Note: This venue has closed.
Ian Tan discovered his love for bookbinding while completing his architecture degree in the UK. Armed with this and several years of practice, he set up shop in 2012 and now conducts weekly classes (from $40) at The Arts House and The Thistle Bindery. Of the five bookbinding styles, Japanese stab binding is a starting point for beginners, although single section binding trumps it in popularity – and look out for more upcoming leather notebook-binding workshops, too.
Each project takes between two to four hours depending on the style and complexity of the book, and all tools are provided, including a bone folder and awl – that’s a small, pointed tool used for piercing holes. Full customisation options mean you’ll have the option of assembling batik-bound books or chiyogami paperencased ones.
You’ll even be doing good: a portion of the proceeds goes to the Book Arts Society’s outreach programmes such as charity beneficiaries. There are also kids’ workshops and bookbinding kits at $20 to start a project from scratch.