WELCOME BOOKBINDERS AND BOOK ARTISTS

Since 1983 the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild has worked to support the development of the book arts in Canada. This web site is dedicated to that effort. The book arts include bookbinding, artists' books, papermaking, calligraphy, letterpress printing and typography, wood engraving, paper decorating, restoration, and conservation.

FEATURED WORKSHOPS:


IN-PERSON WORKSHOP WITH ROSE NEWLOVE

RESTORATION & REPAIR, PART 1

June 6, 7 & 8 and June 13, 14, & 15, 2025
10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

Part 1 of the Repair and Restoration workshop will focus on 19th and 20th century cloth case bindings: how to identify them, what problems they develop, and how to repair and restore them. 

Pre-requisit: Bookbinding 2 or permission of instructor. Registration deadline: May 30, 2025.

Repair and Restoration parts 1 & 2 are core courses required for the CBBAG Certificate. Part 2 will be held in September 2025.

Click here for more details and to register.

ONLINE WORKSHOP WITH ANNA YEVTUKH

MEMORIES BOOK CONTAINER

May 31, 2025
10.30 a.m. - 12.40 p.m. EST

'The anticipation of all the discoveries to unfold'. Literally… During this workshop you will learn how to create a beautiful piece of book arts that can serve as a container for your memories, poems, memorabilia, photographs.

By folding, stitching and putting together simple constructive elements like paper, card and thread in a short space of time you will end up holding in your hands... very special 'Memories'.

Registrants can work along with Anna, watch the live session, or just watch the videos later.

Click here for full details and to register.

ONLINE Workshop with Anna Yevtukh

ITALIAN LEDGER BINDING

Sunday, July 6 + Friday, July 11, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (EASTERN TIME)

Dating back to 13th-17th centuries, Ledger books were account books with records of debtors and creditors in Medieval Italy and Spain.

During this workshop we will re-create a model of this medieval book which can be equally useful now-a-days as a journal or sketchbook.

There might be some homework between sessions. Registrants can work along with Anna, watch the live session, or just watch the videos later.

Click here for full details and to register.

IN-PERSon Workshop with DON TAYLOR

BOOKBINDING 2

Saturday & Sunday, September 20-21, September 27-28, October 4-5, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This six-day workshop introduces intermediate techniques necessary for traditional binding structures, such as rounding and backing, sewn end bands, recessed cord sewing, the hollow tube, simple edge treatments and visible/invisible hinge hooked endpapers. Two models will be made one with a German case and the other with a Bradel board attachment.

This is one of the core courses required for the CBBAG Certificate and is a prerequisite for Bookbinding 3 and is a good opportunity to build on BB1 skills and progress in practice of bookbinding by hand.

Click here for full details and to register.

In-person workshop with Don Taylor



ONLINE Bookbinding 1

Home Study - Guided Stream

Bookbinding 1 is the first workshop in CBBAG’s core curriculum and introduces the variety of tools, materials, sewings, and constructions fundamental to hand bookbinding.

This course is full. New courses will be offered in 2026.

Click here for full details and to be added to the wait list. The wait list will be used to give first notice for the next offerings of Bookbinding 1 Home Study Guided Stream.

Click here for The list of all workshops and courses.



Kindred Spirits: The Lucy Maud Montgomery Legacy as Interpreted by Contemporary Book Artists

For the list of exhibition venues across Canada, visit the exhibition's website:  kindred-spirits-bookarts.com

The Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada.

Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube (for exclusive lecture recording, Beyond Anne of Green Gables, presented by Kathy Wasylenky from Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario).

BOOKBINDING

WHAT IS IT?

Image of brass gold finishing tools being heated on a finishing stove.

Work & Hobby

Bookbinding consists of many different types of work, particularly in North America where it can be difficult to specialize and make a living.

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Magazine

EXTENSIVE LIBRARY

Image of a Book Arts Canada (Arts du Livre Canada) magazine cover.

Publication

Book Arts arts du livre Canada is published twice a year. It features book arts events, book artists, book and exhibition reviews, technical articles, and historical essays.

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EDUCATION

RESOURCES

Detail of the face of a brass finishing tool in the shape of a raven .ARTISTS & BOOKBINDERS

CBBAG has a few curated lists of resources that we think will be of use to bookbinders and book artists. 

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All imagery on this website is copyright and protected by international law. Content cannot be copied, published, distributed, downloaded, or otherwise stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or converted, in any form or by any means, electronic, or otherwise without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Please contact CBBAG's web administrator for more information on contacting the copyright owner.

Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG)

Charitable Business Number 89179 5445 RR0001


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