The Binder's Bench: Two More Places!

I can’t believe how quickly this year is flying by! We have our final two Beginner’s Bookbinding Workshops for 2023 on Friday 20th October and Saturday 18th November. The November workshop is completely booked but there are two places available in our October workshop.

In our full-day Beginner’s Workshop, you will learn everything you need to know to craft a hard-covered sewn binding using traditional bookbinding techniques. By the conclusion of the workshop, you will have created your own hand-sewn, hard-covered journal plus take home with you an illustrated instruction manual and some essential tools and templates to help you craft more books.

Follow this link to reserve your place in the October workshop

Can’t make the October workshop?

Don’t worry, we have options for you.

Option 1: If you’re interested in attending the November workshop, fill in the form below to be added to our cancellation list. If you find October is now full, you can also go on the waiting list for this workshop.

Option 2: Download our FREE PDF Guide to creating a Concertina Binding - this ‘no-sew’ binding method is a great precursor to learning sewn, hard-covered binding. Subscribe to our newsletter to grab this freebie and you’ll be the first to know about our upcoming workshops for 2024!

Can’t make it to Bendigo?

Stay tuned because something is coming to help you too!….

Announcement: 2020 Workshop Series Dates

See below for information about our 2020 Marbling and Bookbinding Workshops. Calligraphy Workshop dates are coming soon…

2017 Bookbinding Workshop Series

The dates for our series of bookbinding workshops in 2017 have been set.  In the New Year we are offering 3 different full-day workshops: Beginners, Introduction to Leather and Boxmaking.  To see dates, find out more or book your space visit our Workshops Page.

All is not 'Lost'

Did you know… that a ‘woodcarver’ actually made the rocking horse you may have had as a child?  It may sound believable, yes, but that person who skillfully handcrafted your favourite childhood toy (it was definitely my favourite; the home videos prove so) actually had a TRADE to complete this task.

Woodcarver.  Blacksmith.  Spinner.  Cobbler.  Saddler… Sound familiar? Well these and many more all have something in common. They're what are now known as ‘lost trades’.  Trades that use ancient, traditional methods and manual work to craft incredibly unique and significantly useful goods.  As technology advances, some of these rare trades are forgotten.  It’s easy enough for the makers to hold on to tradition and preserve their work, yet from a marketing perspective it can be hard to keep the significance of the work alive, relevant and in the minds of a broader audience.

The Lost Trades Fair first popped up in 2014, with the intention not only to maintain these special crafts, but also to promote them. To instill inspiration, ignite a flame in likeminded artisans with the hope of essentially offering prospective opportunities outside the fair itself. It showcases every trade from knife making to wicker weaving, each year growing in participation and crowd number. Last year, an expected 5000-crowd attendance was tripled, proving boldly these trades were far from lost.

Held in Kyneton, (just a little down the road from Bendigo) a small country town located in the Macedon Ranges.  Kyneton’s local racecourse is where all the magic happens. Over the course of the two-day event there is live music and entertainment, and local food to enjoy. It’s a great day to bring the family along and revisit history and traditions that were once the pillars to manufacturing our towns, cities and industries. 

This year, you’ll see SB Libris owner, Simon Dart as the event’s only bookbinder. It is the first occasion that SB Libris has taken part in such an event. Using traditional methods with age-old equipment, beautiful leather journals will be created in demonstration from beginning until embossed end. Books carefully sewn together with decorative paper from the likes of the UK, Japan and Italy. SB Libris will take you to the heart of their bindery and allow you to be a part of their daily craft, a trade Simon has honed over the last 15 years.

This event is truly one of the special ones, and we feel honored to be part of the excitement this year.  We’ll be sharing stories with other passionate craftsmen and women, getting our hands on the local cuisine, and hopefully inspiring you all with our work on the day.

See you next Sunday in the ranges!