Workshops are held at Mainframe (Studio 226) 900 Keo Way, Des Moines, View Map. Parking is available on the lower level at the back of the building, in the lot South of the building, or on the street. Pre-registration is required.

Private instruction is available by appointment. You will receive intense one-on-one instruction on the subject you request.  $60.00/hour. Customized  group sessions or parties can be arranged. Contact me with your ideas.

View our payment policies.

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES Workshop
November 16th Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 13th)

Small Packages
Are you ready to add a touch of elegance and craftsmanship to your gift-giving? Join me for a captivating Folded Boxes and Bags Workshop, where you’ll create beautifully designed, boxes and bags that are perfect for small gifts and treats.

Snall Packages

Snall Packages

POP-UP CARD PARTY Workshop
November 16th Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 13th)

Pop-up Cards
Learn paper engineering techniques to create pop-up holiday cards. We’ll make several styles or you can create your own designs. You will leave with sample cards and patterns so you can make more on your own.

Pop up party

Pop-up Cards

MAKE YOURSELF A STAR! Workshop
November 23rd Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 20th)

Holiday Stars
Add a touch of magic to your holiday season with this enchanting dimensional Holiday Stars Workshop. Join me for a creative session where you’ll craft stunning three-dimensional stars that will enhance your holiday decor with elegance and charm.

Make a star

Holiday Stars

CROSSED STRUCTURE JOURNAL WORKSHOP
October 26, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. October 23rd)

Crossed Structure Journal Workshop
The wonderful thing about this structure is the way that the covers become part of the sewing structure and interlock with each other from front to back. The book is strong and flexible, and the pages lie flat when opened. The basic structure utilizes materials with little or no waste. This versatile book can be made quickly and inexpensively using very little equipment.

Registration Closed

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

TINY TOMES Workshop
November 9, 2024  12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is 11:59 P.M. November 6th)

Tiny Tomes
Make a set of charming, tiny books. In this brief session, immerse yourself in the art of crafting simple, tiny books by making accordion, flutter, matchbook, and stitched versions.

Registration Closed

Tiny Tomes copy

Tiny Tomes

QUICK AND EASY LEATHER JOURNAL WORKSHOP

September 28, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. September 25th
)

Quick And Easy Leather Journal Workshop
Make a small leather journal in a jiffy using the button hole stitch binding technique. One of the beauties of this open spine binding is the repetitive wrapping on the spine, which echoes the folds of the exposed sections. The opening in the spine allows for endless variation by changing the shape of the opening, and layering cover materials.

Registration Closed

Buttonhole stitch B (3)

Quick And Easy Leather Journal

Quick And Easy Leather Journal

Quick And Easy Leather Journal

PIANO HINGE BINDING WORKSHOP
October 12, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. October 9th)

Piano Hinge Binding Workshop
The combination of paper and rods in this binding has fascinating sculptural possibilities. Our flexible, sculptural book is tear-drop shaped with seriously warped covers and can be expanded to infinity and beyond.

Registration Closed

Piano Hinge Binding

Piano Hinge Binding

Piano Hinge Binding

INTRODUCTION TO HAND BOOKBINDING WORKSHOP

September 14, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. September 11st
)

Introduction To Hand Bookbinding Workshop
This four-hour workshop is for adults 16 and up who want to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor.
Students will produce a small book for personal use, and gain basic knowledge of the materials, tools, and processes used in bookbinding.

Registration Closed

intro to hand bookbinding 3

Introduction To Hand Bookbinding

Intro to hand Bookbinding 2

Introduction To Hand Bookbinding

THREE JAPANESE BINDINGS WORKSHOP

August 24, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. August 21st
)

Three Japanese Bindings Workshop
This very decorative style is based on a method commonly used in Japan and provides a simple solution to the problem of binding single leaves. It involves a technique called “stab sewing” which uses the thread or ribbon as a decorative feature on the outside cover. The technique can be applied in a variety of ways, and books can be made from a wide range of materials. Very little glue is needed for this binding as it is the form of sewing that holds the book together.

Registration Closed

Three Japanese Bindings

Three Japanese Bindings

COPTIC BINDING WORKSHOP
July 20, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 27th)

Coptic Binding Workshop
The Coptic or Ethiopian binding is one of the earliest binding techniques, and is well over 1000 years old. This binding is extremely sturdy and has a lovely linked sewing across the exposed spine. Our version has leather covers and a clever closure, with optional decoration on the spine.

Adults 16 and up. No previous experience necessary, but it helps if you are comfortable using a needle and thread.

Registration Closed

coptic binding 2

Coptic Binding

mini coptics

Coptic Binding

BASIC LONG STITCHING WORKSHOP
July 13, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 10th)

Basic Long Stitch Journal Workshop
In this half-day workshop, you will make a basic long stitch model with a paper cover. The Long stitch binding technique dates from the 14th century. The sections of the book are sewn directly through the spine of the cover material, with two sections being sewn through each set of holes. The possibilities for variation and elaboration of the basic stitch are limited only to one’s imagination.

Registration Closed

Long Stitch 2

Basic Long Stitch Journal

Long stitch copy

Basic Long Stitch Journal

CROSSED STRUCTURE JOURNAL WORKSHOP
June 22, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. June 19th)

Crossed Structure Journal Workshop
The wonderful thing about this structure is the way that the covers become part of the sewing structure and interlock with each other from front to back. The book is strong and flexible, and the pages lie flat when opened. The basic structure utilizes materials with little or no waste. This versatile book can be made quickly and inexpensively using very little equipment.

Registration Closed

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

Crossed Structure Journal

PIANO HINGE BINDING WORKSHOP
June 15, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. June 12th)

Piano Hinge Binding Workshop
The combination of paper and rods in this binding has fascinating sculptural possibilities. Our flexible, sculptural book is tear-drop shaped with seriously warped covers and can be expanded to infinity and beyond.

Registration Closed

Piano Hinge Binding

Piano Hinge Binding

Piano Hinge Binding

ART JOURNAL WORKSHOP
May 18, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. May 15th)

Art Journal Workshop
In this class, you will make a leather-bound single-sheet Art Journal with pages that adapt to both horizontal and vertical formats. Perfect for drawing, painting, collage, and more.  If desired, you can use the provided hand-made tools to ink inspirational marks on the pages.

Registration Closed

Art Journal Workshop

Art Journal

Panorama Book

PANORAMA BOOK WORKSHOP
May 11, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p. m. May 8th)

Panorama Book Workshop
Make a book that shows off your artistic creations. This structure combines an accordion with semi-pivoting panels that can display your artwork. We’ll learn the proper way to fold an accordion and make a model panel. We will use dye-cut components for the book and finish it with hard covers. If you wish, bring copies of your artwork (3.5 x 5.75 maximum) to feature in your 9.25” x 5” book.

Registration Closed

Panorama Book

Panorama Book

Panorama Book 2

Panorama Book

POCKET BOOK WORKSHOP
April 27, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 24th)

Pocket Book Workshop
Make a clever book with pockets. The hard-cover Pocket Book is four inches square and about one inch thick, with folded pages. The books’ pockets can hold coupons for gift services, photos, tickets, or other ephemera. If time allows, we can make a bonus folded-page book.

Registration Closed

Pocket Book

Pocket Book

Pocket Book open

Pocket Book Open

INTRO TO HAND BOOKBINDING
April 13, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.,m.
$90.00 includes everything you’ll need. 
(Registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 10th)

Intro to Hand Bookbinding
This four-hour workshop is for adults 18 and up who want to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor. Students will produce a small book for personal use, and gain basic knowledge of the materials, tools, and processes used in bookbinding.

Registration Closed

hand bookbinding

Hand Bookbinding

Intro to hand bookbinding

Hand Bookbinding

DELUXE GARDEN JOURNAL Workshop
March 16th  Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$150.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight March 13th)

Deluxe Garden Journals
Create your own personal garden journal with special pages and pockets geared toward garden planning and recording. Your book will have envelopes to contain saved seeds and pockets for seed packets and catalogs. Graph paper pages will aid in current and future garden layout, and blank pages can hold photos and notes about your garden and its contents. A botanical illustration is burned into the front cover.

Registration Closed

Garden Journal copy

Deluxe Garden Journal

TINY TOMES Workshop
March 9th  Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight March 6th)

Tiny Tomes
Make a set of charming, tiny books. In this brief session, immerse yourself in the art of crafting simple, tiny books by making accordion, flutter, matchbook, and stitched versions.

Registration Closed

Tiny Tomes copy

Tiny Tomes

CLAMSHELL BOX AND BOOK Workshop
February 17th  Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$150.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Feb. 14th)

Clamshell Box and Book
Learn the basics of box-making. Enhance your bookbinding skills in this fast-moving, full-day workshop. You will make a lovely small book and a clamshell box to protect it. This hands-on session covers the steps for creating both the book and the box.

Registration Closed

Clamshell box and book 2-2

Clamshell Box and Book

A SWEET VALENTINE SURPRISE Workshop
February 10th  Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Feb. 7th)

Sweet Valentine Surprise
Wow your Valentine with a little box of chocolates, plus a pop-up card.

Learn to fold a Masu box with four compartments to hold delicious chocolates (provided). Then, craft a small pop-up valentine to complete the sentiment.

Registration Closed

Sweet Valentine Surprise

Sweet Valentine Surprise

LIMP PAPER BINDING Workshop
January 20th  Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$125.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Jan. 18th)

Limp Paper Binding
Limp vellum bindings first appeared in the 15th Century, and paper bindings closely followed due to the new technology of printing. Limp bindings were simpler.  They are sturdy and open easily.  The binding process is relatively quick.  Many limp-bound books survived the flooding in Florence, Italy, in the mid-1960s.

The text block for this book is sewn onto double leather thongs with end bands at the head and tail of the book.  The folded paper cover is laced on with the thongs.  You will “age” the paper for the book cover by manipulating, tinting, and laminating sheets.  This is a beautiful historic structure with a variety of contemporary adaptations.

Registration Closed

limp paper binding-2

Limp Paper Binding

INTRO TO HAND BOOKBINDING Workshop
January 13th  Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Jan. 11th)

Hand Bookbinding
This four-hour workshop is for adults 18 and up who want to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor. Students will produce a small book for personal use, and gain basic knowledge of the materials, tools, and processes used in bookbinding.

SOLD OUT

Intro to Bookbinding compressed

Hand Bookbinding

MAKE YOURSELF A STAR! Workshop
December 2nd  Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 29th)

Holiday Stars
Add a touch of magic to your holiday season with this enchanting dimensional Holiday Stars Workshop. Join me for a creative session where you’ll craft stunning three-dimensional stars that will enhance your holiday decor with elegance and charm.

Registration Closed

Make a star

Holiday Stars

STRIPS AND CURLS Workshop
December 2nd  Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 29th)

Strips and Curls
Do a riff on the traditional Scandinavian curled wood ornaments using strips of colored paper.  Let your imagination reign and create an ornament collection of your own designs and color schemes.

Registration Closed

strips and Curls

strips and Curls

POP-UP CARD PARTY Workshop
November 11th Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 8th)

Pop-up Cards
Learn paper engineering techniques to create pop-up holiday cards. We’ll make several styles or you can create your own designs. You will leave with sample cards and patterns so you can make more on your own.

Registration Closed

Pop up party

Pop-up Cards

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES Workshop
November 11th Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
$50.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Nov. 8th)

Small Packages
Are you ready to add a touch of elegance and craftsmanship to your gift-giving? Join me for a captivating Folded Boxes and Bags Workshop, where you’ll create beautifully designed, boxes and bags that are perfect for small gifts and treats.

Registration Closed

Snall Packages

Snall Packages

CROWNS, CUBES and COLUMNS – Paper Lantern Workshop
October 21st  Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Oct. 18th)

Paper Lanterns
Step into a world of warmth and radiance with this enchanting Paper Lantern Workshop. Craft your own paper lanterns, infusing light and color into your surroundings.  Perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Registration Closed

crowns, cubes, & columns

Paper Lanterns

BOX OF BOOKS Workshop
October 14th Saturday  12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Oct. 11th)

Box of Books
In this workshop, you will produce more than a dozen model booklets using a variety of simple binding techniques including folding, sewing, and stab bindings.  The basic techniques will provide you with a good foundation on which to build more bookbinding skills.

Registration Closed

Box of Books

Box of Books

FLAG BOOK Workshop
September 23rd Saturday  12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Sept. 20th)

Flag Book
Explore the kinetic concertina structure that has endless possibilities.  The flag book is a unique, sculptural book form. As you open the book, the flags inside move. The movement changes the viewing experience based on how much the book is opened or closed.

Registration Closed

Biz card flag book

Flag Book

INTRODUCTION TO BOOKBINDING Workshop
September 16th Saturday  12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
$90.00 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight Sept. 13th)

Introduction To Bookbinding
This four-hour workshop allows adults 16 and up to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor. Students will produce a small book for personal use while gaining basic knowledge of the materials and tools used in bookbinding.

Registration Closed

Intro to Bookbinding compressed

Book Bindings

INTRODUCTION TO BOOKBINDING Workshop
July 15th Saturday  12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
$96.30 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight July 12th)

Introduction To Bookbinding
This four-hour workshop allows adults 16 and up to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor. Students will produce a small book for personal use while gaining basic knowledge of the materials and tools used in bookbinding.

Registration Closed

Intro to Bookbinding compressed

Book Bindings

FAUX BAMBOO JAPANESE BINDING Workshop
July 8th Saturday  10:15 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
$107.00 includes everything you need. (Bring a sack lunch)
(Registration deadline is Midnight July 1st.)

Faux Bamboo Japanese Binding
Learn a traditional craft and explore a new way to use recycled materials in your art with this fun and creative workshop.

Join us to discover the beauty of one-stroke bamboo painting and classic Japanese binding.

Registration Closed

Faux Bamboo1 compressed

Faux Bamboo

Faux Bamboo Open

Faux Bamboo - Open

INTRODUCTION TO BOOKBINDING Workshop
June 10th Saturday  12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
$96.30 Includes everything you need.
(Registration deadline is Midnight June 7th)

Introduction To Bookbinding
This four-hour workshop allows adults 16 and up to try out the craft of bookbinding with an experienced instructor. Students will produce a small book for personal use while gaining basic knowledge of the materials and tools used in bookbinding.

Registration Closed

Intro to Bookbinding compressed

Book Bindings

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! Workshop
(Make your mark)

June 6, 8, 13, & 15 Tues. and Thurs.  9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
$150.00 Plus $25.00 for materials (Registration deadline is Midnight June 1st.)

Make Your Mark
This class focuses on using unconventional marks as inspiration for your art journaling. You will make a variety of mark-making tools and brushes, and then test them—first in black on white, then with added color. You can explore and expand your own ways of making marks, be inventive with what you use, and see what you can discover. Gather it all together in a special book to keep your ideas from getting lost.

Registration Closed

on your mark (1) compressed

Making Marks

on your mark (2) compressed

Mark Making Tools

TWO SKETCH BOOKS WORKSHOP
May 12 10:15 a.m. — 4 p.m.
$125 includes everything you’ll need. Bring a sack lunch.

Two Sketch Books
Now that Spring has arrived, it’s time to get out there and do some sketches.  Find inspiration in sprouting gardens and the lush green country-side.  You will make two sketch books.  One provides pages that adapt to different formats.  The other features watercolor paper postcards that can be removed for mailing.

two books

Watercolor Sketch Book

2 books 2

Folded Sketch Book

Registration Closed

TEGUMENTUM SPADIX WORKSHOP
Limp Binding with Direct Tacketing

April 15 10:15 a.m. — 4 p.m.
$125 includes everything you’ll need. Bring a sack lunch.

Tegumentum Spadix
The original of this book, bound in 1364, was a register of membership, regulations, and chronicles dealing with the village of Tallinn, Estonia. The covers are parchment and the paper book block consists of 336 pages in seven sections. It is sewn with direct tacketing using parchment strips through exterior leather supports, and held closed with a hand-made hook and eye.

Instead of a parchment cover, our model will use imitation parchment made by manipulating and painting various papers.

Registration Closed

Tegumentum Spadex (3)

Tegumentum Spadix

Tegumentum Spadix