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.

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.

Glass fusing, also known as kiln-formed glass, involves heating multiple pieces of glass in a kiln to create a single, fused piece. It's a versatile art form with many practical and decorative applications.

Come learn and explore the basics of using glass as an artmaking medium in just a few short hours in this introductory level class and enhance your garden at the same time! We’ll provide a selection of colored glass sheets for you to use for the base of your design and other various forms of glass (frit, confetti, and stringers) you can use to really bring your design to life. Each student will complete 2-3 garden stakes that will be ready for pick up within 2 weeks of the conclusion of the class.

Whether you’re totally new to this art form, or a seasoned enthusiast, this class is for you. All are welcome!

Our Glass Studio does have some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment): 

• Please come dressed in close-toe and heel shoes, and natural material clothing, i.e. cotton or linen, long pants are recommended. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry, long earrings or scarves.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles, but if you have your own and would like to bring them, please do!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Tuesday, May 26 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.

The Book Arts League is excited to announce that we will now offer open studio hours! Our shop will be available monthly for you to print your work. Below are the upcoming open studio dates. BAL board members will be your hosts and will assist you with your printing projects. Please bring your own paper and get ready to print! Book Arts League Members please RSVP to bal.workshops@gmail.com. If you are not a Book Arts League Member, register here!

WEDNESDAY May. 20thth — 4:30-6:30PM

WEDNESDAY June 17th — 4:30-6:30PM

Have you ever wanted to make your own underglaze transfers? This is the camp for you!  

In this 5-day camp, students will learn how to make screens for screenprinting and how to use them. We will then take our screens to the Clay studio and print both directly onto clay and using transfers. 

This camp will offer some instruction for hand-building, but the main focus will be learning how to print on clay. As such, we recommend that only folks with previous clay experience sign up. Print newbies are encouraged!

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

Ready to explore the best of both worlds? Join us for a week of hands-on creation experiencing time in both wood and metal studios. The week will be split between the metal studio and our wood studio, learning the basics of blacksmithing and woodworking through a series of art form-specific projects. Whether you're interested in the sparks of the metal shop or the grain of the woodshop, you’ll leave with the skills to navigate both environments and a collection of finished pieces to show for it.

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

Woodblock printing has a rich history, and was used to create both text and images on the same block. Also known as woodcut, woodblock printing is a relief printmaking technique where areas of the wood block that are not meant to be printed are carved away, leaving the image areas raised.

This 8-week intermediate to advanced level relief print class expands on the basics of relief and will include weekly instruction on techniques including carving, mixing and rolling ink, measuring and tearing paper, using the printing press, and making an edition of prints.

Ages: 16+

All supplies and materials will be provided.

Will be available to register on Thursday, May 26 at 8:00am.

Curious how to use milling machinery– table saw, chop saw, jointer, and plainer? This beginner-level class will focus primarily on milling: the fundamental process of measuring, cutting, and preparing wood for a project. Over the course of 4 weeks, you'll learn how to safely use several of our milling machines to cut and shape wood, as well as some of the basics of joinery (joining pieces of wood together), and shaping and finishing with hand tools. We'll walk you through the whole process of creating a simple but beautiful functional piece that you'll want to brag to all your friends about.

This class has no prerequisites and is open to beginners and seasoned woodworkers alike, but our Wood Studio has some safety basics before anyone is allowed to join in the fun (failure to meet these requirements will result in not being granted access to the equipment): 

•  Please come dressed in close-toed shoes, a shirt that can be tucked in and either short sleeves, or sleeves that can be rolled up past your elbows. 
• No loose or dangling jewelry.
• If you have long hair, please have it securely tied back from your face.
• We will provide safety goggles and/or full face shields, ear protection, and face masks to cover nose and mouth, but if you have your own PPE you would prefer to use, please do!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

These classes include open studio time.

Will be available to register on Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00am at 8:00am.