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Level: Beginner
Approx. Duration: 7 hours total, including a 1 hour lunch break.
Age Requirement: 18+
Instructor: Sandy DeWald
Create your own fully hand-made leather journal! No prior bookbinding experience required.
In this introductory hands-on workshop, learn the fundamentals of hand-made bookbinding with a focus on the “Crossed Snowshoes” method.
Designed for beginners, this class will guide you through the process of constructing a softcover leather journal using accessible techniques and materials. You will learn how to prepare and fold paper, create signatures, and sew them directly into a leather cover using the distinctive Crossed Snowshoes binding method. You will even have the chance to personalize your journal by selecting colors and design elements.
Along the way, we’ll explore the characteristics of different types of paper commonly used in bookbinding, including how to identify paper grain and why it matters for structure and longevity. Essential tools and materials will be introduced, with an emphasis on practical, affordable options that make bookbinding approachable for home studios.
By the end of the workshop, you will leave with a completed leather-bound journal and the foundational skills needed to continue exploring sewn book structures independently.
Plan ahead for your class:
There will be a break for lunch, which your instructor will give you notice for. Please bring something to eat that does not require heating, or plan to have your lunch delivered for the time advised by your instructor.
All class enrollments are subject to a no-refund, no-transfer policy. Instructors have the right to refuse any enrollee who does not meet the age and/or prerequisite requirements without issuing any refund.
By purchasing a class, or gifting a class, you are agreeing to our policy. Please read the full FAQ and policy here: https://www.theforgenashville.org/class-policy-and-faq
About the instructor:
Sandy De Wald is a self-taught book artist with a deep-rooted passion for craft and creativity. Drawing from a rich family tradition of makers, Sandy has spent years exploring a wide range of craft practices before finding a lasting connection with the art of handmade books. Her bookbinding practice blends traditional techniques and contemporary interpretations, celebrating the versatility and expressive potential of the book form.
Sandy is particularly drawn to the tactile nature of bookbinding - the way structure, materials, and form come together to create something both beautiful and functional. As a teaching artist, Sandy brings an open, exploratory approach to the classroom, encouraging students to embrace the joy of making and the satisfaction of creating something with their own hands.
Level: Beginner
Approx. Duration: 7 hours total, including a 1 hour lunch break.
Age Requirement: 18+
Instructor: Sandy DeWald
Create your own fully hand-made leather journal! No prior bookbinding experience required.
In this introductory hands-on workshop, learn the fundamentals of hand-made bookbinding with a focus on the “Crossed Snowshoes” method.
Designed for beginners, this class will guide you through the process of constructing a softcover leather journal using accessible techniques and materials. You will learn how to prepare and fold paper, create signatures, and sew them directly into a leather cover using the distinctive Crossed Snowshoes binding method. You will even have the chance to personalize your journal by selecting colors and design elements.
Along the way, we’ll explore the characteristics of different types of paper commonly used in bookbinding, including how to identify paper grain and why it matters for structure and longevity. Essential tools and materials will be introduced, with an emphasis on practical, affordable options that make bookbinding approachable for home studios.
By the end of the workshop, you will leave with a completed leather-bound journal and the foundational skills needed to continue exploring sewn book structures independently.
Plan ahead for your class:
There will be a break for lunch, which your instructor will give you notice for. Please bring something to eat that does not require heating, or plan to have your lunch delivered for the time advised by your instructor.
All class enrollments are subject to a no-refund, no-transfer policy. Instructors have the right to refuse any enrollee who does not meet the age and/or prerequisite requirements without issuing any refund.
By purchasing a class, or gifting a class, you are agreeing to our policy. Please read the full FAQ and policy here: https://www.theforgenashville.org/class-policy-and-faq
About the instructor:
Sandy De Wald is a self-taught book artist with a deep-rooted passion for craft and creativity. Drawing from a rich family tradition of makers, Sandy has spent years exploring a wide range of craft practices before finding a lasting connection with the art of handmade books. Her bookbinding practice blends traditional techniques and contemporary interpretations, celebrating the versatility and expressive potential of the book form.
Sandy is particularly drawn to the tactile nature of bookbinding - the way structure, materials, and form come together to create something both beautiful and functional. As a teaching artist, Sandy brings an open, exploratory approach to the classroom, encouraging students to embrace the joy of making and the satisfaction of creating something with their own hands.