June 25th 2026 – Focus on Book Arts

Erin Fletcher: Variations on Single-Signature Bindings

Books come in all shapes and sizes. Some may span only a single signature, while others become a thick tome. In this workshop, we’ll explore the former as we create a multitude of models with both soft and hard covers.

To help us punch all of the signatures for our models, students will begin this workshop by making a collapsible punching cradle out of binder’s board covered in Lokta paper. Then students will make a series of simple softcover pamphlets using a variety of sewing patterns before moving on to hardcover structures. All of these structures allow the book to lay flat and are perfect for artist’s books, chapbooks, presentation pamphlets, or short stories.

Anne Sobbota: Curious Visions—Illuminating Hidden Inspirations

Activities in this workshop include a range of techniques designed to engage the imagination through color and discovery of hidden imagery. Mediums used range from watercolor to alcohol, and acrylic inks on different paper surfaces, including unique eco-prints and Yupo papers.

Judilee Fitzhugh: Contact-Print Portfolio

This workshop will begin by using the contact method (also called eco-printing or botanical printing) of transferring natural plant pigment material to paper appropriate for book binding. Students will prepare contact-printed papers dyes with real leaves to create a custom portfolio to hold precious papers.

Pietro Accardi: Fabric, Paper, and Metallics Marbling

During these three days, students will learn and practice all the basics of paper and fabric marbling. They will learn how to prepare metallic paint and create beautiful overmarbled paper/fabrics.

Rhiannon Alpers: Boxmaking Fundamentals

Boxes can be both elegant and deeply personal—beautiful containers for books, sculptures, or collections. But for many book artists, boxmaking can feel intimidating. This two-day workshop is designed to demystify the process and build confidence through hands-on practice with one of the most essential forms: the clamshell box.

Celeste Chalasani: Embroidery on Paper

Students will learn the basics of embroidering on paper as they work 10 embroidery stitches. Celeste will walk students through the stitches and share examples of how she has used them in her book art practice. At the end of class, students will assemble their embroidered pages to make their own “Little Book of Embroidery Stitches,” which can serve as a reference tool for years to come. Left-handed instructions available upon request.

Kit Davey: Button Collection Book

In this workshop, participants will combine their favorite buttons with coordinating papers to make a colorful, one-of-a-kind, five-page book. We will use foam core for the pages and cut niches into them. We’ll then cover the pages with our favorite papers (which coordinate with the style and color of our buttons). Then we’ll stitch our buttons onto a backing and install them into the niches. To protect the stitching holes we’ll use metal eyelets. Kit will teach the slip knot stitch so students can bind their pages together. Students will end up with a five-page book of buttons, preserved and displayed in a fun and unusual way.

Selene Fisher: Playful Patterns in a Leporello Portfolio

This class is all about creating colorful patterned paper (with a gel-printing plate) that can be used in other mixed-media projects. We’ll start off making a Leporello case to store smaller papers. This folder combines origami and bookbinding techniques to create a simple and effective structure. Then we will swing into color and pattern, using acrylic paint, gel plates, Play-Doh (seriously), foam stamps, stencils, different papers, and lots of textures! This is a chance to play with different methods of creating colorful papers for use in other projects. Students will leave with a collection of papers housed in their case, Play-Doh for future fun, and any stencils or stamps they create in class.

Brenda Gallagher: Wood-Burned Cover Flat-Back Case Binding

We will begin with discussing design and how to plan the space for the cover’s wood panel. Designs will be transferred to pieces of wood veneer in cherry, oak, or maple. Then we will move on to woodburning the veneer to create our cover images. Students will practice how to make designs with the heated tool and learn tips for working over wood grain and best techniques. Color can be added by painting the finished woodburned design with wood dyes. Students will receive several pieces of wood veneer to work on, choosing the best finished design to be the cover of the book.

Helen Hiebert: Paper Weaving Explorations with Reverse Piano Hinge Album

Come explore elegant weaving structures and beautiful papers that can be integrated into the stories of your life. Incorporate unique papers and imagery as you weave paper strips and shapes in a variety of ways. Cut windows into your weavings to reveal and illuminate between the layers. Learn to create a reverse piano hinge album to house a sampling of your weavings.

Raluca Iancu: Japanese Scroll Books

Students will learn the Japanese Urauchi technique, which enables them to back any cloth with paper for making the scroll book covers.

Susan Lowdermilk: Tunnel Books—Perspective and the Author’s Voice

In this immersive workshop, participants will explore the sculptural and narrative potential of tunnel books: dimensional, layered book forms that create visual depth and storytelling through space. Each participant will create two books: a sample tunnel book to learn the mechanics of the structure, followed by a fully developed tunnel book incorporating photographic and/or photocopied imagery.

Abigail Merickel: Solar Plate Etching and Monotype

Solar plate etching is a form of intaglio in which a photosensitive polymer plate is used. A drawing on trace film is placed on the plate, which is exposed to light and developed in water. Ink is rubbed into the etched lines and printed onto paper.

Rosemary Rae: Zhen Xian Bao Hardcover Sampler

Explore folding trays, collapsible boxes, a masu box, and small booklet assembly with this Zhen Xian Bao hardcover sampler project. This is a great way to mix and match papers and play with an adaptive and fun book structure.

Roberta Lavadour: Link Stitch/Ethiopian Board Attachment

If a student is a fan of what’s commonly referred to as a Coptic binding, but doesn’t like the way covers tend to drift, this type of board attachment is a game changer. Historically used for wooden boards, the technique will be adapted to readily available binder board; then we will experiment with different design options. The finished book is both beautiful and structurally sound.