BOOKBINDING WORKSHOPS
No experience is necessary for these “make and take” workshops  -  we provide the tools and instruction and you provide the creative genius while learning how to make paper and book art like the professionals!  All materials are provided, although some include a supply fee, as noted.

Marbled Paper Projects
Learn to use those gorgeous hand-marbled papers you’ve bought in the past or created in previous marbling workshops.  We create a series of beginning-level projects modeled after the same pieces found in Venice.  Enjoy making your own small-scale and easy projects like marbled pencils, notecards, notepads, and covered pamphlets.  Bring your own papers from prior workshops.  Miss Marble will also have a wide selection of marbled papers available for purchase.

HOLIDAY STAR BOOK
The star book format is a seven-pointed binding, made with three different sizes of paper; it forms the shape of a star when opened.  In this workshop, you will learn how to create this popular star format book with the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Once the format is understood, it can be adapted to any size or topic, and makes a great gift.

WRITER’S PORTFOLIO
Enjoy making a special book to hold stationery and other assorted accessories of correspondence.  Pen, writing paper, envelopes, and stamps will all have an elegant home within this handmade portfolio.  Each student will design his or her own unique piece with your choice of decorative paper, cloth, and ribbon.  These portfolios make wonderful gifts when individually personalized for everyone on your gift list.

Hand Marbled Papers
From the fifteenth century on, marbled papers have been used by bookbinders to decorate the covers and endpapers of their finest books.  Yet, for centuries, the art of marbling paper was a secret scrupulously guarded by artisans who coveted their trade.  Modern artists have since discovered that the secret of these beautiful intricately patterned papers is that they are amazingly simple to make.  Colorful paints are dropped into trays of liquid, then swirled into patterns that are easily printed onto a sheet of paper or fabric.  When dry, they can be a unique design element incorporated into a multitude of projects such as hand made books, cards, stationary, collage, etc.  Join Miss Marble as she shares her skills culled from twenty years as a professional marbler working primarily for the bookbinding trade.  This hands-on experience allows participants to make and take home a collection of their own hand marbled papers.  Supply fee $10, payable to the instructor.

SCRAPBOOKING ON THE WALL
Want to take scrapbooking to the next level?  Why hide it away in a “book”?  In this hands-on workshop, you will learn the latest techniques of scrapbooking, then add a twist:  You’ll apply these techniques to a blank canvas to create unique and personal works of art – worthy of hanging.  Bring personal photos or other sentimental items or choose from available materials such as stamps, acrylic paint, paper, and other ephemera as the basis for your design. 

ALTERED CHILDREN’S BOARD BOOK
Afraid to tackle an altered book?  Why not take it a page at a time…with as few or as many pages as you like!  This workshop converts the children’s book format to an ideal showcase for creative expression.  Learn how to apply scrapbooking methods and altered book concepts to hardboard “pages” to create individual or themed works of art – in a ready-made, stand-on-its-own display.  Bring personal photos or other sentimental items or choose from available materials such as stamps, acrylic paint, paper, and other ephemera as the basis for your design. 

EESWAX COLLAGE
Beeswax is a “natural” adhesive and sealant that, when applied to canvas and over papers, produces a vintage look and texture.  In this workshop, you will be introduced to this unusual process for elevating collage art to a whole new level.  Bring personal photos or other sentimental items or choose from available materials such as stamps, acrylic paint, paper, and other ephemera as the basis for your design. 

BOOKCRAFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Elegant handmade books make wonderful gifts for friends and family.  Creative bindings such as ribbon-embellished photo albums, artist’s sketch books, writer’s portfolios, and oriental-style journals are just a few of the projects that you will complete.  These projects are perfect for gift-giving because they are both beautiful and can be easily adapted to assemble in multiples.  All levels, including beginners, can master the skills needed to create these handmade items.

THE HANDMADE JOURNAL
A beautiful handmade book can inspire us to write on paper our thoughts, dreams, favorite quotes - or even just our simple day-to-day reminders. This journal is the perfect entree into the craft of bookmaking. The pages are sewn directly to the covers, creating a decorative spine embellished with ribbons and fancy stitches. Students will select and coordinate their choice of design elements such as papers, ribbons, and threads to create a one-of-a-kind journal. 

JAPANESE HARD-COVER SIDE-SEWN BOOK
High visual impact with minimum effort!  There are no creative limits with this binding technique, which is an adaptation from the traditional Jaspanese method.  Learn to make stunning albums and scrapbooks without special equipment.  Materials can be purchased from the instructor during the workshop for approximately $15.

Marbling in the European and Asian Traditions:
Japanese and European-style marbling come together in the bookbinding studio during this special class exploring suminigashi and watercolor marbling.  Suminigashi, the predecessor to contemporary marbling, has origins in ancient Japanese culture.  Calligraphers hand-lettered poetry on papers decorated using the delicate process.  Scholars write that marbling traveled from Asia to Europe by way of Istanbul along the historic silk routes.  More Turkish than oriental in influence, western watercolor marbling has a tradition of bold coloration as well as sharply defined patterns.  This is in contrast to the patterns produced by suminigashi, which are subtle, fluid, and very delicate.  This class will focus more on pattern accomplishment than historically accurate materials, i.e., we will be using modern materials to achieve the desired outcome in a much accelerated fashion.  We’ll learn some marbling history as we work together in small trays, and students will alternate between both techniques.  The instructor will provide handouts and supplies, but students may bring cloth and special paper they with to experiment with.  Supply fee is $15, payable to the instructor.

Collage and Pattern Decorated Papers 
Explore the wide variety of tools and techniques used to create unique custom designed papers.  We will be creating  paper using a resist method making it appear somewhat transparent in areas. This will be done on mulberry paper, using stamps and liquid watercolor to create the pattern.  Then we will make patterned paper with paint, stamps and anything that will imprint a pattern. We will be using some metallics on some of the papers to give them luminousity.  Colorful paints, stencils, rubber and sponge stamps, and resists are some of the materials that you will use as tools to create textural, multi-layered, decorative papers.  When dry, they may be used as your personal “signature” on any project you choose, ranging from gift wrap to trading cards, scrap booking, or bookbinding.  Supply fee, $5 payable to the instructor.

Artist Trading Cards 
Artist trading cards are miniature assemblages that creatively incorporate painting techniques, assorted papers, images, stamps, words and bits of ephemera into a tiny collage that you may keep or trade with others.  They are a fun way to do small collage and measure no larger than a playing card.  These tiny works of art introduce participants to a whole new concept of creativity with no rules or expectations.  We will be working with a 2.5 by 3.5 inch format, but are going to add a new dimension.  One of the artist cards will be a tri-fold triptych and another will have a fold to hide images or messages.  Artist trading cards can stand on their own, or add an interesting dimension to personal journals  or altered books.  You will complete several cards, along with an envelope to enclose them.  If anyone wants to trade cards at the end of class, bring some that are already finished or you could trade class projects, if you wish.

 Paper Bag Book
 We will create small books using paper bags as our pages.  It is a surprisingly easy book to construct.  In the pockets we will put tags and other small mementos.  We will use stamps, paints, inks and collage to create interesting covers and pages.  Embellishments can be added, so bring some personal mementos and ephemera to class.  Supply fee is $5, payable to instructor.

Handmade Cards with Rubber Stamp Embellishment 
Come join us in a fun workshop where you will learn several exciting techniques using rubber stamps to create beautiful and unique personalized greeting cards.  We will be making several cards, including one with a moving slider!  You will learn how to use different inking and coloring techniques such as embossing, watercolor, glitter and more.  All levels welcome.  Supply fee $5, payable to the instructor.

More Handmade Cards with Rubber Stamp Embellishment 
In this creative workshop, we will be learning more advanced rubber stamping techniques (all levels welcome).  We will be making several really interesting cards, even including a pop-up card!  We will also be learning how to use versatile materials such as alcohol inks, pigment powders and Twinkling Waters.  Supply fee $5, payable to the instructor