Martha Schermerhorn

This popular project utilizes a bookbinding machine that students love to use. Students pick out “covers” from various recycled cardboard types, cereal box covers, etc. and then pick text pages and a comb for the binding. When they are ready, they advance to the binding machine to punch holes for the comb and
perform the actual bind step that magically puts the combs in place.
This is a workshop that covers many levels of ability. Elementary thru adult and differently-abled populations have great success with this project. The book is a custom piece for each student reflecting his or her unique personalities.

Grade Level: K-8
Audience Limit: 30
Workshop cost (90 minutes to less): $196.00

This easy-to-master, yet sophisticate book style is inspired by a traditional Japanese format used for personal journaling and poetry writing, Students hand-sew the binding for the ten-sheet book and create their own content consisting of haikus, poems, and/or imagery. Depending on the time available, the content and sophistication level of this workshop can be adjusted to be a three to five session event at a grade-appropriate skills level; e.g. an illustrated haiku book in support of English Language Arts or a themed Visual Arts project using watercolor paper as pages.

Grade Level: 6-12
Audience Limit: 30
Workshop cost (90 minutes to less): $196.00

Students handcraft their individual version of a traditional scrapbook or photo album-style book that can be used to store and present memorabilia. This book consists of covers, paper pages, and two or three album posts, which are inserted in holes drilled in the assembled book. This type of book can accommodate a variety of content, both sourced and original, text and graphics to explore a chosen theme. Depending on the time available, the content and sophistication level of this workshop can be adjusted to be a three to five session event at a grade-appropriate skills level.

Grade Level: 6-12
Audience Limit: 30
Workshop cost (90 minutes to less): $196.00

Students create a unique book using an existing hardcover book as a starting point. By reworking pages and covers and painting, stamping, cutting, collage, over-writing, folding, gluing, etc., a one-of-a-kind book emerges from the creator’s imagination. Depending on the time available, the content and sophistication level of this workshop can be adjusted to be a three to five session event at a grade-appropriate skills level.

Grade Level: 9-12
Audience Limit: 30
Workshop cost (90 minutes to less): $196.00

In this workshop students produce a pamphlet-stitched book in an edition of three to five books using a photocopier to reproduce the pages. This book is an ideal vehicle for students interested in creating comics, manage and chapbooks. Students learn the process by first making a dummy book or mock up and designing a story. Once they have completed the layout, they copy the pages, fold, cut, and bind the books using the pamphlet stitch.

Because of the complexity and sophistication level of this project, it is best conducted as a five-session workshop.

Grade Level: 9-12
Audience Limit: 30
Workshop cost (90 minutes to less): $196.00