Instructor: Bari Zaki

No group Zoom workshops are currently scheduled. That said, the full-length live recording is available, either on its own, or with the option of scheduling a private or semiprivate workshop (in addition to the recording). No previous bookbinding or envelope-making experience is necessary. See the dropdown below for pricing.

What you’ll make: This charming ensemble is a bit of a fashion statement, with a pair of interior envelope-pockets (the inside of the covers) and a sturdy center envelope stitched into a single signature. Two string-and-button closures hold it all together in a paragon presentation of ephemera or endearment excess.

We begin with a brief introduction about paper grain and a review of workshop tools. You will then learn to make a hand-folded envelope (without a template) that will match the dimensions of your single folio (2-page signature). Both your envelope and your signature will be made of creamy, heavy Stonehenge drawing paper.

Next, you will measure, score & fold your cover from tactile Saint-Armand 100% cotton paper, retaining its natural deckle. You will seemingly magically, yet naturally, make an envelope-pocket for the interiors of your front and back covers.

Then, you will nestle your envelope inside the single folio and stitch the combined interior to the cover spine using waxed-linen thread.

For the almost-finale, you will create a presentation envelope from heavy Saint-Armand 100% cotton paper to hold your lovely booklet: another layer of lusciousness. Finishing touches: You will learn to attach a string-and-button closure to both of your hand-folded envelopes using cheery buttons from Soutache (the buttonerie just two doors down from Bari Zaki Studio).

Workshop fee includes a superbly tactile kit of materials, in your choice of palette: Nantucket, Sonora, and Mesa.

2 quarter-sheets (approx 11 x 14) of Saint-Armand 100% cotton cover

2 sheets of Stonehenge (my favourite drawing paper), pre-folded to 7½ x 11

3 different colours of 4-ply waxed-linen thread, wound on a piece of binder’s board

1 No. 18 straight bookbinding needle, straight from England

4 Italian nickel-plated paper-clips

4 cheerful buttons (2 petite, 2 medium)

1 chromatically correct tiny butterfly clip

Tools needed: Bonefolder, shipping clerk’s knife, X-acto knife, lightweight awl. All of these are included in my Basic Bookbinding Kit, or you can purchase items individually. I offer a 20% discount on any tools you order for the workshop (via refund after your purchase).

Other tools needed: metal ruler, triangle ruler, cutting mat.

Class fee includes the materials (but not the tools) we use to make one book & one presentation envelope with two string-and-button embellishments. The three palettes are shown here (left to right). Please order from the dropdown menu below. If you’d like to purchase an additional set of materials, you certainly can. However, you cannot accomplish this in the dropdown menu (because one set of materials is included with the workshop fee). To order additional sets of materials, please just send me an email and tell me which palette(s) you’d like, and I will be in touch extremely promptly. It’s $125 per additional set of materials. (No shipping fee if you order at the same time as your workshop registration.)

This recording is 4-ish hours in total. It includes the “natural pauses” from the original workshop sessions, giving you time to complete the various steps. You can pause the video wherever and as often as you’d like, but you may not need to at all. 

To schedule a date & time, add this class to your cart, and then email barizakistudio@gmail.com with your preferred date(s) and time of day. Feel free to call or e me with any questions (773-294-7766 or barizakistudio@gmail.com).

I look forward to sharing my love of papers, envelope-making & bookbinding with you.