Create simple, beautiful books using what you already have!
Discover the art of handmade books in this workshop, perfect for beginners and anyone curious about creative reuse. Using easy-to-find and reclaimed materials commonly found in homes and offices, you'll learn to craft beautiful, functional booklets and notepads using simple folding and sewing techniques.
Whether you're looking to create personalized journals, sketchbooks, or thoughtful gifts, this hands-on class will guide you through the process of making something both useful and unique.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
• An introduction to common and reclaimed materials for bookmaking
• Basic bookbinding techniques: folding, stitching, and assembling
• How to design and construct simple booklets and notepads
• Tips for adding personal touches and decorative elements
• Ideas for ongoing projects and creative reuse
By the end of the event, you'll leave with at least one handmade book and the skills to continue exploring this craft on your own.
We’ll provide a variety of materials, but feel free to bring along: Old paper, envelopes, or packaging you'd like to reuse, Decorative or specialty papers, Your favorite thread, string, or ribbon, A sketchbook or journal to jot down ideas and techniques
Join us for a creative, relaxed morning of making, and leave with something truly one-of-a-kind!
Sign up here!
About the Instructor:
Toby Penney is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. Her practice draws inspiration from the beauty of everyday objects and fleeting moments, inviting viewers to appreciate the often-overlooked details of life. A graduate with a B.F.A. in Sculpture from Middle Tennessee State University, Penney has also completed an intensive Vitreography internship at Harvey K. Littleton Studios, where she studied under Master Printmaker Judith O’Rourke.
Penney’s work has been widely recognized, with recent exhibitions in Tasmania and Melbourne, Australia, as well as solo shows in Tennessee Wesleyan University, Atlanta, Georgia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is a two-time recipient of the Denis Diderot AIR Grant, which supported her residencies at Chateau Orquevaux in France. Her work has also been prominently featured on the covers of Professional Artist Magazine and Hellbent Magazine, among other publications.
In addition to her studio practice, Penney is deeply committed to fostering creativity in others. She serves as an art instructor, creativity coach, and mentor to emerging artists through her Roaming Studio program. Penney actively engages with the global arts community and is passionate about building connections with fellow creatives. Alongside her artistic career, she enjoys sharing her studio space with her sculpture-loving daughter and traveling with her author partner to further ignite creativity and inspiration. You can follow her artistic journey on social media via @TobyPenney.