Handmade Books Workshop with Marianne Milette-Kelley & Abby Kelley - Saturday, Feb 28 - 1:00 to 5:00

Make beautiful handmade books from scratch! Explore simple and elegant bookbinding styles and leave with keepsake artist’s books ready for writing, collage or gifting.

Handmade Books Workshop with Marianne - Saturday, Feb 28, 1:00pm to 5:00pm, $50

Discover the joy of creating your own keepsake artist’s books! Whether you’ve made books before or are brand new to bookbinding, this hands-on workshop offers approachable techniques and plenty of room for creativity.

You’ll have the option to explore several styles, including a simple fold-and-tuck accordion book—perfect for collaging a poem or small project—or the Japanese Blanket Binding for an easy, polished look. Use your own scraps or choose a fat quarter in the store to create a single-signature, stitched hard-cover book that’s uniquely yours. For those ready to try something a bit more involved, the Penland Bind is a satisfying structure ideal for journals, poetry collections, or family recipes. Make multiple simple blank books or focus on one and start filling it with photos, watercolors, or collage.

Come experiment, learn new skills, and leave with handmade books to treasure or gift.

Supplies and Materials to Bring:

• Pencil
• Small tacky glue such as Aleene's
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Optional: colored pencils, markers, watercolors, brushes

Supplies for the Fold and Tuck Accordion Book:

• 4 sheets 8.5"x11" Canson Mi-Teintes paper in the colors of your choice
• 2 5.5"x5.5" pieces of chipboard (chipboard will be supplied by instructor)
• 2 18"x5.25" pieces of watercolor paper

Supplies for the Japanese Blanket Stitch Book

• 10 pieces of 5"x7.5" Canson Mi-Teintes paper (cut down from the larger 19.6"x25.5"sheets) in colors of your choice
• 1 skein embroidery floss
• 1 chenille needle

Supplies for the Single-Signature Stitched Hard Cover Book

• 4 sheets 8.5"x11" Canson Mi-Teintes paper in the colors of your choice
• 2 5"x7" pieces of chipboard (chipboard will be supplied by instructor)
• 1 8.5" piece of cotton or linen fabric (which can be cut from fat quarters or scraps)

Experience Level: Patient beginner

Location: Our classroom space is on the second floor of our building. Please let us know if we can help you carry up your things.

Instructors:
Marianne Millette-Kelley is a professional quilt artist and educator with more than 40 years of experience. She is a valued member of the Fiddlehead team, a Union Farmer’s Market vendor, and she lives in Belmont, Maine.

Abby Kelley is a recent graduate of Maine College of Art and Design with a BFA in sculpture. The through line in her art is whimsy and play and her favorite materials are papers and textiles. She is currently working on a Master's Certificate in art therapy.

Please familiarize yourself with our class policies before enrolling.