MICHAEL BURKE  (UK)

Cambridge Panel Binding

The Cambridge Panel is one of the classic historical styles of cover decoration. Popular throughout England in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it is very useful for creating handsome period bindings. After the book is bound the leather is sprinkled with dye through a template, creating the traditional panelled effect. Then, using a few tools and working to a traditional formula, the covers are decorated with handsome blind tooling. In addition to his demonstration, Michael will show a range of historical examples which illustrate the many interesting variations of this historical style.

Michael has a Masters degree in the History of the Book from the University of London.   His bindery is in the Lake District in UK.   He has taught in many countries including USA, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.

STEPHEN BYRNE  (Scotland)

Miniature Books – Bound to Impress

Stephen will give a brief and illustrated history of miniature books, from the earliest times to the twenty-first century.    He will look at the definition of ‘miniature books’, different forms of them, and some of the famous names associated with them.  His talk will cover medieval, 17th and 18th centuries, the Georgian and Victorian eras finishing with 20th century collectors and creators.

Stephen has a passion for miniature books and has, with his wife as illustrator, published many miniatures covering many subjects.   He has collected many miniatures and has built up a library of over two thousand books.  Stephen is currently President of the Miniature Book Society.

PHIL DAY  (Melbourne)

Everything that has an inside has an outside

Phil will discuss various aspects of the making of the book.   He will ask the questions; “Where should you start?   Does the starting point restrict the order of the process and inhibit artistic endeavour?”   Phil will look at roles of binder, artists, paper makers, and printers and the recognition (or lack of it) of these artists by cataloguers in institutions.

Phil is a graduate of the School of Art, ANU.   He has been involved in the making and publishing of books for more than twenty years, either as a printer, binder, designer, typographer, and writer, but more often as an illustrator.

ROSEMARIE JEFFERS-PALMER  (Sydney)

Lacunose Technique

The technique was developed by Paul Delrue, a UK binder, and Rosemarie had the privilege of attending one of his workshops some years ago.   The effect is created by building up a collage of different coloured leathers, pared very thinly.   The results can be surprising and unexpected and can create stunning effects.

Rosemarie worked as an artist and art teacher for many years but, for the last 20 years, has been making books and teaching bookbinding.

MAGDALENA KOZIAK-PODSIADLO  (Poland)

The Golden Age of Polish Binding

The history of the Book Design Studio in Krakow dates back to the 1910s and involves the creation of exceptional designs, typographical printing and bookbinding. The Studio has unique typographic printing facilities and a vintage bookbinding workshop. Magdalena will discuss the significant influence of Bonawentura Lenart, a highly regarded Polish binder, as well as the achievements of the work being created at the Book Design Studio, Graphics Department.
Magdalena graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow where she is now an assistant at the Book Design Studio, Graphics Department. She is working on her PhD, which involves a collection of bookbinding tools which form the inventory of the Book Design Studio.

DAVID LANNING  (UK)

Manufacture of Bookbinding Leather

David Lanning is the Sales and Marketing Director at Scottish leather manufacturers J Hewit & Sons.  His talk will serve as a virtual tour of the Hewit factory and will take you through the leather tanning and finishing processes specific to the production of fine bookbinding leathers.

David has been at leather manufacturers and bookbinding suppliers J. Hewit & Sons Ltd. since 1987.    He considers himself quite a competent armchair bookbinder.

JOHN MUMFORD  (Egypt)

Mamluk Binding

John will discuss the history and demonstrate the construction of the Islamic Mamluk Binding.

John teaches in the UK and Europe and enjoys sharing his knowledge of various Islamic Bindings.   He is a book conservator currently working in Egypt.

FRIEDHELM POHLMANN  (Brisbane)

Wehmais Box

The Wehmais box was originally developed by the late Swiss master binder, Hugo Peller.   It is a presentation box which folds out and up to present the book in a raised position.   Friedhelm will demonstrate the making of this complex box with its many steps which require absolute accuracy.

Friedhelm Pohlmann is a master craftsman who trained extensively in Germany and Switzerland and is a renowned binder both nationally and internationally.

DOMINIC RILEY  (UK)

Creative Gold Tooling

Over the past ten years Dominic has developed his own approach to gold finishing, using his adapted tool which allows for a more free-style approach. Traditional gold tooling on leather is done with wheels and hand tools, one rolling on the leather, the other applying vertical pressure. Dominic’s tool works in a different way, by pushing and sliding in the leather. He has created many Design Bindings using this technique.   In his presentation, Dominic will show how to make the adapted tool, how to plan and execute a design in gold, and show examples of bindings he has created using this new technique.

Dominic is an internationally renowned bookbinder, artist, lecturer and teacher.  He has his bindery in the Lake District, from whence he travels teaching and lecturing. His bindings are in collections worldwide.

SUZANNE SCHMOLLGRUBER  (Switzerland)

The Full Leather Laced-In Binding – French Technique

Suzanne studied fine binding with the great master Edwin Heim. With the successful execution of a “French binding” a book becomes a fine work of art.

In this technique the book is rounded and backed to a 90° joint.   Different endpaper constructions will be explained.   The demonstration will be about the covering of a full leather binding.   The previous leather preparation for the covers and inner joint will be explained step by step.   Special attention will be given to the treatment of the leather.

Suzanne is the school director of the Centro del Bel Libro, Ascona, Switzerland. Her training has taken her to many different countries and has been taught by many master binders throughout Europe.

JOY TONKIN  (Canberra)

Contemporary Bindings at The National Library of the Netherlands

The National Library of the Netherlands has an extensive collection of contemporary bindings by well-known binders from around the world.   Joy wishes to share the experience of viewing and handling many of these exquisite bindings.

Joy runs a book arts business in Canberra with her husband John.   They specialize in conservation and restoration of rare books, works of art on paper, and one-off fine designer bindings.   Both are experienced teachers and offer a range of instruction in the book arts.

TERENCE UREN  (Canberra)

Making Lidded Containers

For a book needing protection from light and dust, a lidded container can be a practical alternative to the ubiquitous Solander box. Terence will demonstrate some of the working methods he has developed for making these containers and for ensuring a ‘not-too-loose-not-too-snug’ fit of their components.

Terence is a Canberra-based bookbinder and book artist. His BEMBindery studio produces unique and small editions of contemporary design bindings and artist books. His work is included in private and public collections in Australia, UK, USA and Canada.

VICKI WOOLLEY  (Canberra)

Surface design

Are you looking for a paper to work with materials chosen for your book design but unable to match a commercially made paper? – create your own!   Vicki will demonstrate the versatile technique of mono-printing with a gelatine plate.   For Vicki, experimenting is the key with a dash of serendipity.

Vicki produces artist books and fine bindings.   She teaches and mentors novice and more experienced binders in bookbinding and artist books.   Vicki is the current President of the Canberra Craft Bookbinders’ Guild.