Place, space and bookmaking

Last Friday, January 27, I was lucky enough to go on a bookmaking course run by Caroline Fraser, of Caroline Fraser Photography. I joined three other people at Rye Creative Centre, now refurbished, warm and bright, to learn how to make tiny books.

Called ‘Say it with Books’, it was designed to help a small group of people learn to make simple book structures, a leporello (concertina) book, a sewn pamphlet book with a decorated card cover and a folding book for keepsakes. These are pictured so you get an idea of them.

Never having attempted anything similar before, I think all four of us were rather apprehensive. Provided with all the tools we needed, including suitable papers, the classes are restricted to a maximum of five applicants. Four of us duly appeared, wondering quite what to expect.

We had been asked to bring a line of verse that had a meaning for us and this was way out of my personal comfort zone. I needn’t have worried as we were talked through the various folding, cutting and sewing processes, with a quiet competency that enabled us to learn and make our books.

The line of verse was used on the cover of one of the books, which we decorated, and I managed to free up my thinking enough to do it all. Sadly, there wasn’t time in the morning to do any further artwork as we needed to learn all the processes and we realised we could develop this further at home. I think we all fully intend to do so.

Caroline’s work presents images alongside text and she describes the books themselves as an opportunity to express a sense of place and space. She had laid out examples of her work for us to see and it showed her skill and creativity in presenting images alongside text. Each book is available in small editions and you can see them on her website. The actual works look as wonderful in reality as in the digital form.

Alongside the actual workshop, there is an online ‘Say it with Books’ course available, but I enjoyed working with a few others and being guided and helped when necessary. I even learnt to cut properly and in a straight line and will be using the technique for other, more mundane tasks.

I think learning a new creative skill opens the mind and enables better physical coordination too, with a sense of great enjoyment after all the Covid years. For one morning, no worries about bills, cost of living, the NHS, such a refreshment for the mind.

I asked how we could keep in touch and find out about any new courses and events. Caroline suggested you sign up to her website where all the information is available.

Image Credits: Gillian Roder .