SHARE:
Intro to Bookbinding
Paste Paper Journal Making with Nik Beauchemin
This fall, Sanborn Mills Farm invites you to slow down, get your hands messy, and rediscover the tactile joy of paper and thread in a special workshop that blends art, history, and craftsmanship: “Paste Paper & Bookbinding: Journals from Start to Finish.”
Over the course of this immersive workshop, participants will learn how to create both their own decorative paper and a hand-bound journal using time-honored techniques. From cooking wheat paste to mastering coptic stitching, students will walk away with not just the skills, but several beautifully bound books that are as personal as they are practical.
The journey begins with paste paper—a historical decorative paper technique that combines wheat paste and acrylic paint to create rich, textured surfaces. Students will experiment freely, painting onto damp paper using an array of tools: stamps, brushes, sponges, even fingers. Each sheet becomes a one-of-a-kind piece of art that not only looks beautiful but strengthens and protects the paper—perfect for book covers or future craft projects.
With their freshly made papers in hand, students will then be guided step-by-step through the bookbinding process, covering boards, constructing the interior book block, and hand-sewing everything together using a non-adhesive, coptic stitch method. Along the way, instructor Nik Beauchemin (they/them) will encourage experimentation and individual expression, blending traditional structure with artistic freedom.
Nik is a graduate of the North Bennet Street School’s esteemed bookbinding program (Class of 2016) and brings a deep reverence for historical craftsmanship alongside a passion for creative exploration. With roots in bookbinding stretching back to high school, Nik also works professionally in a public library and is an accomplished fiber artist with interests in paper marbling, conservation, and tool making.
Whether you’re a beginner with a love for paper or a maker looking to deepen your book arts skills, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to learn from an expert in a serene and inspiring environment.
All materials will be provided, though students are welcome to bring their own decorative paper or tools. You’ll leave with not only new knowledge, but several custom-made journals that carry your mark on every page.
Bowl Turning, Hatchet Making, White Line Woodcut
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Sanborn Mills Farm
(603) 435- 7314
info@sanbornmills.org
www.sanbornmills.org
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Sanborn Mills Farm | 7097 Sanborn Road | Loudon, NH 03307 US