Attention new date!
The course "Reliure à la Jean de Gonet" has been postponed.
It will now be held from May 23rd to 27th.

The multitude and variety of Hedi Kyle’s models allow us to open our horizons even further. Historical techniques are explored; we change our perspective in order to change our approaches. In the fourth chapter of this series, we will show how rich the possibilities and developments of these works are. The aim of the course is to learn more about the techniques of Hedi Kyle and to re-interpret them in your own personal way.
All five courses in the series Techniques by Hedi Kyle can be taken in any order!

An elegant binding with thin, flexible covers
Certain printed books need special binding techniques. Flexible full leather bindings offer a particularly interesting effect. The aim of the course is to learn and practice this classical and elegant binding technique step by step. Special emphasis will be placed on the leather work, which is the main aspect of this technique. In addition to the pliable boards, the books will be completed with colored or graphite edges, leather headbands, a printed title and a soft slipcase.

In order to create a successful and compelling binding, the elements of colour, form, proportion, rhythm, contrasts, structures, typeface, etc. must be coordinated so that a harmonious design is achieved. In this course we will not only highlight the theoretical aspects of book design, but we will also spend time developing our own sensibilities for colour and form. The goal of the course is to develop more confidence in the fundamental elements of book design so that you may carry these principles through in creating your own bindings.

This course invites one to travel into the world of “Crossed Structure Binding”, a technique created by Carmencho Arregui.
This technique brought a revolutionary renewal not only in the tradition of bookbinding but also and especially in the conservation area, giving a totally new view concerning the structure of a book and its infinite possibilities of development.
The aim of the course is to create some of the 7 variations of this technique and then leave free space for working on one’s own choice of models.

Set aside your traditional notion of a bound book and start from a different perspective: consider what a book is and how it should function mechanically. How should the STRUCTURE work in order to best integrate with and present your CONTENT? During this workshop we will explore some new approaches to building book structures that have emerged as answers to these questions. 

For those who already have experience in the craft of bookbinding, but who are not professionals, this is the right course for you! This time we will combine the techniques of Hedi Kyle and Anne Goy in a single course. The aim is to study various models and to realise them in individual manners. As always, the focus is on free experimentation to allow opportunities for new discoveries.

In this course, we will take the first steps into the craft of bookbinding. First, we will build a box that we can use for our hand tools. Second, we will make a cloth and paper-covered portfolio. Finally, we will make a sewn pamphlet binding. If time permits, we will learn to stamp a title.

The tradition of edge gilding, edge coloring and edge decorating dates back to the beginnings of the history of the bound book. The goal of this four-day course is not only to practice gold, graphite, color or natural edge decoration, but also to experiment with individual ideas and edge decoration projects. Participants should bring approximately six text blocks with maximum format DIN A5 (sewn, glued and rounded). Practice blocks are also appropriate.

The Crisscross Binding technique was developed by Anne Goy. The technique is exceptional with regards to its functionality and its design. The book covers and the text block can easily be opened and the sewing construction works directly or indirectly as an interesting design element. This is a great course for a bookbinder who would like to expand his or her repertoire of binding techniques.