More Books at Home

Here’s a great online video that demonstrates how to create a non-adhesive hardcover accordion book: http://ow.ly/AO9T50zqhNi

Keep creating!

Bookish Things to Do At Home

Looking for something to keep you busy while inside? Here’s a few suggestions:

Make a Australian Reverse Piano Hinge Book: Here is a video tutorial and downloadable handout (instructions and paper details) to create your very own book. This is great for beginners and advanced bookmakers and isn’t a huge time commitment either. Created by CBBAG Sask member Robin Canham.

Check out the free online courses at FutureLearn: Right now there is a free four week course all about The Book of Kells and another one that looks really interesting on Scottish Handwriting.

Fish Parchment? Yes, you can create your very own book cover material with fish skin. Peter Verheyen has started an online challenge to try to make something a little different – fish skin parchment. He recently wrote an article that appeared in Book Arts Canada, entitled “Flips” and His Eels: Fish Skin in Bookbinding. Also check out Peter’s many posts on his blog. There is also going to be an online workshop. Details on the challenge can be found here.

If you have any more suggestions, leave your comments below!

Guild of Book Workers Videos Free for 1 Month

The Guild of Book Workers (GBW) acknowledges that many people are struggling to figure out how to work or learn from home as schools, cultural heritage organizations, and businesses across the nation close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In response to this developing situation, GBW’s Board of Directors has decided to make all videos on the Guild of Book Workers’ Vimeo page available to rent, FREE of charge for the next month. This offer is open to everyone, regardless of membership status.

The GBW Vimeo page can be found here: https://bit.ly/2U9ZHEZ

Enter the code GBW4FREE during checkout to reduce the cost of the rental to $0.00. Rentals are available as streaming content for 7 days. This code will expire on April 17, 2020. If you have any difficulty using this promo code, please contact GBW President Bexx Caswell-Olson at president@guildofbookworkers.org. Technical questions relating to the Vimeo website should be directed to Vimeo.

Prairie Art Book Fair, 2020, Winnipeg, MB

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art (1-460 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB) is pleased to announce the second iteration of the Prairie Art Book Fair (PABF). Established as a means of acknowledging the critical relationship between contemporary art and publishing with a regional focus on the Prairies. PABF provides a space for publishers and artists to share their work and for the art book community to intensify and flourish. The fair showcases publications and events from Prairie-based publishers, artists, and galleries ranging from zines, catalogues, artist editions, fiction, poetry, criticism, and periodicals.

Exhibitor applications are due April 30, 2020 and successful applicants will be notified after the closing date. If you are interested in renting a table or organizing an event in conjunction with the fair please fill out our online application form or contact Erin Josephson-Laidlaw, Bookstore Manager: erin@plugin.org for more information.

Cross Structure Variation Bookbinding Workshop w/Susan Mills, Saskatoon, SK

Cross Structure Book Variation

Do you want to get things together in book form? Or make yourself a custom notebook? Have you ever wondered just how a book is made? In this workshop we will cover the basics of constructing a sewn multi-section softcover book.

This non-adhesive binding has many design possibilities. The pages are sewn directly onto paper straps that continue and fold to form the cover. This is a contemporary binding developed by Carmencho Arrequi and is based on her study of historical limp bindings. Participants will find this book to be easily adapted to a full leather cover.

No previous binding experience required; everyone with an interest in books is welcome

The use of tools and all materials are included.

Susan Mills is an artist and bookbinder currently based in Saskatoon.

Date & Time: Sunday, March 29th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Void Gallery, 312 Avenue B South, Saskatoon, SK

Register Online

Bookbinding Now Podcast with Martha Cole

In the latest episode of Bookbinding Now, Saskatchewan based fiber artist Martha Cole speaks with Robin Canham: http://www.bookbindingnow.com

Bookbinding Now is a community-based audio series addressing all aspects of the book.  It was founded in 2011 in conjunction with Full Tilt bookbinding classes.  The series is hosted by Susan Mills. Be sure to check out the archived conversations as well.

Bookmaking Workshops in Saskatoon

There are two bookmaking workshops scheduled in March at Art Placement in Saskatoon, they will be lead by local book artisans Kate Hodgson & Beth Matheson of Happy Leopard Chapbooks.

Workshop #1: Hardcover French-Door Book

Hardcover French-Door Book

Workshop #1: Sunday, March 1st
1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
$25.00 +GST (all tools and materials are included in the registration fee)
Kate’s 2020 Bookmaking Project is a hardcover French-Door Book with sewn-signature and accordion-style interior! As the name suggests, a french door book features two spines and two covers, hinged on opposite sides of the book, which swing open from the centre, like a pair of french doors! The covers, spines, and back of the book have been finished with one of our beautiful LamaLi Decorative Papers, a very detailed Harimau pattern in pink on raspberry (can you spot the tigers in the pattern??). For the inside of the book, Kate has selected a coordinating LamaLi Lokta in solid raspberry for the end pages. For the sewn signature and accordion pages, she has gone with Arturo Book in Warm White, a fantastic, textweight paper that is ideally suited to all bookmaking projects, with a lightly textured surface that is perfect for a range of dry media.

Hardcover Square Book with Flap Closure

Workshop #2: Sunday, March 8th
1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
$25.00 +GST (all tools and materials are included in the registration fee)

Beth’s book project for 2020 is a hardcover square format book with flap closure and interior paper details! The hard covers are finished with Canson Mi-Teintes paper in an earthy Moss Green colour. Most commonly used for pastel drawing, at 160 gsm (98lb), Mi-Teintes offers just the right amount of stiffness, it folds beautifully, has a nice, lightly textured surface, and the broad range of colours can’t be beat! Exposed stitching on the spine of the book and a two layer band combining Arturo Book overlayed with Ginwashi Tissue adds a further natural touch. The band also serves a functional purpose, securing the paper flap closure. For the interior pages, Beth has selected Arturo Book in White, the same paper used on the exterior banding. Arturo Book is a fantastic, textweight paper that is ideally suited to all bookmaking projects, with a lightly textured surface that is perfect for a range of dry media. The interior pages have also been seamed using strips of Chiyogami in a charming bird pattern, to create a semi-accordion style interior.

Registration begins Wednesday, Feb. 12th. Register by phone (306-664-3931 ext. 1) or in person at Art Placement. Sorry, no emails registrations will be accepted. Space is limited; register early to be guaranteed a spot! Due to the high demand and limited number of spaces, full payment is due at the time of registration.