Sewing Bee for Books with Erin Sweeney (Online)

Schedule:  Feb 6, Feb 13, Feb 20, Feb 27, 2021 -- 3pm - 5pm (ET);
12pm - 2pm (PT); 1pm - 3pm (MT); 2pm - 4pm (CT)

Spend the seemingly long, cold winter month of February with like-minded book creators chatting about resources and creating a portfolio of binding options. This series of 4 workshops offers an introduction to or a refresher of these popular sewn bindings.

February 6: One Section Bindings
These fun and flexible bindings are deceptively simple and can be multiplied to create multi-section bindings. We will sew into the spine of a simple hard cover case, as well as sewing into paper cases. We will make multiple structures during this class.

February 13: Coptic Refresher
The one-needle Coptic binding is one of my favorites, and during this refresher, we will focus on the binding and getting as much time with it as possible! An exposed spine binding, it opens super flat so it makes a great book that you can work in right away. I will send materials so that you can repeat it as well.

February 20: French Link long Stitch
A simple variation on the long stitch, it is a lovely, linked binding that I like to leave exposed. Covers can be added in multiple ways: a hard case can be made and then the text block can be glued in, sewn tapes can be woven into soft covers, or simply glued on to the tapes.

February 27: Sewn Accordions
A more experimental binding class! We will experiment with different bindings and different ways to combine the accordion structure with binding. Super fun, as our grand binding finale!

Location/Venue: Online with Maine Media Workshops + College
For more info & pictures:  https://www.mainemedia.edu/workshops/item/sewing-bee-for-books/
Cost/Fee: $295
Material/Studio fee: included

Their workshop calendar: https://www.mainemedia.edu/workshops/book-arts-design/

Instructor and bio: Erin Sweeney lives and works in southern New Hampshire. She received her MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she was awarded the Elizabeth C. Roberts Prize for Graduate Book Arts. She also has a BFA in Sculpture from the Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine. Sweeney exhibits nationally, most recently at the Lyceum Gallery at the Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire, Unrequited Leisure in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Thorne-Sagendorph Gallery at Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire. In July, Sweeney was awarded a Ruth and James Ewing Award for Excellence in the Arts.