UPDATE: The Spring course is fully booked, but I will be running it again in the Autumn, on Thursday evenings starting 10th September, all the details are as below. Please book early to avoid disappointment!
I'll be teaching a 6 week Bookbinding evening class on Thursdays 7-9 pm starting 30th April at Artisan Community Art Studio, Moordown in Dorset. There is space for just 8 participants, so please book early. Booking details are below.
Is it for me? The course is suitable for beginners or those with a little experience. If you enjoy making and working with your hands, want to make your own notebooks, or are curious about how to bind your own writing or artwork, this course is for you. You are welcome to come if you've previously attended the one-day bookbinding course run by myself and Laura Joy. I will be revisiting some of the bindings you made then as well as introducing you to new book forms, so it's a great opportunity to finesse your skills and expand your creative practice.
What will I be doing? you’ll make folded and sewn book forms including softcover and hardcover bindings you can use as a journal, sketchbook, portfolio or display album. You'll be working in a friendly atmosphere with others who want to learn, to share knowledge and skills and enjoy.
What shall I bring? I provide all tools, although you are welcome to bring your own favourites. Materials will be provided, but please also bring your own interesting papers to cover your books, such as quality wrapping paper, your own artwork, plant fibre paper, pages from old magazines, maps & books (the larger the better, but bring what you have and we can discuss what you might like to use during the course).
Where? Artisan Community Art Studio, 1005 Wimborne Road, Moordown, Bournemouth BH9 2BS. Known as 'First Point Plus', the venue is opposite the Holly Tree Pub - please come down the slope, entrance on the right.
Date: Thursdays, commencing April 30th
Time: 7-9 pm (please arrive 5-10 minutes early for a prompt start).
Cost: £60 for six 2 hour sessions. Please note the Autumn course is £80 as it will run an extra half hour per week, from 6:30 - 9 pm.
Getting there by car: limited parking is available to the rear of the venue, drive down the slope, past the entrance on the right and continue around the back. Blue Badge holders can park next to the venue's entrance on the right. Further on-street parking is available.
Getting there by bus: routes 4 and 2, alternatively route number 5 bus stops are 10 minutes walk away.
Facilities: Toilets are available in the venue and tea / coffee making facilities within the workshop. The venue is wheelchair-accessible.
To book: download the booking form (workshop title is Bookbinding Evening Class) and return it to Pauline Stanley who runs the venue. Alternatively call Pauline on 07729 829 209 or email paulinelstanley@icloud.com
I look forward to seeing you there!
Susan
Shop the January Sale with 25% off selected hardback journals, fine leather journals and sketchbooks. Here are a couple of examples. Prices start at £18.75 and the books are ready to ship, worldwide.
Back in October I shared news of photographer Robin Hutt's open studio exhibition Dawn and Dusk: the Fairlight End Garden Journals. Robin commissioned a series of Accordion Sketchbooks to display some of the work, combining images with handwritten text to stunning effect. Much to my regret I was unable to visit, but Robin kindly sent me some pictures of her exhibition and I'm pleased to share them here with you.
See more exquisite images in their full, utter glory at Robin's website.
And thank you to Robin for generously sharing the images here - what a treat and inspiration to see how you have used the Accordion Sketchbooks and to get a glimpse into your studio.
All images copyright © Robin Hutt, 2015.
If Robin's work has inspired you, you can buy Accordion Sketchbooks in a variety of colour ways and sizes or get in touch to discuss a bespoke commission for your project: info@boundbyhand.co.uk
Susan.
Inspirational weddings, a celebration of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples and a dare to be different feature with steampunk style are all featured in Dorset, Wiltshire & Hampshire Bride 2015 edition. There's also a guide to making your white wedding as green as possible.
From choosing a vintage dress and tableware, an eco-friendly venue or turning an old family heirloom into a new wedding ring, Bride has lots of ideas, with a particular focus on using locally-sourced produce and products.
Which is where I come in - if you're a bride planning your big day in Dorset, Wiltshire or Hampshire, get in touch with me to discuss your options for a Wedding Guest Book bound in leather, and Mini Journal favours for your bridesmaids and guests.
You can choose an off-the-peg Guest Book in White & Neutral or ask me to a create a perfectly bespoke, personalised book to co-ordinate with your colour scheme and to print your names and wedding date on the frontspage.
My thanks to Heidi Watson, images copyright © 2015 Dorset, Wiltshire & Hampshire Bride magazine
Shop the Ready to Ship collection or view your Bespoke options.
Susan
e: info@boundbyhand.co.uk t: 07748 759 371
My super fresh and pretty Journal / Sketchbook in Pink & Green is featured in this month's VOGUE! You can buy it here, I ship worldwide and can deliver directly to your gift recipient, with a presentation box, if you would like. My thanks to Natalie Moss-Blundell and VOGUE.
'She works hard for the money, so treat her right by giving a chic gift that will make the morning commute more stylish'. I'm super proud to see one of my leather sketchbooks featured alongside covetable gifts from Prada, Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Diane von Furstenberg in this 9-5 Christmas Gift Guide from ELLE Malaysia.
My thanks to Associate Editor Jamie Khoo.
Shop Journals & Sketchbooks here.
Susan
Visit Handmade for Christmas at The Workhouse Chapel for a glorious selection of unique and beautiful gifts from 35 of Dorset's finest local artists and makers, including my fine leather books.
The chapel is an amazing space for an pop-up shop. Sadly I forgot to photograph it, but the massive woodburner makes you feel very welcome... and warm!
My work: 
I don't know the maker's name, but I covet this jug!
Richard Gibson makes beautiful boxes in the Shaker tradition:
Rose Hatcher is not only the owner of The Workhouse Chapel, she's a talented textile artist: 
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:
Almost time for October's #giveaway! Follow @boundbyhand to #win a Hallowe'en Mini Journal. http://t.co/FKvxp3YLg8 pic.twitter.com/fQJXIJQ6Rt
— BOUND (@boundbyhand) October 20, 2014
Best of luck and see you there - do introduce yourself! Susan
If you find yourself in or near East Sussex over the coming week you might like to visit Robin Hutt at Fairlight End, who is showing her photography work in Dawn and Dusk: the Fairlight End Garden Journals, a PhotoHastings open studio exhibition.
Robin chose my Accordion Sketchbooks to display her work: "I love your Accordion Sketchbooks because of their simplicity, the quality of the paper and their understated stylishness.... They are really helping me refine my ideas for this exhibition".
At dawn and dusk Robin Hutt has been making journeys of discovery with her camera around her 3 acre garden. Mutability and imperfection are realities, which gardeners have to embrace all the time. The work shown in this open studio shows the ways in which a photographer grapples with and conveys these elements through chance encounters as the sun comes up and goes down.
Venue: Fairlight End, Pett Road, Pett, East Sussex (opposite the Two Sawyers’ Pub) TN35 4HB
Dates: 18th and 19th October, 24th 25th and 26th October
Opening times: 11-4 pm
Save the date for the following exhibitions, Christmas fairs and artist book events where I will be exhibiting, selling and sometimes demonstrating.
Stitch & Bind Bournemouth Library for Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival: an exhibition of handmade books made by workshop participants, myself and fellow tutor Laura Joy during two recent bookbinding workshops at Artisan Studio. Runs til 24 October.
Handmade 4 Christmas at the Workhouse Chapel, Sturminster Newton Open daily 8 November until 24th December. A wonderful collection of work from renowned local makers.
Etsy Dorset Team Christmas Fair 6 December 10-4 at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. One of only 17 official European Etsy Christmas craft fairs, I'll be joining fellow members of the Dorset Etsy Team and I can't wait to spend the day with my fellow team members and welcome lots of local visitors. Come and say hello!
BABE: Bristol Artists' Book Event 11 - 12 April Arnolfini, Narrow Quay, Bristol. Over 100 national and international artists, publishers, presses, dealers and organisations come to BABE over the weekend to show their artists' books at this two-day event. The last BABE in 2013 was a busy weekend with 7,530 visitors! I'm looking forward to meeting up with other book artists and seeing their amazing work. I'll be there with my work in Gallery 3 on the 1st floor.
Hope to see you there!
Susan