Fold and stitch your own book

CREATIVE hands and minds with an interest in visual storytelling and fibre art are invited to join an upcoming workshop.

Golden Plains Shire artist Lyn Dickson is leading a session in the art of innovative bookmaking at Bannockburn Library later this month.

Attendees will be able to try a simple style of creative bookmaking, which is all about decorating paper with media and folding that into a larger or smaller book that can be opened and explored.

“The workshop is about very simple easy bookmaking,” Dickson said. “Mainly folded, using all sorts of different papers, some of which I’ve rusted or painted.

“We will focus on several small booklets that are folded and fixed together in different ways, some with or without a cover, learning the structure, fold, and stitch.

“We won’t be doing anything complex, but simple and easy, because two hours is not a lot of time to experiment. But I can make suggestions and show some samples.”

Dickson expects the art will be something new for workshop participants, but she said she hopes they take the process on board and practice at home.

“Once they’ve learnt how to structure the book, they can put content into them,” she said.

Dickson is a popular self-taught textile artist and weaver within the Golden Plains Shire, known to make baskets, and fibre sculptures.

She has been a part of many creative community initiatives including GP Arts Inc’s arts trails, the visual art exhibition at the Smythesdale Fiesta, and the Golden Plains Southern Open Studios initiative.

A member of Geelong Sculptors Group, Basketmakers of Victoria, and Geelong Fibre Artists, Dickson has also had the opportunity to be one of the Geelong College’s artists in residency.

Dickson will be in Bannockburn on Tuesday, 28 March for the two-hour session from 1pm to 3pm in the library meeting room. There are limited places, and those interested can register at bit.ly/3y1qPdK.

The innovative bookmaking workshop with Dickson is part of a broader artist series which is being delivered by Geelong Regional Libraries in partnership with the Golden Plains Shire.