Stab-bound bookmaking workshop at MERA

Nov 24, 2011

Photo: Niki Mulder (right) assists Margaret Bruce of Richmond at MERA

Despite the murderous name of the workshop, no violence was done on November 19, except to sheets of paper, when artist, teacher and soon to be second-time mom, Niki Mulder of Pine Hill, Quėbec, presented a workshop on stab book binding at the MERA schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners.

In the workshop Mulder demonstrated how to create three different functional stab-bound sketch books. The first used a two-holed stab pattern; the second, a five-holed pattern and the last, a more complex hemp leaf stab binding.

To start, each student was given 10 sheets of 18 x 24 sketch paper, which were each then cut into four equal sheets to create the pages for each of the three books. Next, the pages for each book were gathered together and bound using elastic bands. Then using a different template for each book, which Niki provided, the participants stabbed the corresponding holes into the bound sheets using a hammer and an awl. The students then stitched the pages together using embroidery floss, which they first treated with beeswax to prevent it from fraying. The covers for the books consisted of colorful pieces of patterned Japanese rice paper, which students chose from a wide selection that Niki provided. The end results were charming one of a kind sketch books.

It was Niki Mulder’s second visit to MERA; last winter she gave a similar workshop, which was also well received. Niki is a master book binder who received her Masters in fine art at Concordia University. Aside from book binding she also works in multi-media and is also a print maker. She has just completed an art zine for an upcoming show titled “Ancestral Teaching”, which will take place at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. Students who participated in her workshop said that now armed with the know-how, they look forward to making more of their own books. For more information about upcoming workshops and concerts at MERA visit their website at www.meraschoolhouse.org