This page was updated on 3/29/12. Please email susan.bonthron@gmail.com to sign up. All workshops include printed instructions, all materials, and a delicious lunch, and are $90 unless otherwise noted. If you are interested in a class that is NOT listed below, let me know and I will try to schedule it.

Paste Paper & Luminaria Workshop, April 24th:  10-3PM. Make a pile of colorful paste paper and (optionally) learn to fold a luminaria (paper lantern).

Tunnel Book, Saturday, May 19th: 9-5PM  Includes all materials except those you may want to incorporate in your tunnel book, such as photographs, postcards, etc. You may see photos of two tunnel books on my Facebook page in the "Artist Books" album. The tunnel is a book with content, so I do urge you to think about what you want to commemorate/play with/include in it. 

TBA: Travel Book in a Box (9-5). Make a longstitch travel journal enclosed in a hardbound box with a section for pens, pencils, scissors and gluestick. (See image on my Otter Pond Bindery--Susan Bonthron Facebook page).

Deer Isle Workshop in Conary Cove, Deer Isle, ME  July 29th to August 3rd: This year's Deer Isle workshop is especially designed for teachers who would like to incorporate book arts in the classroom, though any interested person is welcome to attend. (40 professional development hours available). For more information or an electronic flyer, please email me. Cost of the workshop with room and most board is $680; cost of workshop alone is $450. Conary Cove house limited to six on a first-come, first-served basis.

Design Your Own Workshop

Imagine sharing our cozy two-bedroom Schoolhouse with a friend or three in beautiful southern Vermont, and attending a book arts workshop of your own choosing. It could be anything from a 2-night stay with a single day-long workshop to a 3 or 4 night retreat with a day-and-a-half to 3-day workshop. Weekdays or weekends -- your choice. Make paste paper or marbled paper, then use it to create your own journal. Or delve into pop-ups or tunnel books. Or treat an affianced couple to a weekend at the Schoolhouse where they can make their own wedding album. The Schoolhouse offers all the amenities (fully equipped kitchen and bath, wraparound decks with hot tub) all in a secluded, beautiful rural setting a short walk from Otter Pond Bindery. Organic breakfast fixings provided, and gourmet lunch for each workshop day is also included. Call or email for details and rates.

Here are a few of the many possibilities:

* The Tunnel's End: Imagine & construct a tunnel book with your own images (2 day wkshp).

* All About Accordions: Make 3 to 4 different accordion structures and create images to fill one of them (1.5 day wkshp).

* Rounded and Backed: Make a hardbound book sewn on tapes with a rounded back cloth-and-board case (minimum 2 day wkshp)

* Casing In: Make a hardbound book and slipcase (minimum 2.5 day wkshp).

* A Slim Volume: Create your own collection of favorite poems (written by you or others, collected by you) in a limited edition chapbook (2 days with prep ahead).

* Paper Decoration I: Paste paper and three-section hardbound journals (2 day wkshp).

* Paper Decoration II: Marbled paper and two portfolio structures (2 day wkshp).

* 3 Books, 3 Sewings: Make three hardbound books using pamphlet stitch, secret Belgian binding, and Coptic sewing techniques (2 day wkshp).

* Illustrated journals for beginners: Make a simple hardbound journal and learn 6 techniques for filling it (1.5 day wkshp).

* The Drop Spine Box: Make one small and one large drop-spine box to store special objects, photos or papers (2 day wkshp).

* Out in the Field: Making and Keeping Field Journals (1 or 2 day wkshp).

* Books in the Classroom: Three techniques for teachers who want to integrate book arts into their curriculum (1 or 2 day wkshp).

* Chinese Sewing Box: Make a drop-wall etui of boards and book cloth to hold your sewing needles and findings (2 - 3 day wkshp).

* Fun with Pop-Ups: Make a boxed set of pop-up forms and then pick one to elaborate and encase it in a hardbound cover (1.5 - 2 day wkshp).

* Boxed In: Make a multi-section box for your bookbinding or sewing tools, decorated with marbled paper and covered with book cloth (2 day wkshp).

PAGE DOWN FOR DIRECTIONS TO BINDERY AND SCHOOLHOUSE NUMBER 10.

Please note there is an error in the directions from the South. Go right, not left, from the exit ramp off I-91, toward Bernardston. It is about 4 miles up Rte. 5 to Keets Brook Rd, and about 3 miles on Keets Brook to Weatherhead Hollow. Also, I recently discovered that the road sign is missing at the Weatherhead Hollow turn off from Keets Brook Rd.  The first stop sign on Keets Brook Rd. IS Weatherhead Hollow. Sorry for any confusion.

 

FROM THE NORTH: take I-91 South to exit 1, go south (right) on rte 5 toward Guilford, and in less than a mile, turn right in front of the Guilford Country Store onto Guilford Center Rd. Follow that for a little less than 2 miles, and turn left onto Weatherhead Hollow Rd. Follow that for about six miles until you pass Weatherhead Hollow Pond (a large pond on your left). You will see the Franklin Farm (and farm store) on your right. Just after that is Packer Corners Rd on the right. Take that for 1.6 miles, then turn right onto S. Belden Hill Rd. You will pass our small refurbished schoolhouse on the corner ("Schoolhouse No. 10"), then a gray barn on the right, then you'll see a white house and red barn. That's me! Park on the side of the road or near the barn.

FROM THE SOUTH: Take I-91 North to Exit 28b in Bernardston Massachusetts, and go left from the off-ramp. Turn right (North) when the road dead-ends into Route 5. After several miles, turn left on Keets Brook Rd. and follow it through the valley until it comes to Weatherhead Hollow Rd. Turn left and pass the Franklin Farm, then take a right on Packer Corners Rd. and follow that for 1.6 miles. Turn right onto S. Belden Hill Rd. Our refurbished schoolhouse ("Schoolhouse No. 10") is on the corner, then a gray barn on the right, then a white house and red barn. Park on the side of the road or near the barn.

For a charming local accommodation, see Schoolhouse Number 10 (our 2-BR refurbished 18th century schoolhouse).

For additional local accommodation nearby, see the Cabin at Bear Meadow (http://www.vtcabin.com/).