WA Craft Bookbinders Guild

BIND25, graciously hosted in Auckland by ABC was such a great experience. The next BIND conference will be in Sydney in 2027. Save the date!

After the success of BIND25 in September 2025 we are delighted to announce that this proud tradition of top quality Australasian conferences is set to continue in Sydney in 2027.

We are very much looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us, !

Inspired by Ann’s demonstration? Want to know more about printing? Check out the WA Wayzgoose, a one-day celebration of letterpress printing, with talks, demos and workshops. All are welcome, no prior printing history is required. Do bring your spirit of curiosity and openness to learning!

Western Australia Wayzgoose 2026 A one-day celebration of letterpress printing. A meet up of letterpress printers, printmakers, graphic designers, print curious, and people who just want to try something new! The day includes demos, print workshops on vintage presses and talks… All are welcome - no prior printing history required...

At this month’s meeting, Monday 25 May from 7pm, we will have a rare and special treat - Ann from Bright Press will be giving us a demonstration using a table top press!

Bright Press is Perth’s only working letterpress museum, dedicated to preserving the history, stories and tactile artistry of letterpress printing. Ann also offers a variety of work shops.

https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/things-to-do/shop/bright-press

https://www.brightpress.com.au/

Bright Press - Letterpress Printing Specialist Specialising in the traditional method of letterpress printing for wedding invitations and stationery. Perth-Boorloo, Western Australia's only working letterpress museum. Hosts workshops, events and tours.

Over the last weekend we held a Boxes course at our usual venue, Hazel McDougal House in Como. On day 1 we learned how to make a box base & lid, and day 2 a solander or clam shell box.

Making boxes requires a bit more precision in measuring, cutting & gluing, and it was wonderful to share the course with past students & Guild members. Each one of these lovely ladies brings skills and knowledge from other hobby areas, and it was so nice to be able to spend time with them. And our instructors, Peter & Tony, of course. 😉 There was a real sense of community, of sharing & encouragement.

Here’s hoping we can convince Tony to teach Boxes 2 later this year!

World Book Day is celebrated each year on Thursday 23rd April. An official UNESCO event, the date was chosen to mark key dates in the life/death of several prominent authors including William Shakespeare.

How will you celebrate World Book Day?

During our intermediate course, we introduce marbling on the edges of the book blocks. One of the students on our last course had experience in marbling paper, which of course we can use for end papers, grain and paper size allowing. She recommended products by Vastorg, available at the links below, so you can make your own:

https://kraftkolour.net.au/products/marbling-inks-vastorg-professional-paint?Search-28%2F07-adgroup1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22845591043&utm_content=185989011324&utm_term=&utm_device=c&utm_placement=&matchtype=&creative=770848502104&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22845591043&gbraid=0AAAAAD4-Juh56poHWRLR8tZYItNNR723L&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYenR4fbdTmuyYgxhhwUtc_DJB05k7G5yla3ogMuIJD2Bwqohxe9A2MxoCslgQAvD_BwE

I just had to get some to see for myself. Pictured is the full professional marbling kit, available from Etsy. It came within days, so very quickly, and the colour range is lovely. There are illustrated instructions tucked under the bottles and tools too.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/896486121/full-professional-marbling-kit-12-inks?ref=yr_purchases

I always find myself buying books when I travel. Plan your next travel by the bookstore!

Bookshelves you want to move into 📚

From courtyard cafés and resident cats to grand chandeliers, cosy couches and a very iconic red door, these are the bookshops that turn finding your next read into a full-blown experience 📖☕️

Come along for a social catch up tonight, 6pm at Hazel McDougall House, Como.

The John Samson Memorial competition is open to entries from Australia.