Join us for this exciting 5 sessions practical course via Zoom from a comfort of your own home. Your zoom link will be sent to you approx. 24hours prior the event. Please tune in 10 mins before the start time.

This course will be packed with interesting information and practical knowledge. It designed for anyone interested in the history of Byzantine Empire from bookbinding point of view and require minimum professional bookbinding equipment (great bonus if you have it anyway!)

The book that we will make is not 100% Byzantine binding but remains nearly all traditional Byzantine binding features like thick wooden boards, the text block is flush with the boards, pronounced raised headbands (simpler version), the sections sewn with unsupported link-stitch without sewing frame in two halves to each board, the book is lavishly embellished and of course traditional plaited clasp.

It will be plenty of time to ask questions and after each session you will have a bit of practical 'homework' (mainly to finish what we haven't finish)

Each session will be recorded and the link will be emailed to you after the session.

A handout will be sent to you too.

The size of your finished book will be approx.4'' x 6'' x 2.5''

5 sessions will run 10.30am till 12.30 (some till 12.45) on Sundays from 31st January till 28th February.

YOU WILL NEED - MATERIALS and TOOLS :

31st January ( introduction to Byzantine Binding, boards preparation, sanding, drilling holes and cutting decorations)

10.30 - 12.45

MATERIALS:

- 2 x wooden boards 14.9 cm x 10.2cm x 0.9 cm (pine or any other softer wood ; originally poplar or tilia)

or 8 x greyboard 14.9 cm x 10.2 cm ( with PVA glue 4 of them together for a front cover and 4 together for a back cover)

- 1 x A5 card 1mm thickness (back of sketchbook type and thickness)

TOOLS:

- woodworking tools if you have wooden boards

- pencil/pen/notepad/rubber

- sandpaper (variety)

- craft knife or wood knife

- drill (electric or hand drill) to drill holes for stitching and fastening

- drill bits - 1 x 5mm (holes for fastening)and 1 x 1mm (holes for stitching)

- scissors (variety: small to medium)

7th February (stitching bookblock and lining the spine)

10.30 - 12.45

MATERIALS:

- paper 130 to150 gsm, 90 pieces, 14.7cm x 21cm, folded in half and arranged into 30 sections with 3 pieces inside each other

- waxed linen thread for stitching bookblock (loads, about 10-12meters)

- PVA glue and brush

- cotton or thin linen fabric 12cm x 18cm

TOOLS:

- awl/bodkin

- any bookbinding press, lying or finishing (don't worry if you don't have one, I will explain how to get around without it)

- cutting mat

- craft knife or bookbinding knife

- pencil/pen/notepad/rubber

- 2 needles

- scissors

14th February (headbands)

10.30 - 12.30

MATERIALS:

- 2 x round natural hemp or linen cord 0.5cm diameter or 2 x thick leather strips 0.5cm x 15cm (as a base for the headbands)

- 2 colours of thread for headbands (3-4 meters of each colour)

TOOLS:

- 2 needles

- scissors

- pen/pencil/notepad/rubber

21st February (decorations and leather - cutting, paring, pasting)

10.30 - 12.30

MATERIALS:

- leather 30cm x 32cm (0.6-0.7 thickness)

- wheat flour paste 150g and brush

- PVA and brush

- waste paper like glossy magazine for gluing on it

TOOLS:

- leather paring knife with marble or scalpel with rounded blades (10) with glossy shiny tile

- craft knife

- scissors

- cutting mat

- pen/pencil/notepad/rubber

28th February (fastening & endpapers with leather joints)

10.30 - 12.45

MATERIALS:

- leftovers of leather (from previous session)

- brass or copper nail or peg1.5cm x 0.1-0.2cm

- brass or copper loop,ring or triangle for fastening (metal bosses opt)

- 1 x A5 card (thickness of cerial box)

- 1 x A4 decorative paper for endpapers

- PVA glue and brush and a bit of paste

- waste paper like old glossy mazagine

TOOLS:

- cutting mat

- scissors (small and medium)

- craft knife

- pencil/pen/notepad/rubber

- leather paring knife with marble or scalpel with rounded blades (10) with glossy shiny tile

- awl

Hope to see you and create this magnificient book together!

P.S. I can provide full kit of materials (£30) or partly what you need . Please email to anna@anna-art.co.uk for more information or any questions regarding materials, tools or anything about the course. I am happy to help :)