Shibagau Creek Forest Farmstead
A place to learn, create, recharge and connect with nature.
Our 2025 experimental bookbinding workshop involved making fold books on long strips of Japanese washi paper, utilizing cyanotype (sun prints or blue prints) solution which is exposed to sunlight. Collaging images and photographs copied onto transparencies provided the contents.
The resulting long accordion strip was bound using the drum leaf glued method of binding (no sewing) and hard covers were pasted onto the accordion section.
The boxmaking weekend was a great success with beautiful results by each participant. We enjoyed ourselves, worked diligently and went through the steps of constructing, covering and assembling double-tray clamshell boxes covered in colourful Japanese papers.
If this workshop intrigues you, get in touch to let us know to schedule a repeat event.
Two workshops are planned that will cover boxmaking and experimental folded artist’s books, including a potential for collage and alternative printing techniques to create contents for binding.
Boxmaking – July 5-6
Over the weekend we will address the construction of box formats leading to a hinged, clamshell-style box. Covering technique will be explained and practiced.
Experimental Artist’s Books – July 25-27
Various options for making folded artist’s books will be presented and the group may decide to focus on particular techniques. Participants are encouraged to bring visual materials to work with or collect them onsite. A photocopier may be used to create pages or acetates for blueprinting. Sewing and gluing will be simple and appropriate for those without binding experience, while more complex approaches can be selected by those looking to develop more advanced skills.
We will begin with a Friday evening introductory session depending on when participants are able to arrive.
If you are interested in attending a workshop, please register online or contact us at workshops@scff.ca.Participants may arrive on Friday to stay the weekend at SCFF or arrive for each day’s session. Accommodation arrangements include all meals.
A deposit of $60. will hold your place with the balance due two weeks prior to the workshop.
At a one-day workshop in January, with 5 of us at the Sydenham Library, we went through the process of folding, gluing and trimming the binding which has no sewing, which opens up flat and can use a variety of materials for the spine and the board covers. The binding is attributed to American master binder Tim Ely. Peter learned boxmaking and gold leafing from Tim in workshops and boxmaking is high on the wishlist for this summer’s binding adventures.
