Shetland Text and Texture
15 - 19 March 2027
Four immersive days of making on one of The Travelling Bookbinder’s very favourite places.
Inspired by abundantly textured surroundings, create a set of seven stitched bindings in a custom-made slip case.
For island lovers and curious travellers who want to document their adventures.
With imaginative exercises, stimulating outings including a whole-day RISO and letterpress print workshop, fill the pages with your own response to the landscape, culture and history of Shetland.
The complete set of books all lined up together makes a pattern like Fair Isle knitting, linking them to the vibrant craft tradition of these islands.
For all levels of ability; you’ll learn technical skills and creative methods to produce a unique collection of work to take home, with scope to concentrate on your particular interests.
Layer your stories with the strata and fibres of Shetland.
Only six places, for an intimate, small group experience.
£1,145.00
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Day 1
Early Evening Introduction
Meet outside The Shetland Bookshop on Commercial Street at six o’clock, to be whisked a few minutes walk away, for a quick course introduction.
We’ll spend an hour or so discussing the shape of the days ahead, easing into the themes of books, text and texture.
Day 2
Our Shetland Studio
In the heart of Lerwick, Shetland’s capital, we’ll settle into our studio space.
Above a much-loved emporium of delights, surrounded by the colours of knitwear designer Victoria Gibson, we’ll fold and stitch paper, sewing several book structures with increasing intricacy and confidence.
By making without thinking, being led step by step through each construction, ideas will come.
Day 3
Printing Text and Texture
Trip to an amazing print studio for a whole day RISO and letterpress print workshop.
A risograph is like a cross between a screen print and a photocopy, making a quick way to produce sheets of text and texture to use in our books! And because it’s a water-less process, using plant-based inks, the whole experience is eco-friendly too.
Combining this technique with an exploration of moveable type, create your own type specimens using the “Lazy Letters” collagraph technique.
Returning to Lerwick with plenty of material and inspiration.
Day 4
Collating and committing
Plenty of guided studio time to experiment and document, playing with ink, perhaps developing a series of collages, working up details, focusing on your own style…
An afternoon jaunt to the fabulous Shetland Museum for some truly textural inspiration.
Day 5
All bound
Create a bespoke slip case for your collection, gathering all your work together for a celebratory show and tell (with tea and cake). Finish at four o’clock, with your little library carefully packaged ready for its onward journey.
Please note
The price is for the four day course including all tuition, basic materials, RISO and letterpress print workshop, goody bag, hot drinks and biscuits, jaunts, and celebratory cake finale.
Please bring scissors, scalpel, a metal ruler, a glue stick and a small cutting mat (if you have one!)
Find full information about planning your trip, including travel and accommodation options here. Choose to stay in Lerwick, close to the centre.
The workshop will take place upstairs at the Peerie Shop except for our day workshop at Gaada.
On three of the days, the Peerie Shop Cafe will have a special lunch menu for us to pre-order and purchase, and lunch for our day out is TBC.
Itineraries are prospective and could be subject to change.
This course can be purchased as a gift. Please let us know the recipient’s details in the ‘additional information’ box at check out.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before booking and e-mail hello@thetravellingbookbinder.com with any queries.
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