Heart of your Hands SPNG'26 Mar-Apr WedPM

The Heart of Your Hands

Calligraphy, Bookbinding, and Journaling Online Course via Google Meet

8 Sessions | All Levels | 240.87 | Wed PM | 6-8.30 | Mar 4-Apr 22

💻 Classes are recorded and available for download during the course and for two weeks after class ends.

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heart-of-your-hands-spng26-mar-apr-wedpm-tickets-1977525201110?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=5e15797c86bcb8eaf21a0fc17d8cccae24fae5195d7b20df9406f26123256ac45c506db36773d09b6a652ad0c1ad803796ed06af356c293439ded6b6369f1c9177de08c1747cda6f8e00a2acechttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/calligraphy-bookbinding-journaling-retreat-with-anne-elser-tickets-1362512253829?aff=oddtdtcreator

Stitch and fill a coptic journal that talks back to you! Compositional layout, calligraphic lettering, illustrations, and collaging techniques explored.

Week 1 - Wed. Mar 04, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 2 - Wed. Mar 11, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 3 - Wed. Mar 18, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 4 - Wed. Mar 25, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 5 - Wed. Apr 01, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 6 - Wed. Apr 08, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 7 - Wed. Apr 15, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

Week 8 - Wed. Apr 22, 2026 6-8.30pm Eastern

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Create a personal handmade journal only you can make that becomes a vehicle in which you see and hear your subconscious filling the pages.

Paper used to collage the covers will also be sewn within the signatures of your book. You’re also encouraged to use found papers from vintage finds such as thrift/antique stores and estate sales. These “finds” are important cues from the inner you that will hold significant meaning as you work with your journal.

After stitching, we’ll learn different layout techniques for filling in daily journal headers, exploring every edge of a journal spread. Calligraphy lettering and illustrations will be explored, as well as how to wind down your mind to be receptive to journaling messages you’ll receive.

Time of day, setting, and mindset will also be discussed. Everyone has an optimal part of the day to set up a journaling practice and we’ll help you find yours.

Learning to catch your dreams in a journal is also a teachable technique. We’ll discuss this, too!

SUPPLY LIST (abbreviated)

Bookbinder’s Board (Davy Board)

ColorWay Arts 2-in-1 Trim & Miter Tool

Decorative papers for bookbinding

Paper for book pages - at least 40 pages, sized 8.5 x 11

Bone folder

Glue brush

Acrylic gel medium (as a brushable glue) or Jade PVA glue

beeswax

curved bookbinding needle

bookbinding thread

medium-duty or heavy-duty bookbinder’s awl

wax paper

piercing cradle

Eraser

Paint brush

Fine Pentel Aquash Waterbrush Pen

Paper ephemera (images of maps, receipts, sheet music, text, illustrations, postcards…anything you find that has text/imagery that catches your eye)

Metal-edged ruler for measuring and cutting your board

Favorite writing instruments & inks that will work with your chosen paper for your pages (fountain pen, glass dip pen, markers, watercolor pencils, etc)

Pencil

Supply List (Detailed)

Anything that you can’t find at your local art supply store can be purchased at John Neal Books (johnnealbooks.com) or Paper and Ink Arts (paperinkarts.com). Amazon.com, Paper Source, TalasOnline.com and any Google search is very handy as well. You'll see me link a variety of these links in the products below.

• Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 1: Books without Paste or Glue (Paperback) by Keith A. Smith (Author)

An excellent book I highly recommend following for detailed descriptions and graphics that illustrate the stitch turns and their complexities. We'll use this book in conjunction with my own illustrated handouts.

• Bookbinding Adhesives (please purchase both)

1: Lineco Neutral pH 8 oz. Adhesive (glue) OR Jade 403 PVA adhesive

This can be used by itself as a bottle glue for small dots of adhesive. I also mix this with the next product below. I will demonstrate how to prepare your own slow-drying adhesive so that you can use yours the second day of class.

2: 1.5 oz. container of Lineco® Pure Methyl Cellulose

If you go to TalasOnline.com, look for the 12 pack of Curved Sewing Needles #6 and the for the straight needles, get these: Osborne Nickel Plated Harness-Needles No. 517-1 (Gauge 19, length 2 3/8).

• Straight and curved bookbinding needles

• 2 Ziploc 16 oz. plastic containers with threaded lids (to prepare and store your glue mixture and methyl cellulose.)

• Bone, horn, or teflon folder

• Paper for pages of your books. When I make a journal, I usually use 40 8.5 x 11 sheets of text weight paper, or something that takes ink well, but folds easily. Many of the papers we've used in flourishing and FLORA work well. Below are my faves for binding a book. You don't have to get all of these papers and if you'd rather use your own favorite papers, that is OK.

1. Strathmore Calligraphy Pad. I LOVE this ivory laid sheet that comes in a nifty pad. She’s super for folding envelopes and can handle more watercolor than the transparent pad above. Not great for final work (will wrinkle some) but if you already have these sheets, you may use these.

2. Classic Crest Antique Gray or Natural white, Smooth Writing Paper, 24W. Neenah Paper (neenahpaper.com) sells this by the 500-sheet ream at $33.95 (item #01361). It’s what I use in my sketchbooks each morning. This paper does well with fountain pen ink, and can also stand a bit of water color.

3. Southworth Resumé Paper, 24lb in white or ivory.

4. Crane’s Lettra 100% Rag Fine Cotton Paper. (my fave) This is great with every writing tool (and watercolor) EXCEPT for pointed pen. Amazon sells it - as well as thepapermillstore.com.

• Decorative Cover Papers (This is decorative handmade paper that comes in many different patterns, textures and weights. Common names are: Washi Paper, Japanese Decorative Papers, Kozo Paper, Yuzen Paper, Lokta Paper. Pick at least 3-5 sheets you like that are not tissue paper thin or too stiff to be bent without cracking, and that can withstand adhesion with wet glue. We will cover our boards with this paper and within the pages of your book for collage and binding. ) Binders Art Supply carries a beautiful variety of colors and patters, as does Paper Source. Below are a couple more links to some papers that would be appropriate.

*http://www.papersource.com/item/Katazome-Pool-Vines-Red-Flowers-Fine-Paper/13689350.html

*http://www.papersource.com/item/Pink-Red-White-Flower-Fine-Paper/44384350.html

• (optional) Paper from recycled vintage books, illustrations, maps or ephemera to collage with your other decorative papers.

• “Binders Board”: Pick one below.

My FAVORITE:::: TalasOnline also sells wonderful book board: Get the 0.98 thickness of Davey Binders Board.

Lineco makes a set of 4 sheets you can buy, which is handy, but I find them very hard to cut.

PaperSource also has a good book board, but it's a little thicker than Davey Board.

• Lineco Beeswax

• Wax Paper

• Mechanical Pencil (to draw exact measurement lines. DON'T use a regular sharpened pencil for drawing your guides, as the thickness of the lead changes and becomes less accurate as you draw with it.

• Exacto Knife & blades. My fave is the Fiskars brand for making small detailed cuts on paper.

Use a box cutter or utility knife to cut your chipboard/bookbinders board covers. I highly recommend this brand:

OLFA 1072198 LA-X 18mm Fiberglass Rubber Grip Heavy-Duty Utility Knife

• Self-healing cutting mat (at least 12 x 18)

• Glue Brush A good brand is the Lineco® glue brush. I use a 3/4" brush for most things. You can ALSO get the narrower 1/2" brush for when you want to glue smaller pieces or use any stiff and sturdy kiddie hog's hair craft brush.

• Non-slip metal ruler

• Awl: My favorite is the Lineco Medium Duty Awl. Other awls are also appropriate.

• Piercing Cradle (or "Punching Cradle"): If you want to make your own cradle, I've got a pattern for that, you'll need a 20 x 16 piece of .25" thick foam core. If you'd rather just purchase one, that is fine, too!

• Scissors

• Paper towels

• Covered brick to weigh down drying pieces. (A stack of books also does nicely!)

• Bookbinding thread:

You've got lots of options here. Below are suggestions. So if you've got other sources for thread you'd prefer using, that's ok.

Pearl Cotton embroidery thread in size 5 or 8 works really well. You'll want to wax this yourself before stitching.

Londonderry Linen Thread 18/3 is my new favorite bookbinding thread. John Neal Books and Paper & Ink Arts both sell this. You'll want to wax this thread as well, before stitching.