This is a single-session online workshop.

The Drum Leaf binding, developed by Tim Ely, has features in common with multiple preexisting Eastern and Western binding structures. This adhesive binding is a perfect structure for printmakers, photographers, or anyone who desires to present visual narratives with no sewing thread to interrupt the flow of imagery. Because a drum leaf book is not laid out in signatures but made of single-sided folios, the complexities of imposition are not encountered when laying out text. 

The binding opens flat. It can be dressed up or down with a variety of spine treatments, board-covering materials, and edge decoration techniques. It can be constructed quickly, lends itself to edition work, and can be made in a sparsely equipped home studio. 

The drum leaf is also an excellent structure for beginning binders. Students learn to work with common bookbinding tools, materials, techniques and principles such as grain direction, folding signatures, tidy application of adhesive, and measuring one component of the book to fit another.

The workshop fee includes a kit containing all papers, boards, bookcloth, and decorative papers required to make one Drum Leaf binding.

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Materials to Bring:

Class kit mailed to you from SFCB (see details above)

Required:

• PVA
• Bone or teflon folder    
• Small self-healing cutting mat 
• Metal ruler or straightedge, 12” is adequate        
• X-acto, scalpel or olfa knife and a few extra blades    
• Scissors     
• Small glue brush 
• A pair of gluing up boards: scrap book board 6.25 x 4", one of the long edges of each covered in clear packing tape
• Waste paper
• Pencil

Optional: 

• Microspatula; Talas #TTB002001 or similar
• Dividers; Talas #TTB033004 or similar
• Square with base; Talas #TTB041001, or some device to keep text block and boards square
• 8” plastic drywall knife (neater and more precise than a brush and the ideal tool for this binding) 
• “Paper Rulers” strips of paper 1/2” wide to use for quick measuring when ruler is awkward or unnecessary

Workshop Fee (includes mailed kit): $120

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 :: 3-6pm Pacific time

Location: Online over Zoom

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

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

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About the Instructor | Karen Hanmer

Karen Hanmer’s artist-made books are physical manifestations of personal essays intertwining history, culture, politics, science and technology. She utilizes both traditional and contemporary book structures, and the work is often playful in content or format. Hanmer’s work is included in collections ranging from The British Library and the Library of Congress to Stanford University and Graceland. She has served on the editorial board of The Bonefolder, as Exhibitions Chair for the Guild of Book Workers, and as frequent exhibition curator and juror. She offers workshops and private instruction focusing on a solid foundation in traditional binding skills.

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Past Student Reviews:

“Karen is an excellent teacher - well prepared and generous.”

“She's a very organized, knowledgeable teacher who takes the time to share detailed information without turning the class into a tedious slog.”

“Karen was great. I would consider taking another class from her even if I wasn't particularly excited about the topic.”