Weekend Introductory Bookbinding Course

Create your own beautiful books suitable for journalling or writing with handmade covers and stitching, with expert guidance from Dr Sharon Peoples. 

• Dates: 28–29 November 2026
  
• Time: 9.30am–4.00pm
  
• Location: NatureArt Lab, M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, ACT

A weekend introductory bookbinding workshop: 

Students will make four books that will introduce them to the world of book binding and the potential for making their own journals. Through these books, students will learn about the grain of paper, how to fold paper accurately, making covers and stitching books together. 

We begin this workshop with a five-hole pamphlet book with a soft cover. This introduces students to the basic stitching of a simple book. We then follow on with by a similar book, but with a hard cover. This book will be lined and uses book cloth for the spine. The second day begins by using the new stitching skills to make a multi-section book with soft cover. The fourth book for the weekend will be another multi-section book but with Coptic stitching and a hard cover.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Hand-bind a hard cover book
• Hand-bind a soft cover book
• Sew book sections together
• Make informed choices of suitable papers, card and glues
• Learn about the grain of paper

Pre-requisites: This course is suitable for 16+ beginners with little to no bookbinding experience, or for those wishing to build on the foundations of their bookbinding practice.

Materials:  $35 (payable to the tutor) for materials:

• Awls ($10 each)
• Linen thread, needles, beeswax, baking paper, chux, foam rollers for glues
• Papers, card
• Glues

A list of additional material and equipment (such as paper, scissors, apron) for students to bring will be provided before the first class.

Any questions can be directed to info@natureartlab.com.au

About the tutor:

Dr Sharon Peoples has worked as an artist in Canberra for over 25 years, exhibiting nationally and internationally as well as taking on commissioned work. She has had twelve solo exhibitions since 2010, the most recent were ‘Garden Promenade’ Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Oct (2024) and ‘From the Highest Tree’, Avid Gallery, Wellington NZ (2023). Sharon spends much time wandering and wondering about gardens. From her own domestic garden to the local bushland and further afield to surrounding national parks, she is energized and draws inspiration by walking in these environments. In recent years a gradual shift to include bookbinding and making has occurred. One highlight of this activity is having her handbound book in the exhibition Scripta manent VII “In principio The Word in Arvo Pärt’s Music”, at the Estonian History Museum, Tallinn, Estonia, Oct 2025. Currently, her bird-related objects are exhibited at the King Island Gallery where she did a residency last year.

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NatureArt Lab Awards

2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2025, Telstra Best of Business Award Finalist for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and Finalist for Accelerating Women, ACT

2025, Awards Australia Semi-Finalist for Connecting Communities, NSW and ACT; and Semi-Finalist for Small Business Award NSW and ACT. 

Images by Sharon Peoples