STITCH & BIND: exhibition at Bournemouth Central Library Gallery for Arts By The Sea Festival.
Bookbinder Susan Green and artist-educator Laura Joy recently ran 1-day book making workshops at Artisan Community Art Studio in Moordown, Dorset. The result is this exhibition of a variety of interesting book forms made by workshop participants, accompanied by examples made by both Laura and Susan.
Several kinds of bindings are on display in the glass cabinets, ranging from the 15th century Longstitch with Linkstitch in both leather and vegan alternatives, the Japanese Stab Stitch, to the more unusual Concertina & Double Concertina forms, the Single & Double Pamphlet notebooks.
Most participants were new to bookbinding, some came to the workshops from a background in fine art, craft or design, and many others simply enjoy crafting or creating in their free time.
Some brought their own artwork, such as cyanotype prints, to incorporate into their books, others used a variety of handmade plant fibre papers. We also recycled pages from withdrawn library stock otherwise destined for landfill, and culled fashion and lifestyle magazines for inspiration and decorative book covers.
Stitch & Bind runs at the Gallery on Level 2 of Bournemouth Central Library until 24 October. Also on display are contemporary textiles made by workshop participants and tutor Leah Watts, including examples of patchwork and quilting, as well as sketchbooks filled with textile and stitching examples.
Tutors Laura Joy and Susan Green continue to run their 1-day workshops and are also developing a 6-week bookbinding short course to run in the Spring term at Artisan Community Art Studio.
To find out more about these book making workshops & register your interest in the short course, contact Susan Green: 07748 759 371, email susan@boundbyhand.co.uk or sign up to her newsletter.
Some images from Stitch & Bind:
Here you can see examples of Accordion fold books, also known as the Concertina fold. Some have been left blank, others digitally printed, one has been filled with mementoes from a holiday, the covers feature a map of the start and end points of the trip.Also on display are two examples of the Japanese Stab Stitch, with cyanotype prints incorporated into the front covers.
Case 2 includes some examples of the Longstitch with Linkstitch binding - these were made with synthetic PU, a vegan alternative to leather. 
The Gallery area on Level 2 of the library, with textiles by workshop participants and tutor Leah Watts:
I've had some lovely commissions for bespoke guest books recently.
Bespoke Wedding Guest Book with Miniature Journal Favours
Louise asked me to bind a Guest Book in Duck Egg Blue leather to match her bridesmaid's dresses, with matching Mini Journals as bridesmaid favours. The frontspage is printed with the illustration Louise had designed for her wedding invitations. The commission was finished off with an Ivory presentation box.
Bespoke Wedding Guest Book with Monogram
Ana Lucia commissioned me to bind this medium guest book in Biscuit leather and Neutral thread for her sister's wedding. The frontspage features the couple's names against a watermark they had designed for their wedding stationery.
If you'd like a Wedding Guest Book bound to co-ordinate with your colour scheme, please take a look at your leather options here and email me to discuss your requirements: info@boundbyhand.co.uk. Standard Guest Books in White and Neutral can also be purchased here.
Susan
I'm shortly heading to the Isle of Portland for a late summer holiday. I'm renting a cottage with sea views and will be visiting the many site specific art exhibitions and installations for the B-Side Festival. I'll return to the studio on 18th September; current commissions are in progress and I will update you on my return if not before. All new orders and enquiries received between 10 - 18th September will be responded to on my return.
Thanks for your understanding during my short annual leave!
Susan
Sunday's bookbinding workshop was a great success! Fellow tutor Laura Joy and I were joined by 6 participants, some of whom had made books before, others had not. We set up the day with examples of the book forms we'd be making. And sunflowers.
As well as a quick and simple Hot Dog booklet, everyone made a Concertina binding with a choice of 2 cover styles, a Double Pamphlet notebook and then a Japanese Stab Stitch binding. Book covers were made from maps, pages of photography books (otherwise destined for landfill) and plant fibre paper. One participant used her own cyanotype to make the cover of her Stab Stitch book.
Thank you to everyone who came, I hope you enjoyed it as much as Laura and I did. Thanks also to Pauline Stanley at Artisan Community Art Studio for providing such a great workspace and setting it up so wonderfully.
If you're continuing to make books and have any questions or would like some help, please feel free to ask here or email me: info@boundbyhand.co.uk You can also buy that waxed linen thread in small quantities here.
Look forward to seeing you on the 28th September for the Medieval Journal workshop!
Susan
Heads up if you love to win! Coast Magazine is running a Twitter giveaway for a pair of my brilliantly blue Sapphire Miniature Journals.
To #win these @boundbyhand leather journals, follow us & retweet before Wed 12pm. We love the bright coastal colours! pic.twitter.com/02Xfpgl3iY
— Coast Magazine (@coastmag) August 22, 2014
Get social for regular chances to win Mini Journals - they've been featured in Oh Comely, Country Living and Hello! to name but a few, and they make great little gifts.
INSTAGRAM - first ever giveaway to a follower who comments on this post: TWITTER - monthly to a lucky follower
Psssst! It's almost giveaway time!. Tell your friends to follow @boundbyhand and they could win a Mini Journal. pic.twitter.com/rkCMgGVZAw
— BOUND (@boundbyhand) July 21, 2014FACEBOOK - major milestones - so far, the only place to win a 'full size' journal. View my page here.
So get liking, sharing and commenting - let's hope you're one of the lucky ones! To see what some of my lovely social media followers have won recently, click here.
Susan
Here in the studio I'm enjoying bright yellow and oranges as the heatwave approaches.
If you'd like a sizzling hot journal or supplies for your smokin' craft project, send an email to info@boundbyhand.co.uk or shop the ready to ship collection.
Susan
I'm running two workshops this September in conjunction with artist-educator Laura Joy. The first introduces you to the pamphlet, concertina and Japanese stab stitch book forms, the second focuses on the Longstitch with Linkstitch binding, using a leather cover. In both workshops you will have the opportunity to personalise your book(s) and although all tools and materials are provided, you are welcome to bring your own interesting papers, artwork etc to bind. No previous experience in bookbinding is necessary and you can attend either or both workshops.
BOOK MAKING: Sunday 7th September 10 am - 4 pm Cost £35
In this workshop you will learn how to make 3 book forms - the concertina, pamphlet and Japanese stab-stitch binding. These books make perfect gifts and work well as photo / keepsake albums, and can also be a great way of binding together prints or drawings. You will have the opportunity to make your books individual and unique, and after this day workshop, you will never need to buy a notebook or sketchbook again!
For further information please contact Laura Joy: 07765 681 592
To book please contact the venue directly: Artisan Community Art Studio on 07729 829 209 or email artisanstudio1@gmail.com
MAKE A MEDIEVAL JOURNAL: Sunday 28th September 10 - 4 Cost £35
In this day workshop you will learn how to make the Longstitch with Linkstitch book form. This 15th century binding with leather cover makes a wonderful journal, sketchbook, scrapbook or guest book. Examples that I've made can be viewed here - you'll be making similar books!
For further information please email me, Susan Green: susan@boundbyhand.co.uk or call 07748 759 371
To book please contact the venue directly: Artisan Community Art Studio on 07729 829 209 or email artisanstudio1@gmail.com
VENUE
Artisan Community Art Studio: First Point Plus, 1005 Wimborne Road Bournemouth, Dorset. BH9 2BS Opposite the Holly Tree Pub. Please go down the slope at the left hand side of a block of flats numbered 1003. Website
BOOKINGS
To book, please contact the venue directly. Call Pauline Stanley at Artisan Community Art Studio on 07729 829 209 or email artisanstudio1@gmail.com Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. I hope to see you there!
Susan
Did you know that I love to give a Miniature Journal to one of my followers every month on Twitter? And at each milestone on Facebook? It's my way of saying thanks for your support, companionship, conversation and for telling your friends about my books.
The Minis have been featured in Oh Comely, Country Living, Hello Online to name but a few, and they make great little gifts.
Hey, it's #giveaway day! Just follow @boundbyhand. This month it's this handmade Mini Leather Journal pic.twitter.com/e2DUDFiEmd
— BOUND (@boundbyhand) May 23, 2014
Just follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page. And if you don't fancy leaving it up to fate, you can buy a Mini Journal, too.
Good luck and thanks for your company!
Susan
This cheerful book is the very last one left in my 50% off sale. It would make a wonderful artist's sketchbook or a guest book as it's landscape format and lies flat on a desk. Ships now, worldwide.
If you missed out on the sale this time around, subscribe to my occasional newsletter to get the heads up next time! You'll need to hit 'enter' on your keyboard to submit the form.
It's easy to purchase and pay online - you can pay by credit / debit card, Paypal, bank transfer or cheque.
Here's a step-by-step guide to paying with a regular credit or debit card. Paypal processes the payment, but don't worry, you don't need a Paypal account.
1. Select your book(s): click the yellow rectangular 'add to cart' button
2. Checkout: click the yellow rectangular 'checkout' button.
3. Personal Details: fill in as required
4. How would you like to pay? Select the 'Paypal' radio button then click 'complete my purchase'.
5. Pay with a debit or credit card: fill in your card details then click 'pay' at the bottom of the page
Queries?
If you have any difficulties checking out by any method, please email me: info@boundbyhand.co.uk or call +44 (0)7748 759 371 and I will be happy to walk you through the process. Thank you for your business,
Susan
It's May, and that means the start of the wedding season! If you're getting hitched this summer, many congratulations! Whether it's next week or you're planning far ahead, here's what you need:
Bound in the finest white goatskin with beautifully smooth cartridge paper, this lovely book lies flat on a desk to receive your guests' well wishes. The first page reads 'Happily Ever After' in a romantic cursive font. Available in A5 size at £99 and A6 size at £70. Ready to ship.
Choose your leather and thread colours to co-ordinate with your wedding colour scheme, or your home decor. Bound in the finest goatskin or calfskin, available in a regular binding as a guest book, or with a memory binding if you'd like to add lots of photos and mementoes of your invitations, place settings, etc. Ask me to print custom frontspage text, such as your names and the date and location of your wedding, perhaps with a romantic quotation.
Available at A4 size at £199, A5 at £119 and A6 at £90. Please allow 2-3 weeks plus shipping for me to bind your commission.
For bridesmaids, flower girls and as a lovely little addition to the place settings at your wedding breakfast. Available to commission in sets of 10 or more from £90, in colours of your choice. Available as a stand alone purchase or in combination with a Guest Book.
Reviews
"A gorgeous, bespoke wedding guest book... did everything possible to make it perfect for us... our book was a one off, a treat and well worth every penny" Alice, Penrith
"We love it - thank you so much for making us a unique and beautiful wedding guest book - perfection" Janine & Tom, London
"We bought this as a guest feedback book for our wedding - we loved it and so did our guests!" Catriona, High Peak
Getting hitched?
The White & Neutral books are ready to ship so you can shop online right now.
For bespoke work, please contact Susan the bookbinder to discuss your requirements, and please mention your deadline and the country to which you would like your book(s) shipped. International brides, please do ask for a quote in your currency.
E: info@boundbyhand.co.uk T: +44 (0) 7748 759 371
Have a wonderful wedding day!
Susan