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Driftwood bookbinding retreat, Isle of Iona (2023)

Updated: Jun 22, 2023

I have been making my own sketchbooks and art journals for some time now, stitching them together with no knowledge of how to stitch a book together. Although I like this process, its intuitive and fluid process, I have yearned for learning to do it 'properly'.


I have also had a long-term wish to visit Scotland, but haven't had an opportunity until now. Enter The Travelling Bookbinder, Rachel Hazell, and her bookbinding retreat on the Isle of Iona in the inner Hebrides.


I took a deep breath and booked my space and started planning my journey. The retreat took place during Easter, I spent two days travelling there via three trains and a tube to Glasgow, then the following day via train, ferry, coach and ferry to the island. Same in reverse coming back home.


The retreat was three days of serious focus, learning various stitches, last one being Coptic stitch, which was going to be used for the book bound by driftwood.


Typically me, I chose a piece of wood from an old boat, called Clovelly. The wood still had metal bolts in it, and several pieces stuck together, which made its thickness up to 2cms in some areas. Making it work whilst retaining its natural structure was the biggest challenge for me, but with some divine intervention I managed to complete it without breaking it or injuring myself in the process.


Now it's a case of building up my confidence and technical prowess, and I have a couple of ideas for projects for the future, watch this space.



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