A workshop titled “Introduction to Making Handmade Books” will take place Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Wisconsin Makers, 200 E. Clay Street in Whitewater. The two-hour class begins at 7 p.m.

Attendees will learn how to make their own blank notebook using historic bookbinding techniques.

They will make two blank books: a very simple folded booklet with hand sewn signature binding and a casebound blank notebook of one or two signatures, as time permits.

Participants will learn basic paper folding and assembly of signatures into a codex, longstitch binding using needle and waxed linen thread, using bookbinding glue to make a casebound book cover, and using bookcloth to create a sewn longstitch spine binding for their casebound notebook.

All materials will be provided. Attendees may bring their own decorative paper if they want to use it for the notebooks; otherwise, decorative paper samples will be on hand.

Class will begin with a short overview of handmade books, the history of bookbinding and looking at samples of various types of books.

The fee for the class is $20, payable to the instructor, Arthur Durkee.

Durkee is an interdisciplinary artist whose work ranges across book arts, photography, music, poetry, letterpress, printmaking, video, installation, and teaching. He makes artist’s books using all these and more.

To sign up for the bookbinding class, please confirm either Durkee via phone or text at (608) 332-3653 (preferred) or Al Jewer via phone or text at (630) 430-9498.

Attendance is limited to 10 students.

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Felting Workshop

A felting workshop will take place Monday, Dec. 1, in
Whitewater. It is set for 5 to 8 p.m. at Wisconsin Makers, 200 E. Clay St.

Attendees — beginners to advanced felters — may work on
needle or wet felting or both.

The fee is $20, materials included. Payment may be made at
the class.

Register by calling instructor Leani Schoor at (608) 421-4078 or
emailing her at leanischoor@gmail.com.

Having earned her Bachelor of Science degree in art education
and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Schoor taught art at
Jefferson High School for 38 years. The owner of Studio 2154 in Madison, she teaches wet and needle felting, beadwork, glass fusing, cement yard art, ceramics, copper enameling, metal work and quilting.

Located at the corner of East Clay and Wisconsin streets in
Whitewater, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace or community
workshop. For more information, contact Chris Spangler at
(920) 728-2960.