Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June 2025 | 10am - 4pm
Max. 8 participants
$650 inclusive of GST
(inclusive of all materials)
Available at checkout
Learn the art of paste papers, a vibrant decorative technique used in fine bookbinding, before crafting your own three-piece case-bound book with a cloth spine and paper-covered boards. Whether you're a printmaker, book artist, or simply love hand-bound books, this is a rare chance to develop your skills under expert guidance.
Join us for an immersive two-day workshop with master bookbinder Phil Ridgway from the Melbourne School of Bookbinding. This workshop offers a rare opportunity to learn both decorative paper techniques and traditional bookbinding under the expert guidance of a Master Bookbinder. Across two days, you’ll explore the art of paste papers, a historic decorative technique used in fine bookbinding (and extraordinarily fun to make), before applying your handmade designs to a beautifully crafted book.
Phil will guide you through the process of creating a three-piece case binding, a refined and durable book structure that combines a cloth spine with decorative paper-covered boards. This elegant binding style is widely used in fine press and hand-bound books, allowing for endless creative possibilities. If artist books are something you are interested in, this workshop is not to be missed!
What You Will Learn:
Paste Paper Techniques – Experiment with colour, pattern, and texture to create richly decorative papers, perfect for book covers and endpapers – and so much fun!
Three - Piece Case Binding – Learn essential bookbinding skills, including folding, sewing, casing in, and finishing a hardbound book with section sewn bound book block, a cloth spine and paper-covered boards.
Handcrafting a Complete Book – Assemble and bind your own professionally finished book, gaining hands-on experience in materials, adhesives, and structural techniques.
This workshop is ideal for printmakers, book artists, and anyone interested in traditional bookbinding methods. Whether you’re a beginner or have prior experience, this class offers a structured yet creative environment to develop your skills.All materials provided. No prior experience necessary! Phil's workshops with us last year were a great success, and we are so excited to welcome him back once again.
An ideal workshop for enthusiasts of bookbinding, printing, typography and artists books
No Experience necessary.
ABOUT PHIL RIDGWAY - FROM MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF BOOKBINDING
The truth may be stranger than fiction… fiction can’t be disproved, however…
Born under a road sign, raised by wolves, rescued by a lighthouse keeper. In the right place at the right time, won a competition to be a duke, stint as a milkman, cult following by 3pm via word of mouth, apprenticed to master craftspeople, detour via university, met muse while interning in Europe for food and board. Acquired professional experience through trial and error, with an eyebrow raised….
For the rest, I undertook private studies in bookbinding in the UK and France, developed further in both professional and self driven practice. The MSB was started to pass on the skills and knowledge I’d acquired to anyone who was interested in bookbinding. The OrtBindery grew from that established studio…
Through both, I try to provide bookbinding excellence – in both tuition and services…
Workshop Cancellations & Refunds
We understand that circumstances can change. A refund will be offered in the following situations:
· if a workshop, in which you are enrolled, is cancelled or deferred to a date unsuitable for your attendance. This may happen in event of a Catastrophic Fire Danger day, or in the event a tutor is unwell.
· upon receipt of an email indicating your intention to withdraw your enrolment when notice is provided to us at least three weeks in advance of the workshop start date.
From the 1st of January 2025, due to merchant processing fees, all refunds will be incur a $35 administration fee.
Workshop Credit - Transfers
In the event you cannot attend a booked workshop, and with at least three weeks notice being given to us, we are happy to transfer your enrolment to a future workshop, dependant on studio availability and within 12 months of the booked workshops date.
