Alongside my offer of online bookbinding workshops, I work in collaboration with a range of inspiring Artists and venues across Scotland to spread the upcycled bookbinding love via a mix of in-person workshops…
Click on the workshop link for more information, photographs and booking. If a workshop you are interested in is fully booked, please get in touch to be added to a waiting list.
>More workshops will be added soon – sign up to my mailing list and follow @Bookbindingwithcass on instagram for updates and priority booking.
Workshops at The Heart of Newhaven, Edinburgh
My regular workshops at The Heart of Newhaven in Edinburgh focus on a different book structure each month, with options to join a full day workshop on a Monday (with a break for a shared lunch) or make your book over two consecutive Thursday evenings.
JANUARY | Refillable Journal Workshop
FEBRUARY | Envelope Memory Book
MARCH | Buttonhole Binding
APRIL | Japanese Stab Binding
MAY | Secret Belgian Binding
JUNE | Botanical Bookbinding
JULY | Travel Log Books
AUGUST
French Link Stitch Hardback Book | 10.30am-4.30pm, Monday 24 August OR 6-9pm, Thursday 20 & 27 August
Create a fabric covered hardback book with decorative exposed stitching around a series of ribbons. An eye catching book structure with lots of opportunity to personalise!
SEPTEMBER
Coptic Binding | 10.30am-4.30pm, Monday 21 September OR 6-9pm, Thursday 17 & 24 September
Coptic binding is an ancient bookbinding technique developed around the 2nd century AD. In this workshop we’ll explore this foundational book structure and give it an upcycled twist, incorporating remnant fabric and decorative papers.
*£100 per workshop – includes tea/coffee and biscuits, plus follow up videos for a reminder of the techniques covered.
*More workshops at The Heart of Newhaven coming soon!
My next edition of the Nature Journal Club runs monthly at The Heart of Newhaven, from November – April and is now open for booking with only a few spaces left…
Each of the monthly session will have a theme inspired by what is happening in The Heart of Newhaven Community Garden, offering an opportunity for experimental mark making and mindful moments that invite you to pick up your journal, slow down, engage your senses and get lost in the creative process.
Over the 6 sessions we will get hands-on with a range of nature journalling prompts and creative techniques inspired by, and using, what is growing in the garden. We will also explore making nature-based Artists Books as a way to collate and display our seasonal findings.
Alongside lots of making and noticing there will also be the opportunity to make connections and get to know your fellow nature journallers, enjoy seasonal home-baking and fresh herbal tea! Follow up links, prompts and instructions will be shared after each session, with the option to work into your journal and keep in touch via the Whatsapp group for some gentle encouragement in between meet-ups.
Workshops at Argonaut Books, Edinburgh
Book Log Workshop | 7-9.30pm, Wednesday 19 August | Argonaut Books, Edinburgh | £15
Join me at Argonaut Books to get creative with remnant papers and bind together your own nifty reader’s companion, featuring RISO printed journal pages, with prompts to help you review the books you have read. Part of The Book Fringe 2026.
Upcycled Bookbinding Course | Dates for Autumn 2026 coming soon
Join me for three creative bookbinding sessions at the fabulous Argonaut Books, where you will work towards making a pair of leather or pleather covered books with decorative exposed stitching. A great opportunity to get creative and learn the addictive and joyful craft of bookbinding while be surrounded by books!
Workshops at the Central Scotland School of Craft, Dunblane
Botanical Bookbinding Course | 10am, 4pm | 4 – 6 September 2026 | £330
Join me for a three day Botanical Bookbinding journey, where you’ll learn every step of creating a handmade botanical book. From making your own paper to experimenting with foraged inks and finally binding your pages with a collection of leaf inspired stitches.
Workshops at The Cookbook Shop, Edinburgh
Recipe Journal Workshop Series | 7.30-9.30pm | Tuesday 15 September, 22 September, 29 September & 6 October | £155
For this special 4 part workshop series I’m teaming up with bookbinding Queen Susie Wilson – join us to create a hand-bound recipe journal, in amongst the bookshelves at the The Cookbook Shop.
Inspired by recipe journals handed down from our mothers and grandmothers, and a desire to create our own journals to record and store recipes, Susie and I will walk you through the process of creating your own personalised recipe journal, complete with hard cover, exposed stitching, handy pockets, tabs and lots of foody inspired decorative elements.
Collaborative Printing & Bookbinding classes with Lorna Brown at INK on MESH, Edinburgh
Gelli Plate & Bookbinding | 10am – 4.30pm, Monday 28th September | Ink on Mesh | The Heart of Newhaven
Spend the morning with Lorna learning the joys of gel plate printing, producing colourful prints onto upcycled papers, then join me to weave together an accordion spine book incorporating your prints into the cover and inside pages.
Cyanotype & Bookbinding, paper & textiles | 10am – 4.30pm, Friday 30 October | Ink on Mesh | The Heart of Newhaven
Learn the wonders of cyanotype (blue prints) on paper and textiles with Lorn, then create a concertina book with your creations, complete with stitched pages, pockets , envelopes and hardback fabric cover.
£130 per workshop, includes all materials and follow up instructions.
Workshop with Edinburgh Shoreline
Wildflower Bookbinding workshop | 5.30-8.30pm | Thursday 13 August | FREE
Make your own costal meadow inspired accordion book in this free workshop in collaboration with Edinburgh Shoreline. A great opportunity to spend a few creative hours printing and bookbinding, while learning about wildflowers and opportunities to get involved in the Edinburgh Shoreline project.
*This workshop is now FULLY BOOKED – to be added to a waiting list, please email me at bookbindingwithcass @ gmail.com
Private bookbinding workshops
I regularly run group bookbinding workshops for charities, community organisations, groups of friends, art retreats, staff socials and away days. Private workshops are a great way to sample the fun, meditative and satisfying craft of bookbinding at your own pace! These workshops can be themed and delivered as a one-off class or series of workshops, with a range of book structures to choose from.
I can come to you with all the tools and materials required or help you find a host venue. I also have experience of running live online workshops with accompanying kits that can be posted out, this can work well for remote groups and/or participants who may find it difficult to attend an in-person event.
Prices start at £150 for a 3 hour workshop, with add ons for venue hire, materials etc.
Click here for more information on my offering of private workshops.
Cass was a great facilitator for our team away -day that was the perfect blend of social event and artistic undertaking with everyone going home with a special book at the end.
– Pippa M, Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd
Workshop venues
Below is a round-up of some of the venues and organisations that I run workshops with across Scotland, each of these venues provides an inspiring and supportive space to get creative, check them out for more info and details on the other workshops they offer.
>If you are a venue looking to host a bookbinding workshop I would love to hear from you! Get in touch to discuss at bookbindingwithcass@gmail.com
INK On MESH Studio, Edinburgh –
Set up by Artist Lorna Brown, INK on MESH is a creative space for all, based in Newhaven, Edinburgh (just along the corridor from my studio). An accessible studio space for artists, makers, graduates and hobbyists to meet, learn, experiment and connect through the craft of screen printing and textiles.
At Birkhill House – Earlston, Scottish Borders –
At Birkhill House is an animal assisted activity/therapy venture, which also offers an array of modern and traditional crafting opportunities in a converted stable block. The focus at Birkhill House is on wellness and mindfulness – taking a moment out to be compassionate and nurture the creative side in all of us.
The Arienas Collective, Edinburgh –
The Arienas Collective supports local artists and makers to earn a living by sharing their creative skills and passions with others through delivering workshops. The workshops are run from Lynn’s mews home in the beautiful Georgian Newtown of central Edinburgh. I regularly run collaborative workshops here with fellow collective members, combining bookbinding with other creative techniques such as printmaking and sketching.
Off The Rails Arthouse, Ladybank, Fife –
Based in the former Station House at Ladybank train station, Off The Rails Arthouse is an artist led organisation run on a voluntary basis, offering a space to explore a wide range of arts-related activities. As a charity it’s purpose is to stimulate interest and encourage participation in the arts for all! A lovely, light-filled space, with a very special atmosphere, easily accessible by road and public transport.
Central Scotland School of Craft, Dunblane, Stirling –
Central Scotland School of Craft is a community for creative learning, delivering artisan workshops for crafters of all abilities in the historic city of Dunblane. The newly renovated premises on Dunblane High Street provides a spacious and airy setting for making and creating alongside a lovely shop selling a wide range of hand-crafted delights.
Honey Pot Creative Cafe, South Queensferry –
Nestled under the Forth Road Bridge, Honey Pot Creative Cafe is a hub of crafty activity where you can enjoy a cuppa while you get creative. There is a range of making opportunities on offer for adults and children, from drop-in ceramic painting to evening and weekend workshops.
The Line Gallery, Linlithgow, West Lothian –
The Line Gallery is an independent gallery in the historic town of Linlithgow showing regular exhibitions of fine and applied arts. A friendly space to get inspiration from and get creative in.
