Across the session, participants will explore the fundamentals of binding books by hand, learning how to cut paper with precision, prepare cover materials and experiment with a variety of binding methods. Guided step-by-step, they will create six different folded structures and at least three sewn structures, all assembled without paste or glue. Each technique opens up new ways of thinking about form, function, and the intimate relationship between text, material, and movement.

As the workshop progresses, the table turns into a mini bindery: stacks of folded signatures, stitched spines, textured covers, and the quiet rhythm of making. Whether you’re an artist, educator, student, or simply someone who loves paper, this workshop offers a thoughtful, meditative introduction to bookbinding and the skills to continue exploring it long after the session ends.

Participant Takeaways

● A selection of handmade books created during the workshop

● Hands-on understanding of six folded structures

● Experience in creating three sewn book structures without glue or paste

● Skills in cutting, folding, sewing, and assembling book forms

● Confidence to continue exploring bookbinding independently

● A deeper appreciation for the craft of handmade books and paper arts

Artist Bio:

Radha Pandey is a book artist, papermaker and letterpress printer. She earned her MFA in Book Arts from the University of Iowa Center for the Book. She specializes in Indo-Islamicate Papermaking and teaches book arts classes in India, Europe and the US.

Her book Anatomia Botanica (2014) won the MICA Book Award and received an Honorable Mention at the 15th Carl Hertzog Award for Excellence in Book Design. In 2018, her book Deep Time won the Joshua Heller Memorial Award. Pandey’s most recent book Flora of Mughal India won the prestigious MCBA Book Prize (2024).

Her books are held in over 80 collections internationally, including the Library of Congress and Yale University. She runs a book arts studio in India and Norway with her partner, Johan Solberg.

Currently, Radha is working on a book about shadows and our perception of the colour black.