Creative Paper & Bookbinding Classes

We run Saturday morning classes at various times throughout the year. Subjects include Fun with Paper, Easy Printmaking, Colour & Design Principles, Christmas Decorations, Decorated Papers, Cards & Booklets and various types of easy bookmaking. A new schedule of classes will start in February 2009.

I began my working life as an artist and art teacher. Years later a trip to Japan caused me to change my direction completely. I simply was overwhelmed by their beautiful papers and wonderful creative uses of this material, especially their bookbinding. At that time (early 1980’s) such papers were not readily available here in Australia.

On my return I began sourcing places to study bookbinding and opened, with my husband, our colourful specialty paper shop here in Enmore. Some of our first papers were Japanese decorative papers and are still part of our range. We also now stock wonderful papers from many countries. Perhaps the most interesting development was the increasing number of customers who use our papers and stationery to create their own special invitations. Today Do-it-Yourself invitations work is the core of the retail business. The papers however find many different uses and we are continually amazed at what our customers create with them.

I subsequently qualified as a bookbinder and, with a teaching background, was anxious to develop a centre for both creative and traditional bookbinding.

Our business is now 15 years old and has been through some interesting times. It supports a professional workshop/bindery above the retail shop where I can do the occasional commissioned work as well as offer classes. A loyal group of wonderful staff look after the retail shop and mail order business allowing me to develop a range of specialty workshops in various aspects of bookbinding from contemporary journal making to traditional binding and restoration. With these classes have come workshops on various creative uses of paper such as basic printmaking, marbling, box making and card making.

The next goal I have is to offer a structured course in bookbinding that would allow interested students to learn and reach a level of proficiency that will take them beyond the hobby stage.

Teaching commitments have extended to working with local Community Colleges and at COFA (College of Fine Arts, University of NSW) where very exciting work is produced by these students creating Artists’ Books.

Our papers and related products plus an excellent range of bookbinding tools and materials are available for mail order via our website. Parcels are being sent all around Australia and we enjoy the contact with many creative people and those that simply love beautiful papers.

Creative Paper & Bookbinding Classes