10:00 - 16:00

Level: Beginner and up

This handmade book is a variation on a Seawhites octopus book but with a sewn binding and elastic close. This variation is a book structure designed by Janina, so come along and be one of the first people to ever make one! An octopus books has extra wide pages that fold out individually.

On the workshop we will start with the messy part: First we will use acrylic paint and stamps to create some Christmassy themed paper that will be used for the book covers. We will then move onto the clean part. The first stage here is to prepare the book cover by trimming greyboard and covering this with our decorated paper. We will add the elastic close and will use bookcloth to make the flexible spine.

While the covers are drying we will prepare the inside pages from a large sheet of 220gsm cartridge paper. Each of the sections will be folded in on itself to make the foldout pages. The final stage is to make the holes in the pages and the spine and to sew the whole book together.

You’ll have time to finish one book and then Janina will show you how to get started on a second book with more pages, which you may need to finish at home. Janina will demonstrate all the steps fully, and will also provide one to one assistance. There will also be detailed step by step notes to help you.

What to bring (if you have them):

•  Apron

• A packed lunch

• Old credit card and / or large paint brush that can be used with acrylic paint

• 2 heavy books to press your hand made book

• Drawing tools: Pencil, eraser, sharpener

• Cutting tools: Cutting mat (A3 or bigger if possible), craft or cutting knife (a scalpel is too delicate, you need something more robust), metal ruler

• Blunt end sewing needle with large eye eg size 18 tapestry needle

• Scissors

• Bone folder (for creasing paper) or you can use your fingernail

• Paper knife / clip knife / shoe knife (for slicing paper) if you have it

• Paper scorer (an old biro without ink would work)

• If you have your own Christmassy rubber stamps that you would like to use please bring them

 Janina will have spare tools you can borrow if you don’t have all these tools.

Included on the day:

• Any other materials not specified for the students to bring

• Expert tuition

• 1 to 1 guidance

• Detailed demonstrations

• A selection of tea, freshly brewed coffee, biscuits and delicious cakes. If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please feel free to bring along your own provisions/milk alternatives etc

And of course you take your wonderful creations from the day. If you share any photographs of your day here and/or your finished work, we’d love to see them so please tag us @micklemsfarmcreativeworkshops or use the hashtag #micklemsfarmcreativeworkshops.

Terms - Fee is payable on booking. If, having booked, you can no longer attend, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer you to another workshop. However, you may nominate someone else to attend the workshop or class in your place by notifying us using the contact page on the Micklems Farm website. We reserve the right to cancel a workshop up to 48 hours prior to the workshop date. We will only cancel due to insufficient places sold and you will be refunded the full amount paid.

Number of students: 10