Bookbinding Classes
Come to one of our Workshops
Our classes usually run two Saturdays a month from 10am until 4pm creating a range of products. You can take our courses all the way through Introduction and Intermediate to the Advanced class, or you could try Box Making, Book Repair or Coptic Sewing. We only have a couple of classes left before Christmas but the schedule for the New Year is organised already and bookable online in our shop. We are surprised at how quickly we are getting bookings for 2017 already so get in fast to avoid disappointment!
We usually only accomodate up to 8 people on a day - we like to keep it intimate! We only have limited space in the workshop - there are 8 or 9 of us working in the bindery on a regular basis so it's only really designed for us! It also means that you get a lot more one-on-one attention at the class which is better for you!
John, our Master Bookbinder, and myself are usually the ones who teach the classes. John did his apprenticeship straight from school and has been working in the industry all his life. As there are very few training programmes available for bookbinding John has been responsible for training everyone in our workshop on the job, so he is the ideal person to teach anyone from absolute beginner to more advanced levels.
Before I started working here at Downie Allison Downie, several years ago now, I took a couple of classes with John purely to feed an interest for beautiful handmade sketchbooks which began for me at art school. Just seeing the workshop and all the things going on here is quite inspiring and many of the peole who have previously joined us for classes now bind or repair books as a hobby at home, some even make a little money from selling the books they make!
As handmade, and small craft industries are becoming more valued it is a great time to try out a new skill and learn to appreciate the time and effort which goes into creating a hand made product. Hand binding uses very little equipment so it is ideal to do from your kitchen table, and the variety of what you can produce is endless!
Classes for Christmas
As Christmas is approaching you can of course buy vouchers for our classes as gifts! The vouchers can be used to book any class and so the lucky recipient can come to a class of their choice.
Classes for Groups
We can also organise classes for groups of varying sizes, either in our workshop or at your venue. You can read about the class we ran at the Glasgow School of Art a short while back in this article.
If you are interested in organising a class, or even just a talk about bookbinding, for your group then you can contact us for more information and we will do our best to accomodate your needs and suggest options for you.
Please share this post - drop hints for Christmas or pass on to any budding bookbinder!
Time to Rethink that New Diary?
Get Flexible with a Bullet Journal
I used to get really excited at this time of year. Not only because Christmas is coming at us quicker than I realise but because it's time to start searching for my diary for the new year!
Always after that perfect layout and the right features - and of course a sleek, chic new design with that perfect mordern typeface. But now the hunt is no longer on - several months ago I discovered "Bullet Journalling"...
This ultra simple process was created by New York based, Digital Product Designer, Ryder Carroll. It is a completely adaptable system of note-taking and task planning, alongside appointments, meetings, calendar events - and whatever else you need to keep track of! Check out bulletjournal.com for more information on how it all started.
““The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.” ~ Ryder Carrol”
@feebujo - Frederica Santaroni, Photographer, Italy
I love it becuase, unlike a traditional calendar or diary it is completely personal to you. I can chop and change the layout whenever it suits me. It can be as minimal or elaborate as you like. Some people draw and paint in theirs, others fill it with time trackers and task managers, or you can have both mixed together!
@feebujo - Frederica Santaroni, Photographer, Italy
@tinyrayofsunshine - Kim Alvarez, Blogger
@honeyrozes - Ursala Rose, Graphic Designer
So you don't need that fancy diary after all! A simple notebook is all you need to get started and we can absolutely provide you with that!
We specialise in bespoke books and can make to whatever size and specification you desire. Or of course we can peronalise a notebook you already have with our foil stamping service!
If you need a new notebook to keep track of everything going on in your life - or you know someone else who could do with getting a bit more organised then contact us for more information on our bespoke design service. And keep an eye on our online shop as we will be adding great gift ideas very soon!
Click on the images in the article to check out these brilliant Bullet Journallers on Instagram for more inspiration.
We're Getting Ready for Christmas!
Have You Started Your Christmas Shopping Yet?!
Vouchers can be used against any products or services at our bindery.
We could repair or rebind a favourite book, make a brand new journal to your size and specifications or of course you could join us for one of our inspiring classes!
They can also be redeemed when purchasing tools or materials from our workshop or online shop.
Some examples of little notebooks - coming soon to our online shop! Over the next few weeks we will be expanding our online shop to offer a number of quirky products alongside all the tools and materials you could possibly need to have a go yourself!
Our vouchers come in several denominations or you can buy one of our Class Vouchers which can be redeemed for any class from Introduction to Bookbinding, to Book Repair and Box Making so your lucky recipient is free to chose when they'd like to attend from any available class dates. You can learn more about our classes here
You can also book classes through our website using a gift voucher.
Our Gift Vouchers could be the perfect present for the book lover in your life!
Need some more ideas for excellent presents - here are a few we love!
"The End" Bookend by Goodwin & Goodwin
Art Print by BookishlyUK
Library Stamp T-Shirt by The Literary Gift Company
If this sounds like your perfect Christmas gift why not share this post and drop a few hints!
"LOW LANDS" Exhibition @ Glasgow Print Studio
LOW LANDS
@ Glasgow Print Studio
This wonderful exhibition showcases the work of eight artists who produce their work at the Glasgow Print Studio and have recieved funding from The Bet Low Trust, a registerd Scottish Charity awarding grants to students and practising artists in Scotland.
We enjoyed a wee glass of wine and seeing the work at the opening of the exhibition last Thursday night, as Downie Allison Downie was proud to be one of the show's sponsers.
As part of the event each artist will receive one of each of the eight prints in a huge presentation box made by us here in our workshop. A boxed set will also be kept in the Glasgow Print Studio archives.
Glasgow Print Studio
The Glasgow Print Studio is an open access print workshop run by an experienced staff and is a truly inspiring place just to visit never mind working in the space.
The operate on a membership basis with the members having access to their impressive range of equipment and expertise. However, if you are new to printmaking you can try one of their many weekend or evening classes - we would quite like to take part in one of those ourselves!
Regular exhibitions are held in their impressive gallery space where you can admire, or even purchase, some of the amazing prints on show.
More information about the exhibitions, classes and workshops at the Glasgow Print Studio can be found on their website - www.glasgowprintstudios.co.uk
You can see the "LOW LANDS" exhibition, and our lovely boxes at the Glasgow Print Studio until 30th October.
Workshops at The Glasgow School of Art
Workshops at The Glasgow School of Art Portfolio Preparation Course
Bookbinding Workshops at GSA
Last week we were invited to run a couple of bookbinding workshops at the Glasgow School of Art Portfolio Preparation Course.
Robin and I spent the day in the inspiring spaces of the old McLellan Galleries teaching two groups of future artists and designers a little about bookbinding.
Portfolio Preparation Classes are a great way to build up a cohesive body of work for prospective art school applicants to take to interviews.
At GSA they run Summer classes as well as an evening course with a brilliant and varied output to encourage their students to work independently to develop their own creative processes. Similar courses can also be found in a number of other colleges.
Although not used to teaching quite so many people at once(!) the classes went really well and everyone went home with a couple of very interesting sketchbooks!
