The Sketchbook is an honest structure made from good quality materials, opens beautifully flat and is very durable. Most importantly for the beginning bookbinder, it can be made at home with no equipment, just a few simple tools, and requires no pressing.

Working from full sized sheets, students will fold and slit the paper to give it a beautiful, feathery deckled edge. We’ll sew the book with linen thread on hand-made tapes, and sew in a cloth hinge for strength. The spine is rounded, for easy opening, but not backed, which eliminates the need of a laying press. The case is made from greyboard covered in a strong natural canvas.

All this makes for a handsome, rugged book that can withstand all the hard knocks associated with going 'out into the field'.

Materials to Bring: Scalpel — #4 handle, #25 blades (available from Havels: https://www.havels.com/surgical-blades).

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during workshop: Bone folder, metal ruler, dividers.

Workshop Fee (includes $50 materials fee): $350.00

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19, 2020 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

About the Instructor | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. He lives in the Lake District, where he teaches bookbinding. In recent years he has taught and lectured at Society of Bookbinders conferences and seminars, and at Guild of Bookworkers meetings in the USA, as well as teaching tours in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. Each year he teaches summer school at the San Francisco Center for the Book and across the USA. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings, and has a Masters degree in the History of the Book from the University of London.

Past Student Reviews:

“I loved this workshop. Michael was so knowledgeable, the teaching was really in-depth and the project we got to do was an incredible work of art in addition to being a historically important binding style. I especially liked how clearly Michael explained the elements of the structure, how they work together and how they informed later binding styles.”

“Thank you for putting this workshop on! I loved the experience and I hope I can take other classes in the future.”

“Excellent and fun.”