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Leather Work Class: Book Binding Workshop Reviews

5 Rating 8 Reviews
Read ClassBento UK Reviews

This is a fun activity in Edinburgh

Making your first engraved hand coloured leather A6 pocket book or larger A5 journal

I’ve been professionally making books for 26 years, so with such wealth of experience, I’m honoured to help guide you towards making your very own.

You’ll learn some of the practical skills of binding paper to make an attractive and unique refillable, engraved and coloured leather book. I’ll introduce you to colouring the leather by using dyes and specialist paint. After polishing, we will bind in the paper using the Japanese (stab) method - just one of many techniques that allow the finished book to open completely flat - great for taking notes and sketching and, most importantly for me, refillable.

After-care information will also be provided, allowing the book to be in continuous use.

You’ll learn:
- How to prepare and bind a leather book
- Colour a pre-engraved design*
- Sewing paper
- Handling materials, tools, and adhesives

*Due to time constraints, it's best I engrave your design before the start of the class, especially more complex images. I will be in touch via email to chat about your ideas and images, etc.

There will be an abundance of high-quality decorative “end” papers for the inside covers.

Bookbinding is both an art and a craft, and my approach is designed to develop both your hand skills and creativity. So, I’m thrilled to be opening up my studio for a small number of workshops this year.

The cost includes all professional tools and materials, and an abundance of shortbread and tea. Suitable for beginners who are good with their hands, as well as those with some experience. This is perfect for book lovers, artists, and writers looking to learn a rich and versatile craft.

Ideal personal gifts for loved ones.

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Sydney Stripling
Verified Reviewer
This was such a unique and fun experience! Will was great to hang out with for the day and did a fantastic job of walking us through the whole process of painting and binding our books. He gave us helpful tips and suggestions when it came to our painting that made them turn out so good! Will's passion for his craft is obvious, and it's awesome that he takes the time to share it with others.
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Posted 1 month ago
Janet Butterworth
Verified Reviewer
This was a really great workshop from start to finish. Will has the knowledge and experience that comes from a lifetime of craftsmanship and is also just a very friendly, welcoming and chilled guy. His studio is comfortable, well stocked with quality materials, and decorated with memorabilia accumulated through his love of film, and his time making props for them (like the leather book from Hocus Pocus!). My partner and I very much enjoyed the unhurried pace and expert guidance over the course of a weekend afternoon and would definitely recommend this experience to others, young and old.
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Posted 4 months ago
Jeanie Barley
Verified Reviewer
Had a lovely chill afternoon with Will and his son Zane. Will certainly knows his stuff, and is a very skilled bookmaker. The teaching was excellent and so was the entertainment - The Fifth Element, which I now have to go and watch properly since I was focused on dying my design. Thank you so much for the class, for the food and tea, for introducing me to The Fifth Element!
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Posted 6 months ago
Tamara Portilla Gardiner
Verified Reviewer
Great class. I got to make a Hobbit journal while watching the hobbit! Teacher was fantastic.
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Posted 7 months ago
Kate Ainsworth
Verified Reviewer
Loved the class, Will is very knowledgeable and excellent at explaining all of the processes. Delighted with the end results!
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Posted 10 months ago
Wonderful class! Needed to make a book for a school project where I needed to do as much as possible by myself and he absolutely made that come true. Did everything myself with good guidance before hand also a wonderful person to talk to! So kind!
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Posted 11 months ago
Fiona Biggar
Verified Reviewer
Absolutely fabulous leather work class. Will was so knowledgeable and we are delighted with our books.
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Posted 1 year ago
Hailey Bloom-Rees
Verified Reviewer
I bought this as a third (leather) anniversary gift for my husband and I and we had a lovely time! Will was great in helping us find the workshop and very helpful when it came to painting our books! We were both very impressed with the instructions given and also the knowledge expressed. We weren't just told to do things in a certain way, it was also explained to us why it should be done that way. A really great experience and a wonderful way to spend our anniversary! Thanks again!
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Posted 1 year ago