WELCOME BOOKBINDERS AND BOOK ARTISTS

Since 1983 the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild has worked to support the development of the book arts in Canada. This web site is dedicated to that effort. The book arts include bookbinding, artists' books, papermaking, calligraphy, letterpress printing and typography, wood engraving, paper decorating, restoration, and conservation.

IN PERSON WORKSHOP WITH DON TAYLOR:

Coptic Bookbinding from the 4th-7th Century - March 30, April 6, and April 13, 2025, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST

Scrolls were all very well but what the Western world really needed was the codex. What we think of as the book form was first developed by Coptic Christians living in Egypt and the earliest evidence that we have is from the 4th C CE.

In this course you will use papyrus, leather, handmade paper, silver, gold, and bone to sew, design and create a series of Coptic bindings of increasing complexity in the spirit and style of the earliest book forms, each one as unique as its creator. Beautiful, sensual and imbued with a sense of history, these books will give you a base for further creative work

Click here for full details and to register.

ONLINE WORKSHOP WITH ANNA YEVTUKH:

MEMORIES BOOK CONTAINER - My 31, 2025, 10.30 a.m. - 12.40 p.m. EST

'The anticipation of all the discoveries to unfold'. Literally… During this workshop you will learn how to create a beautiful piece of book arts that can serve as a container for your memories, poems, memorabilia, photographs.

By folding, stitching and putting together simple constructive elements like paper, card and thread in a short space of time you will end up holding in your hands... very special 'Memories'.

Registrants can work along with Anna, watch the live session, or just watch the videos later.

Click here for full details and to register.

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP WITH ROSE NEWLOVE

Restoration & Repair Pt. 1 June 6, 7 & 8 and June 13, 14, & 15, 2025, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Part 1 of the Repair and Restoration workshop will focus on 19th and 20th century cloth case bindings: how to identify them, what problems they develop, and how to repair and restore them. Participants must bring their own materials to work on - in particular a cloth-bound book.

Participants will be contacted prior to the workshop to ensure that the materials they are planning to bring to work on will be appropriate. 

Pre-requisit: Bookbinding 2 or permission of the instructor. Repair and Restoration parts 1 & 2 are core courses required for the CBBAG Certificate.

Click here for full details and to register.

ONLINE Bookbinding 1: Home Study - Guided Stream

Bookbinding 1 is the first workshop in CBBAG’s core curriculum and introduces the variety of tools, materials, sewings, and constructions fundamental to hand bookbinding.

Using the Thinkific online teaching platform, the workshop is a series of lecture-style videos, direct demonstration videos, and how-to pdfs housed into modules. The workshop will start with the making of a simple pamphlet and proceed to the binding of two hard cover books.

2025 - 2026 courses:

Cohort 10:

Online workshop access starts: Monday, May 12, 2025

Duration: 8 months – May 2025 to Jan 2026

Registration closes Monday, February 24, 2025, 11:59 PM

Click here for full details.

 

Cohort 11

Online workshop access starts: Monday, September 8, 2025

Duration: 8 months –Sept 2025 to May 2026

Registration closes Monday, June 23, 2025, 11:59 PM

Click here for full details.




Kindred Spirits: The Lucy Maud Montgomery Legacy as Interpreted by Contemporary Book Artists

For the list of exhibition venues across Canada, visit the exhibition's website:  kindred-spirits-bookarts.com

The Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada.

Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube (for exclusive lecture recording, Beyond Anne of Green Gables, presented by Kathy Wasylenky from Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario).

COMING SOON:
Kindred Spirits mugs!

Watch this space:

Beautiful Kindred Spirits mugs will soon be available for sale.

Details to be posted very soon.

For any inquiries, email cbbag@cbbag.ca

BOOKBINDING

WHAT IS IT?

Work & Hobby

Bookbinding consists of many different types of work, particularly in North America where it can be difficult to specialize and make a living.

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Magazine

EXTENSIVE LIBRARY

Publication

Book Arts arts du livre Canada is published twice a year. It features book arts events, book artists, book and exhibition reviews, technical articles, and historical essays.

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EDUCATION

RESOURCES

ARTISTS & BOOKBINDERS

CBBAG has a few curated lists of resources that we think will be of use to bookbinders and book artists. 

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All imagery on this website is copyright and protected by international law. Content cannot be copied, published, distributed, downloaded, or otherwise stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or converted, in any form or by any means, electronic, or otherwise without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Please contact CBBAG's web administrator for more information on contacting the copyright owner.

Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG)

Charitable Business Number 89179 5445 RR0001


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