Workshops
How to make something awesome!
Upcoming Workshops
Details for each workshop are listed below the schedule
October 9th and 10th
Secret Folds: The Art of Historical Letterlocking
Edina Community Center
Edina, MN
Register Here or via phone at 952-848-3952
October 17th
Suminagashi for Kids
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
Register Here Ages 6-8
Register Here Ages 9-12
November 9th and 16th
Side-Stitch Bindings (East Asian Stab Bindings)
Edina Community Center
Edina, MN
Register Here also via phone at 952-848-3952
December 12th and 19th
Side-Stitch Bindings (East Asian Stab bindings)
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
January 25th
Book Repair
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
October 24th and 26th
Advanced Side-Stitch Bindings (East Asian Stab bindings II)
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
November 19th
VIRTUAL: Book Wreaths for the Holidays
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
January 25th
Book Repair: When Paper Fails
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
Tentatively Planned Workshops
November 6th and 13th
Craft Your Canvas: Coptic Bound Journal Workshop
Edina Community Center
Edina, MN
Register Here also via phone at 952-848-3952
November 21st
Exploding Books
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
Spring
Ultimate Portfolio
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
Upcoming Workshop Details
Tentatively Planned Workshops
October 9-10 Letterlocking
Before security envelopes, people needed a way to keep their letters private. They used a variety of folds, cuts, and wax seals to tamper proof or "lock" their mail. This method was used by royalty, spies, merchants, and lovers. In this in-person workshop, learn the history of letterlocking and fold along to lock your own letters.
Edina Community Center Edina, MN
Register Here or via phone at 952-848-3952
October 17th Suminagashi for Kids
Immerse yourself in suminagashi (“floating ink”) paper marbling! This in-person workshop includes the history of paper marbling across cultures—from its origins in 12th-century Japan and China to its development in Turkey to the present day—and detailed demonstrations of basic techniques and patterns. Come away with unique marbled paper that you can use to make cards, books, collage, and more!
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
Register Here Ages 6-8
Register Here Ages 9-12
Spring Ultimate Portfolio
Have you ever wanted or needed a portfolio with a specific function? In this in-person workshop, learn how to make the ultimate portfolio. This portfolio has all of the bells and whistles you can imagine: handles, an insert, pockets, an easel, straps, and more. Come away with the skills needed to make any number of customized portfolios to suit your needs.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
November 6 and 13 Coptic Bindings I
In this class you will create coptic bound journals. Coptic binding originated in 2nd century Egypt, features visible chain-stitch sewing on the spine, and is perfect for sketchbooks, journaling, and albums because it can lay completely flat. All tools and materials are provided to make a truly unique and personalized book. Ideal for complete beginners, as well as those who would like to expand their range of bookbinding techniques. Comprehensive instructions and templates will be included, to enable you to continue making more Coptic books at home. Hand strength and dexterity are needed to enjoy this workshop.
Edina Community Edu. Registration Will Be Available Here
November 9 and 16 East Asian Side Sewn Bindings I
Side sewn bindings feature single sheets bound with decorative, exposed sewing at the spine. Often referred to as Japanese, this binding was developed across East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. The earliest known stab bindings date back to at least the 15th century and are still made today. We will briefly discuss the history of these bindings as well as the materials involved and learn several traditional patterns. Through step-by-step demonstration and visual handouts, we’ll walk through each sewing pattern as a group with the instructor providing individual support as needed.
Edina Community Center Edina, MN
Register Here or via phone at 952-848-3952
November 19th Virtual Book Wreaths
The holidays are coming, so make your decorations bookish! In this workshop, we will make book wreaths. They make great decor on walls in libraries, music rooms, and above the mantle, as table centerpieces, and on bookshelves. In this workshop, you will make a book wreath and have plenty of ideas for variations.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
November 21st Exploding Books
In this in-person workshop, explore two sculptural book forms that tend to explode out of your hands! The ‘petal fold’ book and ‘Turkish map fold’ are made of folded pages that are glued together with hard covers. These playful book structures are an approachable way to experiment with adding content to make an artist’s book, a sculptural book object, or an elaborate handmade card for a loved one.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
October 24th and 26th East Asian Side Sewn Bindings II
Side sewn bindings feature single sheets bound with decorative, exposed sewing at the spine. Often referred to as Japanese, this binding was developed across East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. The earliest known stab bindings date back to at least the 15th century and are still made today. We will briefly discuss the history of these bindings as well as the materials involved and learn several traditional patterns. Through step-by-step demonstration and visual handouts, we’ll walk through each sewing pattern as a group with the instructor providing individual support as needed.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
December 12th and 19th East Asian Side Sewn Bindings I
Side sewn bindings feature single sheets bound with decorative, exposed sewing at the spine. Often referred to as Japanese, this binding was developed across East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. The earliest known stab bindings date back to at least the 15th century and are still made today. We will briefly discuss the history of these bindings as well as the materials involved and learn several traditional patterns. Through step-by-step demonstration and visual handouts, we’ll walk through each sewing pattern as a group with the instructor providing individual support as needed.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
February 8th and 15th Book Repair I
Side sewn bindings feature single sheets bound with decorative, exposed sewing at the spine. Often referred to as Japanese, this binding was developed across East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. The earliest known stab bindings date back to at least the 15th century and are still made today. We will briefly discuss the history of these bindings as well as the materials involved and learn several traditional patterns. Through step-by-step demonstration and visual handouts, we’ll walk through each sewing pattern as a group with the instructor providing individual support as needed.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
January 25th Paper Repair
In this in-person workshop, learn foundational techniques and methods to care for aged and damaged paper. Begin with an overview of basic and historical paper-treatment methods, then find inspiration in books and papers participants bring to the workshop to learn specific techniques for treating paper that is dirty, bent, curled, folded, dog-eared, taped, or torn. These methods and techniques will give you the skills you need to care for your personal collection and to begin your journey into book repair. Instruction and demonstrations will take place throughout the day, with time for one-to-one guidance on individual repair projects. Bring in aged and damaged paper and books that you would like to evaluate and treat.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts Minneapolis, MN
Past Workshops
Toolmaking
So many tools used in the book world are specialized, come to this in-person workshop to learn how to make some of them at a fraction of the cost at most retailers. We will discuss how to make a laying press, wood and plexi press boards, bone folders, punching cradles, and box corner jigs. Depending on time and interests, we will also make a corner trimming jig, bent needles, and/or soft weights (also known as ‘snake weights’) with plenty of time for questions.
July 2024 in Minneapolis
Book History
In this class you will learn from a professional bookbinder about the history of the book. Why they look and act differently depending on when and where in the world they are from. We will look at examples and model books so that you can better understand the terminology related to the structure, repair, and collecting of books.
September 2024 in Edina, MN
When Paper Fails: Paper Repair
This all day workshop explains how paper was made, how it gets damaged, and what we can do about it. We go into techniques and methods of repairing damaged paper.
May 2024 and November 2023 in Minneapolis, MN
East Asian Side Sewn Bindings I
A personal favorite type of binding, this workshop covers the most common style of East Asian bindings, how they were made traditionally, and an introduction to how they can be adapted to modern book arts.
May 2024 and November 2023 in Minneapolis, MN
Book Repair I
This multi-session book repair workshop covers the anatomy of books, how they break and what we can do about it. We cover a handful of repair methods and techniques.
March and June 2024 in Minneapolis, MN and 2017 Alexandria, VA
CrissCross / Secret Belgian Binding
Learn how to make a CrissCross / Secret Belgian Binding. These book covers are sewn using a magic ladder-like pattern. This allows the covers to flip to the back and the pages to lay flat making it ideal for sketchbooks and journaling.
March and July 2024 in Minneapolis, MN
Introduction to Book Repair
This one-session introduction to book repair is a great way to learn how to care for your books and make basic repairs
March 2024 in Bloomington, MN and 2017 Alexandria, VA
Letterlocking
Before security envelopes, people folded up their letters and sealed them using wax, strips of paper, and/or string. In this one-session workshop, you learn some of the history and fold along with the instructor to learn historic methods of locking letters.
February 2024 - VIRTUAL
Pamphlet Books and Journaling
This one-session workshop teaches how to make a pamphlet stitch journal and then the art of journaling.
Summer 2023 in Palmyra, NY and Fall 2023 in Bloomington, MN
Artistry of Books Camp, grades 6-9
Each day will include bookbinding, paper decoration, and a short field trip outside (weather permitting!) after lunch. Learn four bindings and several paper decoration techniques in this four-day, in-person book arts immersion designed for ages 12–15! Start by learning the flexagon, an origami-like structure that is part book, part toy! Learn traditional side-stitch bindings, make a tunnel book, and create a “perfect” binding. Experiment with paper marbling, paper dying, and other paper decoration techniques.
July 2024 in Minneapolis, MN and 2018 and 2019 in Alexandria, VA