In this class we will be looking at two styles of binding.

The Lyonnaise binding is a style of account book binding dating from the Middle Ages. It is designed to open completely flat, enabling accounts to be written across a double page spread; the leather bound cover features a flap at the foredge and straps of leather across the spine that feature both tacketted sewing and decorative sewn elements.

We will also do some basic blind tooling on the covers and, time allowing, cover the basics of tooling with gold leaf. This book requires students to have a sewing frame in class.

The DNA binding is a non-adhesive binding using paper and card stock for all elements of the book. It features exposed sewing and multiple straps across the spine, laced into the covers. This binding can be decorated in many ways including decorative stitching, woven and stitched covers.

Phil first took book binding lessons in Bath, England in the binding studio at the Bath Artist Printmakers. At the same time he completed a short course at Brunel Technical College in Bristol. From there he moved to Lyon, France, where he studied under Myriam Bassett, a former pupil of Sun Evrard, at the Ecole du Livres Jean Grolier.

On moving back to Australia he worked in several places as a professional binder before, some 10 years ago, setting up his own Melbourne School of Book Binding where he both teaches and provides book binding services.