Inlay and Onlay Techniques

 Registration is closed for this event

February 9th, 2019 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Karen Hanmer
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Wait-list
  • Workshop Start: February 9th, 2019 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: February 10th, 2019 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 2

San Francisco Center for the Book presents: A Hand Bookbinders of California Master Class :: Inlay and Onlay Techniques with Karen Hanmer

In this two day workshop, students will learn a variety of inlay and onlay techniques for use on leather bindings. Techniques demonstrated will include: backpared, feathered, flat and sculptural onlays; inlaid and incised lines; raised, flush and recessed inlays.

Students will complete a set of plaquettes to showcase the techniques they learn. These, together with a detailed handout covering all the techniques presented will be a valuable reference for future projects.

Note: This is not an entry-level leather working course. Students should be familiar with leather paring. 


Materials to Bring: Freshly-sharpened paring knife (English or Swiss or French); strop for honing paring knife, plus green honing compound or chromoglanz; bone folders in a variety of sizes, including a thin folder capable of scribing a fine line onto leather; Teflon folder; small scissors; 6" metal ruler; Xacto, scalpel or equivalent with both curved and angled blades; pencil and paper for notes, diagrams, calculations, measurements; Washcloth or small towel to keep space, tools, self clean and dry; small sponge and dish for water; fine paintbrush; a few basic colors of acrylic paint; 4” x 6” pieces of paper in a variety of thicknesses from copier paper to heavy cardstock for backing inlays; a small piece of cellophane or very thin mylar – this can be leftover packaging from some consumer product.

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during workshop: Scharfix plus many extra double-edged razor blades; awl; small cutting mat; metal straightedge that can be cut against (this can be the ruler); large and small paste brushes; small brush for PVA; ball point pen;

Optional: Small set of watercolor pencils (for touching up problem areas); Swann Morton (not Havels) #10A scalpel blades with handle to fit (needed for only one project); Swann Morton (not Havels ) #25 scalpel blades with handle to fit (can replace the English paring knife); freshly-sharpened French or Swiss paring knife (rounded edge) or spokeshave for scraping back-pared onlays; Japanese screw hole punch with large bit (needed for only one project); Ascona tool, thin single line pallet or brass stylus tool. Some full thickness leather in a limited range of colors will be provided by instructor. Students may bring additional leather full thickness or already pared to onlay thickness, plus scraps of paper, wood veneer, or other decorative materials.

Pre-requisite: Orientation to Leather or similar leather paring experience.

Workshop Fee (includes $60 materials fee): $375 for Hand Bookbinders of California members*; $425.00 for non-Hand Bookbinders of California members.

*To receive this discount, HBC members MUST call to register and pay over the phone (415-565-0545)

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, February 9 & 10, 2019 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | Karen Hanmer

Karen Hanmer’s artist-made books are physical manifestations of personal essays intertwining history, culture, politics, science and technology. She utilizes both traditional and contemporary book structures, and the work is often playful in content or format. Hanmer is winner of the Jury Prize for Binding in the 2009 Helen Warren DeGolyer American Bookbinding Competition. One of only ten graduates of the American Academy of Bookbinding’s Fine Binding program, Hanmer also holds a degree in Economics from Northwestern University. An acknowledged leader in the book arts community, she served on the editorial board of The Bonefolder, the peer-reviewed online book arts journal, and is a reviewer for the Guild of Book Workers Journal. Hanmer curated Marking Time, a triennial exhibition sponsored by the Guild of Book Workers. She offers workshops and private instruction focusing on a solid foundation in basic binding skills. See more of her work on her website at: karenhanmer.com


Past Student Reviews:

“Very professional environment for learning. Time and projects were very well organized.”

“Karen is obviously very experienced, and wants to pass on her knowledge to students.” 

“Best class I've ever taken.”

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States