Make A Medieval Journal workshop with Laura Joy

by Susan Green October 25, 2014

Artist-educator Laura Joy and I ran a second one-day workshop at Artisan Community Art Studio at the end of September. We had a full house of 10 participants and made a simple but pleasing Single Pamphlet notebook, then moved on to the main event, the Medieval Journal.

The Longstitch with Linkstitch binding is the one I specialise in because it's so simple yet effective in design and function. It was a real pleasure to pass on some knowledge and hopefully some useful techniques to our wonderful, enthusiastic and creative workshop participants. A 15th century German style originally used for council documents and accounts, the Longstitch with Linkstitch makes a great journal or sketchbook as it lies flat on a desk, takes some inclusions and although very beautiful, is practical and sturdy.

Thank you to everyone who came and generously allowed us to photograph you hard at work. It was particularly wonderful to be able to include some of your work in Stitch & Bind: an exhibition of handmade books and textiles at Bournemouth Library as part of the Arts by the Sea festival in October. 

I'll be running further 1-day workshops as well as a 6 week short course, please email info@boundbyhand.co.uk to be notified of future dates and venues.

Susan 

At Artisan Studio:

Folding and tearing paper down to size:

Choosing a colour scheme and selecting a variety of decorative papers to use as endpapers and section dividers:

A bright colour scheme, all the signatures assembled:

A muted and atmospheric colour scheme:

Sewing the final signatures:

The room was very quiet at this point:

Some of the finished Longstitch with Linkstitch journals, some bound in leather, others in synthetic PU, a vegan alternative. Some 'icebreaker' activity prompts which we used to select colour schemes are also seen with their corresponding books.

A happy bookbinder:

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