How did you learn?

I'm curious to know where the members of this forum have acquired their bookbinding skills. (Some of this has been covered in the "Book Arts" thread - people have mentioned RISD, the Newberry Library, and Hollander's, and Gwenhwyfach mentioned that she's a fine arts major, although I don't think she specified where.) I had one bookbinding class as an undergrad, although I'm probably on my own, for now.

Obviously (?), we all have books about the book arts, but is there anyone here who's completely book-taught, or have most people had classes or workshops?

I'm a big fan of teaching myself things from books, but it seems that bookbinding would be rather tricky to learn that way.

I've taken classes at the aforementioned Newberry Library, as well as at the Columbia College Chicago Center for the Book and Paper Arts.

I think that it would be extremely difficult to learn bookbinding strictly from books, but they can be a very useful adjunct to classes.

What a helpful question! I learned through a few workshops at PaperSource in Cambridge, MA, USA -- simple 2-3 hour groups around a table in the basement of the store. Eventually a took a one-week evenings course at MassArt. I'd like to do more, but I haven't been able to find a one-week full-time course (or resident class elsewhere) that I could get to.
--michael

The little bit that I know, I taught myself from a blank book journal kit and reading "how to make books" books. I've really wanted to take some lessons from a (not quite) local Art Center, but I had to reallocate resources to 2 rescued kittens and an ailing older kitty. I will try again in the spring and am hoping to be able to take some of the paper making classes too.

Hi, new here

I learned in a full-semester class in college, taught by a student of Peter Fahey.

hi im dominic

I've been teaching myself through reading and a lot of trial and error (heavy on the error). So far I have made and rebound glued paperbacks and some sewn paperbacks. I have the materials to make a crude book press for hard binding but have made the press.

i taught myself, too. i'd really love to go to a workshop at some point, but in the meanwhile, i've collected 3 of 5 keith smith books, and about fifty-hundred other bookbinding books, and i feel like i've read every useful bookbinding tutorial that's on the internet, although i'm sure i haven't yet. (^_^) my very first book was Book Arts by mary kaye seckler that i found randomly at a joann's one day. i'd made a few random (read: crappy) books before that, but that was the one that sealed my fate. (^_^)

Hi folks. I just recently joined LT and was so excited to see this group. I first made a book (sewing) at camp about 10 years ago. I didn't revisit again until my sophomore year in college and I've been hooked ever since. Try Cover to Cover: Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals, and Albums by Shereen LaPlantz. I also like Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking by Holly Harrison.