Sacred Vessels - The Art of Repurposing
With Mixed Media Book Artist
Wanda Hela Katz
May 24th - 28th 2027, Bath, UK
12 SPOTS ONLY
Join Wanda for a 5 day mixed media & alternative book making workshop. Dive deeply using your imagination through the use of various techniques and book binding demonstrations into making miniature bespoke handmade books incorporating antique & vintage ephemera within your own mixed media pages.
Working in an intuitive, supported and enriching environment Wanda will guide you through the process of making your own truly unique bespoke books.
Your books which will be housed within an original antique C.1870-1900 leather case, a sacred space, which would have originally held a set of Victorian miniature Common Psalm & Prayer books. These cases have all been personally sourced by Wanda herself. Check out her Somerset Studio Magazine article all about these sacred vessels here.
Participants will be able to choose from a selection of these stunning cases as they will be provided by Wanda and are included within the workshop price.
We will also be working on signature folios for a mixed media book where you will incorporate your own spine and binding using either a traditional binding method or create Wanda’s SIGNATURE “rebellious stitch binding” for your book. Both techniques will be demonstrated.
PLUS each participant will receive an exceptional antique ephemera pack filled with papers from across the globe (See supply list for more details).
Discover the joy and richness that antique ephemera can add to your practice whilst recreating your own stories behind these vintage materials whilst you create and bind them into your own set of bespoke miniature books.
Wanda incorporates vintage sepia and black-and-white photographs, miniature fragments and eco dyed vintage textiles into her books to create entirely original, bespoke handmade books. “I employ printing techniques, intuitive mark-making, stamping and stencilling allowing each page to take root and grow organically and intuitively”.
The workshop is fully adaptable for absolute beginners and experienced creatives and artists alike.
Somerset Studio Magazine
Venue: Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
A 5 day in-depth workshop: 9.00am -midday & 2pm - 5pm
2 Hour break for lunch. If you wish to remain in studio during that time, no problem, however Wanda will not be there during that period.
Workshop venue: The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution set within the world famous Queen Square and just moments away from the Royal Crescent.
PRIVATE WhatsApp group
Price £1695 UK sterling GBP - Please note that this price is for the workshop only. Hotel accommodation, transportation and meals are not included.
A £750 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due 31 January 2027. My workshops are kept small and intimate, your reserved spot is transferable to someone else if needed and subject to there being a waitlist. However PLEASE NOTE that upon receipt of your registration and payment of deposit this becomes non refundable. When registering you are agreeing to these terms.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
This is a workshop only. All transportation costs, accomodation and food are NOT included. A list of hotels near the workshop venue will be provided.
For overseas attendees nearest airport is London Heathrow. Private pick up and drop off to airport can be arranged.
Travel options: Private car hire (approx 2 hours) to central Bath.
Alternative route. Upon arrival at Heathrow, Heathrow Express train to London Paddington (approx 30 mins) Great Western Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa (1hr 30 mins)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
The Roman Baths
Workshop Timetable
5 Full days- 9.00 am - midday & 2pm to 5pm
I will not be present during the lunch break. However, participants may stay in the workshop during these hours if they so wish.
Circa 1865 - 1900 Victorian Common Prayer and Psalm cases
DAY 1 - Monday 24th May
Today marks our first studio day with Wanda. Firstly a chance to meet everybody with initial introductions. Wanda will hand out your amazing individually curated antique/vintage ephemera packs filled with a stunning array of ephemera sourced from all corners of the globe. Also included will be vintage photographs and eco dyed textiles. You will have the opportunity to use these papers alongside your own mixed media pages to create journals, spines and bindings using both traditional techniques and Wanda’s unique rebellious stitching approach.
A selection of her handmade books will be available to view throughout the workshop for inspiration. Also available for use will be a selection of stamps and stencils to use within class.
DAY 2 - Tuesday 25th May
We will be working on several books simultaneously developing your own intuitive mark making practice, working at your own pace with gentle guiding from Wanda. Tea dying, rusting & staining will be possible on site. Gathering and sizing your pages and working on book covers. Wanda will demonstrate various traditional binding techniques. You will be making and creating your own unique spines and bindings to hold your beautiful pages within your Victorian cases. We will be sizing our substrate and creating unique covers for our books.
Jane Austen Festival, Bath
Royal Crescent, Bath
Day 3 - Wednesday 26th May
Our morning will be spent consolidating our work for our Victorian cases. Also working on our mixed media journals continuing your creative journey with Wanda. Demonstration and explanation of a “REBELLIOUS STITCHING” binding, Wanda’s own unique method of creating a decorative yet aged spine using various materials will be shown. We will be hand stitching our signatures in preparation for binding.
DAY 4 - Thursday 27th May
Several different techniques for binding books will be used throughout the workshop which will allow you to work on several journals simultaneously. You will begin to build up the layers of your pages, adding words, mixed media, photographs and personal objects. Wanda will offer useful tips to age your pages and her own unique way of working with historical and antique ephemera to create books. We will also be working with antique/vintage photographs and using a number of techniques to add more decay, disintegration and age.
Day 5 - Friday 28th May
Our final day together is dedicated to bringing everything we have learned and created throughout the workshop to a successful conclusion. It is a valuable opportunity to consolidate our skills, revisit key techniques, and reflect on the progress we have made as individuals and as a group
As the workshop draws to a close, we will gather for a special “Show and Tell” session, where everyone, if they feel comfortable, will have the chance to share their work, discuss their creative journey and celebrate their achievements. This supportive and enjoyable session allows everybody to appreciate one another’s effort, exchange ideas and reflect on the skills and confidence you have developed along the way.
A farewell to the Royal Crescent & Georgian Bath.
ARTIST SUPPLY LIST
Workshop will provide antique Common Prayer & Psalm cases, white gesso, textured clear gesso, Book binding and matte medium adhesive, book gauze, raw canvas drop cloth, thick card, stamps, stencils, PLUS……….
Wanda will provide an exceptional curated antique ephemera pack filled with material to use in the workshop including C17th & C18th manuscripts, speciality papers and ephemera from around the globe. This amazing bundle will include a selection of vintage photographs, eco dyed textiles, French lace, vintage tickets, correspondence, invoices, French cabinet photo cards, a bundle of antique and vintage fragments and much more.
Just a note to mention my own colour choices from the Tim Holtz range are Vintage Photo, Scorched Timber, Walnut and Black Soot..
Participants to bring:
Your own favourite mark making mediums, ie. A mixture of acrylics, watercolours, oil pastels, crayons, pencils, Stabilios, whatever you like to use to make your own marks.
Various paintbrushes and brushes for glue
Rusty metal bits (if you wish to rust dye) optional
Walnut ink or walnut crystals (optional)
Waxed threads (Important)
Personal photos you may wish to add (optional) . There will be photos provided in the ephemera packs.
Assorted paper to make into pages could include vintage book pages, newsprint, tracing paper, glassine, up cycled papers, magazine pages, Kraft paper, interesting papers and pages, your own mixed media pages, vintage photographs or photocopies of personal photographs.
Assorted fabrics, lace, vintage textiles, eco dyed textiles (optional)
Strong cottons, embroidery threads, twine, raffia, wool, string, copper wire, sari silk, strips of textiles, for a rebellious stitching binding, or anything you would like to bind one of the books we will be working on. Let your imagination run wild with your ideas.
Interesting objects you have gathered or saved.
Various laser jet printed images you would like to incorporate into your books via image transfer techniques.
Scissors and ruler
Stanley box cutter/cutting mat
Assortment of paint brushes, palette knife /spatulas, brushes for glue
Stapler/staples
Spray bottle
Binder clips
A variety of both embroidery and sewing needles to include a large eye embroidery needle.
Awl or paper piercer
CANCELLATION POLICY
Initial deposit is non refundable. This deposit secures your spot. Once final balance has been paid this also becomes non refundable. My costs and arrangements to secure the venue have been made well in advance.
If you wish to cancel and there is a waitlist for the workshop, I will connect you with the first person on it. You can arrange payment directly with them. Once this has taken place we will remove your name and transfer your place.
Please bear in mind that if there is not a waitlist and either your deposit or full fee has been paid, we will not be able to refund you. Sadly there are no exceptions.
Please also note that I am not responsible or liable for any personal travel expenses, ie. Airline tickets or hotel accommodation should the workshop have to be cancelled. You will be reimbursed solely for the deposit amount/full workshop amount, whichever is applicable in the unlikely event that I have to cancel the workshop. It is imperative and required that a comprehensive travel insurance to cover these eventualities be taken out.
Thanks for your understanding.
