A workshop for people who want to use bookbinding for DIY publications or artists' books, to express experiences of living with invisible illness. In two hours, artist Xtina Lamb will show examples of techniques used by various artists, before demonstrating simple methods to bind pages together yourself.

There are many ways of binding self-made publications, from simple stapled zines, to books with inventive folds or covers made with book cloth. We'll study examples of bindings, then try out effective sewn pamphlets, accordion, hard covers, or experimental approaches to bind a book using decorated and plain papers, or your own content.

The workshop is open to Medway residents 16+ years old who are affected by invisible illness - those with illnesses themselves, but also carers, partners, friends or family etc. living in the Medway towns.

No previous experience of bookbinding is needed, this is a session for you to explore creative ways to cope with, heal from, or understand invisible illness in different ways. You may chose to use the methods to create your own small journal, sketchbook, zine or artist's book, or maybe use the skill to develop your own personal projects.

In the afternoon a separate 3 hour drop-in session will run, allowing people to continue with their bookbinding, read our collection of health-related zines, or create handmade publications in a number of ways. There is no need to book for the drop-in session, and you don’t need to have attended previous days. Each class and drop-in session is a separate event and you are welcome to attend as many or few as you like. The drop-in sessions are listed and described on our Facebook events page.

This is the last in a series of four workshop days through December 2017 and January 2018, offered free thanks to a small grant from Involving Medway, as part of Medway Clinical Commissioning Group's work with community health.

If you live outside Medway but would like to join us, please message us as we may be able to invite you too, depending on availability.