Private 5 Day Bookbinding Course and Retreat

This creative haven is the perfect way to learn new crafty skills!


Gifted Crafts
Gifted Crafts
5.0 (4)

5 x 6 hours Location Minsterley Class size 1 to 20 (public classes), 1 to 2   £1,180
Shrewsbury Activities
Totally spoil yourself with this indulgent 5-day, 5-night retreat in the heart of The Shropshire Hills. Each day you will have a one-to-one session with Rachel, followed by time to practise and explore in your own time either in the studio or your cosy accommodation. You'll have all the materials and kit you need for your sessions and extras to practise. And the kettle is always on! Then an evening by the campfire and a night glamping (in a gorgeous bell tent in the summer or our fab retro caravan in the winter). The retreat will be tailored to your experience and requirements from beginners to advanced techniques. Learn lots of skills and techniques and have the luxury of time, materials, and studio space to practise. A retreat allows you to totally immerse yourself in the craft of bookbinding and the headspace to process and enjoy it!
You will leave with 5-10 projects depending on the scale and complexity of the pieces you decide to create. I only take individual bookings which means I can design the course around your interests and needs... a new hobby, a new business, skills to restore books or just some time for you.
This skills covered include:
  • Understanding materials & tools
  • Paper making
  • Marbling
  • Folding & stitching paper & signatures (the sections inside a book)
  • Binding signatures together
  • Canvas bound books
  • Leather / leatherette bound books
  • Decorative bindings & stitches
  • Single & multi-signature books
  • Japanese binding
  • Perfect binding
  • Canvas boxes
  • Structural books
  • Alternative & eco materials for covers, endpapers & leaves
Other skills can be covered to meet your interests and needs, please enquire before booking.
All your materials for instructed sessions, materials for a project in each studio session, endless tea & coffee and your accommodation on site are included in the price.
This workshop is a guaranteed one-to-one session so that I can tailor the workshop to your interests and needs as an individual. You can achieve so much this way. Develop skills to start a new business, take up a new hobby or craft for the joy of it … I can ensure the day progresses the way you want it to.
All courses, workshops and kits come with free support afterwards. Email me or arrange a video call. I love to see what my students and fellow crafters are up to and really enjoy answering questions or helping if I can. So any booking isn’t just for the day it’s the start of a crafting friendship!
To spread the cost of bookings why not consider paying with PayPal which allows you to pay in instalments. All the crafting fun without the stress.

Upcoming dates for Private 5 Day Bookbinding Course and Retreat

Times are London time. Dates and prices as of 24 Oct 2026, 12:16am; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

62 upcoming dates between 26 Oct 2026 and 27 Dec 2027.

  • Mon 26 Oct 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 2 Nov 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 9 Nov 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 16 Nov 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 23 Nov 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 30 Nov 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 7 Dec 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 14 Dec 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 21 Dec 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 28 Dec 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 4 Jan 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 11 Jan 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 18 Jan 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 25 Jan 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 1 Feb 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 8 Feb 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 15 Feb 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 22 Feb 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 1 Mar 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 8 Mar 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 15 Mar 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 22 Mar 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 29 Mar 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 5 Apr 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 12 Apr 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 19 Apr 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 26 Apr 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 3 May 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 10 May 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 17 May 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 24 May 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 31 May 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 7 Jun 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 14 Jun 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 21 Jun 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 28 Jun 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 5 Jul 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 12 Jul 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 19 Jul 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 26 Jul 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 2 Aug 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 9 Aug 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 16 Aug 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 23 Aug 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 30 Aug 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 6 Sep 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 13 Sep 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 20 Sep 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 27 Sep 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 4 Oct 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 11 Oct 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 18 Oct 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 25 Oct 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 1 Nov 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 8 Nov 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 15 Nov 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 22 Nov 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 29 Nov 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 6 Dec 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 13 Dec 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 20 Dec 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
  • Mon 27 Dec 2027, 9:30am-3:30pm (then the same time, for the next 4 days)
What you'll get
  • Endless tea and coffee.
  • All the materials and tools needed to make various art pieces to take home.
  • 5 nights accommodation in a bell tent (summer) or retro caravan (winter).
Knowledge required
Beginner or Intermediate
Session repeats

This class series runs over 5 consecutive days.

Location

The Old School Campsite, Minsterley, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 0JQ

Private 5 Day Bookbinding Course and Retreat location
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Gifted Crafts
Gifted Crafts

5.0 (4)

I first learnt to crochet as a child and spent hours and hours making, sewing, knitting and learning every new technique possible in art, craft and design. After a degree in graphics and 16 years of experience teaching Textiles, Graphics, Art & Design and Design & Technology, I strongly believe in developing my own practice to be the best tutor I can be. I am continually inspired by my students of all ages, so it's definitely a two-way street!

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class 0 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 1 production shrewsbury Shrewsbury West Midlands GB shrewsbury