Any organisation or group wishing to arrange a book arts course in Dubai, please email to enquire. All bookbinding courses are tailored to the wishes of participants and generally last one full day. It may be possible to arrange a bookbinding course over a set period of weeks.

If you’re an individual who’d like to attend a book arts course, you can register your interest by email. Please mention whether you’re a beginner and what type of books you’d be most interested in learning. I will keep your details and let you know if a suitable course is planned on a future date.

What to expect

These book arts courses are intensive days that cover a lot in a short time, so be prepared to work hard. You will use fine, good quality materials and be encouraged to stretch your imagination. You’ll get thorough notes to take with you when you leave so you’ll be able to carry on independently after the course. You’ll also receive information on where to obtain suitable tools and materials to keep you making books. All techniques are thoroughly explained and demonstrated, and as group sizes are small, there is always time to answer individual questions. After the course, you can always email at any time with further questions you might have.

THIS IS WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS
ON LEIJONSTEDT BOOKBINDING COURSES HAVE SAID:

“I had a thoroughly enjoyable day”

“I am very proud of my book”

“A massive and heartfelt thank you for the absolutely wonderful course”

“I am very pleased with my first attempt”

“I was amazed at how professional my book looked”

“I had a fantastic day”

“I felt that I progressed quite rapidly”

“It felt like a whole new world being opened up”

“I came home truly inspired”

Popular bookbinding courses on offer include:

BOOKBINDING FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS
(1-day beginners’ course in making a hard cover book)
You’ll be making a small hard cover book covered with your own choice of paper or book cloth – or a combination of both – and will be guided in the use of traditional tools and materials. You’ll end up with a delightful book that can be used as a sketch book, notebook or anything you come up with! If you have never made a book but would love to try, you’re guaranteed to be surprised at what you can achieve. And you’ll be able to make more books independently later. This is also a good refresher course for those who may have some experience.

CREATIVE BOOKBINDING
(1-day course in making a unique, soft-cover book)
You’ll be making a blank page book suitable for use as a diary, notebook or photo album. The covers will be your own choice of paper, leather or suede. You’ll also customise your book by your chosen decorative details to make it truly unique – including beading, braiding, collage, mixed media, metalwork. The day will be fast-paced and full of new techniques, but is suitable for total beginners as well. You’ll discover a new world of creativity, making beautiful, functional objects – no limitations!

BOOK AS ART
(1-3 day course in making artists books)
You’ll delve into the creative world of books and your individual artistic expression by making a selection of book objects that draw inspiration from your personal life. Through a series of exercises we build up themes and continue to interpret those into a variety of materials. Many creative techniques will be covered as well as knowledge about different materials and structures. You’ll explore the creative process of making an artist’s book and follow through to a truly unique work of art full of personal meaning.

OTHER BOOKBINDING COURSES OFFERED INCLUDE:
photo albums, keepsake boxes, intermediate and advanced bookbinding techniques, historical and multicultural book structures, etc.