TOAST | Abstract Collages with Sarah Z Short

Join artist and printmaker Sarah Z Short for a collaging workshop where you will repurpose vintage book covers to create abstract geometric designs.

Sarah grew up in the scenic woods of Rhode Island. Once an English teacher, Sarah has a profound love of books, which she now uses as a primary collaging material. She uses found paper and ephemera as conduits for nostalgia.

You will be guided through deconstructing vintage books and modifying the endpapers to layer textures for collage.

Sarah begins many of her pieces by printing with wooden blocks on pages rescued from discarded books. The prints are then abstracted in her collage compositions, making the original letters unrecognisable, breathing new life into found objects. In her practice, Sarah pursues the shapes and white space between typography for inspiration.

Materials Needed:

• One or two hardcover books with fabric covers (pre-1950) or watercolor paper as practice sheets
• Ruler
• Utility knife
• Matte medium
• 1 inch flat glue brush
• Soft rubber brayer
• Unwanted magazine to use as a glue surface
• Scissors
• Optional: Circle/square craft hole punches
• Self-healing cutting mat

To view on-demand:

• This event first aired on 20 March 2025
• Once you have purchased your ticket you will receive an email with a link to access the video recording.

TOAST is a unique lifestyle brand renowned for its thoughtful, contemporary design and commitment to traditional textiles and craftsmanship. Seasonal workshops and gatherings aim to bring together a like minded community and foster creativity.

As part of our commitment to creative communities, we are currently supporting Crafts Council UK, the national charity for craft. Funds raised through our seasonal events programme and activities will support the work they do to inspire making, empower learning and nurture craft businesses. We jointly believe craft skills and knowledge enrich and uplift us as individuals, and, in doing so, will change our world for the better. We are proud to be an advocate for their projects, which are focused on social justice, environmental responsibility and talent development in the craft sector. This workshop is suitable for beginners and 50% of ticket sales will be donated to the Crafts Council UK.