This book combines the soft opening of a leather spine with the sturdy firmness of board covers. The completed book opens nearly perfectly flat making it an ideal book for your journal writing or drawing. Creating your book involves sewing folded signatures through a leather spine with the long stitch. We will begin by getting acquainted with paper grain and its importance for the finished book. We will cover the boards of the book with decorative paper and once dry we'll drill holes in the covers to prepare for sewing. The leather spine will also need holes for sewing which we will pierce with an awl or drill. Paper signatures will be folded and pierced and then we'll take a short break for lunch. After lunch we will learn to sew the long stitch to bind the book. Covers will then be sewn onto the leather spine piece. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed your book, and have the skill to make more on your own. Class fee includes all materials we use to make a book: leather for the spine, a sheet of decorative paper to cover boards, paper for your signatures, a pair of pre-cut cover boards, glue, and waxed-linen thread. Students can borrow tools from the BAL or you can bring your own bookbinder's toolkit. Students will need: bonefolder, medium-weight awl, Xacto knife, scissors, ruler, and a bookbinder's needle. Optional: Students may elect to bring their own sheet of decorative paper for covering the boards..

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks East (3063 E. Sterling Cir)

Will be available to register on Monday, March 30 at 8:00am.

This book structure is an intermediate sewing technique for students who have experience sewing multi-signature book structures. Leather spines will be backed, punched and prepared for hand sewing signatures of artists paper. Covers will be prepared and attached to the spine. The binding is completed with a decorative cross stitch pattern using multiple colors of embroidery floss. Students will have options to design their book by combining their choice of different leather colors, decorative cover paper options and multiple colors of thread. The result is a binding unique to your design aesthetic! Additional leather spines will be available for students to make additional books at home.

Bring your own maps - which we will trim to size - or take from our vast supply. Everyone will take home five 9”x14” broadsides. 

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

(kids 12+ must be accompanied by an adult)

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, March 30 at 8:00am.

Join Julia and Greg in the BAL letterpress shop to make cards/prints to celebrate spring, Mother's Day, or the coming Solstice! We'll begin by choosing cuts from the BAL collection. With two colors and two passes, students will learn the art of pressure printing, layering colors, and if time allows, setting lead type. Printing will be completed on the BAL's Vandercook presses. Each student will go home with a frame worthy print or set of cards with matching envelopes.

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks East (3063 E. Sterling Cir)

Will be available to register on Monday, March 30 at 8:00am.