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 boxmaking experience is necessary; a bit of glueing experience is a plus. See the dropdowns below for pricing.

The drop-spine box is a classic structure. Its “lid” opens and closes much like a book, thanks to its hinged spine. The interior can be covered with archival paper, but can also be covered with decorative non-archival paper or bookcloth. It is an elegant way to protect cherished volumes and ephemera; it is also a great home for photographs, postcards… or even a collection of washi tape.

What you’ll make: A twosome of drop-spine boxes, one measuring 4½ x 6½ x 2 and the other 5½ x 7½ x 2. Your drop-spine boxes can stand on a bookshelf, where they look very much like a book.

We begin with an overview of materials & tools that we’ll be using throughout the workshop. Then you will construct your pair of three-sided trays and cover them with Japanese decorative papers. You will learn the nuances of trimming the decorative paper to prepare it for wrapping around the visible edges, corners & seams to create “seamless edges”. Next, you will make your cover (with its hinged spine) and then attach the two trays. Mastering this step is essential to how the box opens & closes. It provides a magic moment of papery precision.

Workshop fee includes all the materials (but not the tools) you’ll need to make a twosome of drop-spine boxes, one in class and one later on your own: 22 pieces of pre-cut binders board; 6 pieces of Japanese decorative paper; 4 pieces of bookcloth; and, last but not least, a corner & hinge spacer.

The materials I’ve selected for the kit are a colourful array of Japanese papers & bookcloth. I look forward to assembling each kit individually with a complementary combo. If a particular colour or pattern catches your fancy, please e me and I will do my best to accommodate.

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). So, please e me, and I will be in touch extremely promptly. It’s $175 per additional set (all the materials to make a twosome of boxes). Shipping is gratis if you order at the same time as your workshop registration.

Tools needed: Bonefolder, teflon bonefolder, X-acto knife, scissors, ruler, small triangle ruler (optional), PVA glue & a glue-brush. You can purchase these items individually here, and I am pleased to offer a 20% discount on any tools ordered for the workshop (via refund after your workshop purchase).

Nota bene: If you have the necessary tools but are in need of the glue & glue-brush, you’ll find them in a separate shop listing here.

Ancillary tools needed: pencil, scrap paper for glueing on, and a cutting mat, a heavy weight (or book) for pressing your box.

This recording is 4-ish hours in total. It includes the “natural pauses” from the original workshop session, 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 long-standing love of boxmaking & glueing with you.