book North courses, contact Hilary to add your name to the Book North mailing list

Leatherwork Courses with MacGregor & Michael, Tetbury. UK

MacGregor & Michael are professional designer-makers of hand-stitched leathergoods with more than 30 years experience. Their short course builds upon the techniques described in 'The Leatherworking Handbook' by Valerie Michael. The maximum number of students is five, so each person receives individual tuition. All tools are provided for use on the courses.

Provisional Dates for 2008 and further information on the whole range of our courses, including courses on:·

can be found on our website at www.leathercourses.co.uk or by contacting

Val Michael at MacGregor & Michael
37 Silver Street
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
GL8 8DL
UK

e-mail: info@leathercourses.co.uk
Tel: ( 0044) 01666 502179

CBL Ascona, Switzerland

The Association centro del bel libro in Ascona is the parent institution of an internationally known and recognised technical school with the specialised areas of Bookbinding and Design and Book and Paper Conservation. The Association exists for the continued development and ever higher qualification of its instructors in both areas. Competitions and exhibitions help inform the public about their activities and expand public awareness of the book. The Association makes it possible for experts in related fields and for interested laypeople to acquire knowledge and skills pertaining to the book through special courses of instruction. The Association is a not for profit organisation. Its departments assure the smooth functioning of the school and an especially well organised office assists course participants with their stay in Ascona. The Directorate, among other duties, is charged with attracting new supporting members for the Association to en sure the continued work and development of the School. Should you be in agreement with the stated goals of the Association – we would be pleased to welcome you as a new member!

Department of Bookbinding and Design - The study areas of Bookbinding and Design offer discerning bookbinders the opportunity of technical and creative challenges. Course participants have the opportunity to further their qualifications through learning internationally recognised methods and techniques, are able to hone their skills and increase their knowledge, evaluate themselves and be inspired by colleagues. They will exchange ideas and find paths in creativity and through self reflection; paths which open up by being away from job demands and daily stress, away from routine, and the pressures of time and expectations of productivity. The annually changing course offerings are continually enhanced by timely developments to expand students’ depth of understanding. They include classic hand bookbinding techniques, such as the French full leather binding, the Bradel technique, as well as hand gilding. Another area of program concentration is the contemporary design of bookbindings, in which design, technique and material complement each other and fulfil the functional and qualitative aspects of a book.

Department Book and Paper Conservation - The study of book and paper conservation at the centro del bel libro ascona assures further education specifically for book and paper restorers and delivers timely, inclusive and internationally recognised competencies in theory and practical applications. Scientific bases of restoration, restoration ethics, as well as documentation and decision making are encouraged and fostered in order to increase the knowledge of course participants in these areas. The opportunity to engage in dialogue in related disciplines, support and evaluation of innovation, and most of all development of practical skills to assure correct restoration and conservation measures – all are addressed in this context. The exchange of ideas among experts, and the addition of highly specialised guest lecturers provide the best conditions for exploring all relevant subjects in depth. Highly qualified teachers, a pleasant study and work environment, course participants from countries world wide, and the much renowned southern joie de vivre facilitate learning, ignite the desire to learn and communicate, and reward the student with improved self confidence. Building on these facts, it becomes an easy task to develop conventions for the protection of our cultural heritage, the book – a task which the centro del bel libro ascona has set itself and which it fulfils.

Further information regarding courses programs can be found on the school's web site at: www.cbl-ascona.ch

Last year with great success, Leeds College of Technology, Yorkshire, UK, ran a basic craft bookbinding course. They had a good response, with eight enrolling on the course, most of who would like to move on to more advanced level. They have also had a few interested enquiries for the next basic course. This has prompted them to set up an Intermediate Craft course, which will start in February, following on from the beginners course in September. The new course will again have a certificate from NCFE after successful completion. They intend to move on to quarter and half bound case books and quarter and half bound leather bindings.

The courses will run on Wednesday evenings, 5.00-8.30 pm., 18 weeks each course. The fee will be £150 plus a small enrollment fee.

For more information: Contacts: Mick McGregor at Leeds College of Technology
Tel: +44 (0) 113 297 6438, e-mail m.mcgregor@lct.ac.uk or Student Services: tel +44 (0) 113 297 6481.

BA(HONS) Book Arts and Crafts - a course designed to develop a creative and innovative approach to the art and craft of designing and making books, as functional artifacts and art pieces.

This programme of study is unique in the United Kingdom, being the only course available specifically in book arts & crafts. The course is spread over three years, year one is mostly skills based and covers a variety of bookart areas, year two includes a range of electives allowing the student to focus on certain areas in detail. This year also includes work experience. Year three includes 2 major practical projects and a dissertation in a related area. The course starts in year one as tutor led and gradually becomes student led.

During the course visits are arranged to museums and galleries, field trips abroad and the possibility of engaging in the college exchange programme. A range of methods delivers the course: e.g. practical demonstration, lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Bookart projects are practically based and detailed feedback is always given on student's work either through assessment sheets or in tutorial. Written projects are required in the Cultural Studies and Personal and Professional Development modules.

Here is an outline of each year

Year 1 - Modules include basic skills in Printmaking, Craft bookbinding, craft printing (letterpress and screen), visual studies (drawing & illustration), photography and creative bookarts. Computer studies (computer-aided design), Cultural studies and Professional development. (CS & PPD run throughout the course). Year one is intense and requires attendance over 3/4 days.

Year 2 - Modules include advanced bookart structures and fine print production, electives include advanced printmaking & illustration, design bookbinding, artist's books, historical / oriental structures, conservation techniques and CAD etc. Students may now focus on particular area or specialism and drop areas they do not wish to pursue. PPD not only helps arrange work experience, but sets up student exhibitions in various galleries and the London Artists Bookfair each year.

Year 3 - This year is assessed over 2 major projects and 2 lesser projects. You will be expected to produce a dissertation of around 5000/6000 words and produce a Major Elective Study, which is assessed by exhibition. Projects are student led, this year of the course using a supervision/tutorial system for major projects. Students also set up their own exhibition in a private gallery during this final year. Technical help and advice is always available and most tutors operate an "open door" policy for students who need one-to-one help.

Exit Profile - Over 70% of graduates find employment in areas related to the course programme,(2002). Some have gone into teaching (PGTC) some onto post graduate education, (MA Bookarts, MA Fine Art, MA Product Design and MA Publishing etc.)

This art and design course using as it does a range of 3D graphics and the book as a medium has a wide range of applications. Graduates work as makers in bookbinding, printers in Fine press (Limited Edition), printmakers, illustrators, book designers using the latest computer applications, in art departments for publishers, paper engineering (pop-ups), board-game and package design, book & card production and as exhibiting book artists.

Students have exhibited to acclaim in major galleries and won international awards in France, UK, USA and Holland. This (undergraduate) course has been generally recognised as being the best available in this field. Resources are second to none, fully equipped workshops coupled with experienced staff all of whom practice within their specialism, professionally, (e.g. printmaking is taught by Tessa Holmes, exhibiting printmaker and Visual studies by the artist Daphne Plessner)

Full-time students at the LCC (lcp) ,also have the advantage of being offered a large range of related "bolt-on" courses, free, to enhance their studies. The course is relatively small, targets for each year being only 25. The age range is from 18 years, at present there is a 65/35 ratio women to men. Retention rate is 92% (2002/03). HEFC inspection rating is 22/24. Students come from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, e.g. Taiwan, Germany, France, Sweden, USA, Brazil, Spain, Greece, Japan and Korea.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the college. For full curriculum details and further information, please contact Mike Brunwin at: m.brunwin@lcp.linst.ac.uk or telephone on 0207 514 6500 (ex.6660) or write to:

UCAS entry codes;
route A Linst L65 WW27 Ba/BArts
Route B Linst L65 EW 27 Ba/BArts

London College of Communication (formally London College of Printing) School of Printing & Publishing, Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6SB
(The London Institute becomes the "University of the Arts,London" in May 2004)

Oxford Brookes University - Evening Classes

These non-vocational classes provide an introduction to bookbinding, examining the techniques, materials and equipment needed to bind and repair books. Traditional methods are considered in conjunction with practical alternatives. Students will achieve an understanding of the requirements and processes involved in producing clean, neat, basic work. Students work at their own pace and are individually tutored.

For further information, please contact:
Ian Ross - Tutor and Organiser, Bookbinding Evening Classes
Oxford Brookes University, School of Arts & Humanities, OXFORD OX3 0BP

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 793083 or e-mail : binding@ianaross.f2s.com