The Mechanical Spine Bindings Online 2027WKSP-03-04

ONLINE: The Mechanical Spine Binding with María Carolina Ceballos

This is a simple lay-flat binding structure that provides a spine that opens to 180 degrees while protecting the sewing and the signatures. 

It’s called “mechanical spine” because there is no adhesive on the union between text block and spine but instead features flaps that go through and slide against the spine of the text block and the covers as the book opens and closes.  

María Carolina Ceballos is a Colombian book artist with emphasis in bookbinding and artists’ books. She holds a BFA in Visual Arts from the Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, and a Minor in Photography from the same university. On 2021, she graduated from the MFA in Book Arts at The University of Iowa, where she also worked as a book conservation technician and digital book design instructor. She has also worked as a paper conservator at the Archivo General de la Nación in Bogotá, and as an independent book artist under the name of Canto Press, with which she creates artists’ books, teaches bookbinding and sells hand bound goods. She has been the recipient of recognitions like the Caxton Club Grant Award 2020-2021, an MFA degree with distinction from the University of Iowa Center for the Book, and the Holle Award 2022. She has exhibited her work in various cities in Colombia, the United States and Japan, and some of her books can be found in collections at the University of Iowa, the University of Miami, University of Michigan, the University of Alabama, the University of California, and others. To see her work, visit Canto Press    

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Location: ONLINE using Zoom

Dates: Thursdays, March 4 & 11, 2027

Hours: 6:00 – 8:30 PM (EDT)

Course fee: $130 members / $190 non-members

Prerequisite: none

Maximum Enrollment: 25

Registration closes Thursday, February 25, 2027, 11:59 PM EST

This is a live workshop, but it will be recorded and links will be made available for registrants to view until May 26, 2027.

TOOLS

Required:

• An awl to punch holes on the sections and covers.
• Non-sharp needle.
• Bees wax.
• Linen thread 25/3 or 30/3 weight, or cotton thread thick enough to sew books.
• Cutting mat.
• Scissors, an X-Acto knife and a ruler.

Optional:

• Punching cradle

MATERIALS

• Unless noted, all materials are grain direction parallel to the spine. Dimensions below are (height) x (width). 
• At least 6 signatures of book-weight text paper for the book of 3-4 folios each. We will fold the sections during class.
• 2 pieces of heavy-weight paper (same colour)
  Example only: a folded signature sized 14 cm w x 21.6 cm h would need the following for the cover paper:
  Piece 1 for example size signature width and height: 
  •    final width is two times the starting width plus 3 cm; for the example: 14+14+3 = 31 cm w 
  •    final height is the starting height plus 3 cm; for example: 21.6+3 = 24.6 cm h
  Piece 2; for example: size signature width and height: 
  •    final width is three times the starting width; for the example: 14+14+14 = 42 cm w
  •    final height is the starting height plus 3 cm; for the example: 21.6 + 3 = 24.6 cm h
• A piece of card stock taller than your sections and at least 5cm width.
• A piece of heavy-weight paper, different from the cover, taller than your sections and at least 12cm width.
  
  
• Optional: A piece of Japanese tissue the width and the height of your spine. If not, a piece of printer paper works.
  
  

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Online Workshop Process:

Materials should be prepared in advance of the workshop to the specifications which will allow participants to take the best advantage of the live format. Please review the technical requirements below prior to registration to be sure you can participate. Questions should be directed to workshop@cbbag.ca

Technical requirements for participation:

• Access to the internet and to the Zoom application
• Screen large enough to follow instructor’s video feed (cell phone is not ideal)
• Microphone or Headset / Webcam
• How to join a zoom meeting information https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193

Cancellation policy:

Participant-requested cancellations will be accepted up to 3 days prior to the published cut-off date for registration and will be subject to a 10% cancellation fee (a minimum of $5). After that, the full fee will be forfeited. In the event of the workshop being cancelled by CBBAG, the workshop fee will be fully refunded.