Association of Book Crafts (New Zealand) Incorporated

Looking ahead to tomorrow!

World Book Day is celebrated each year on Thursday 23rd April. An official UNESCO event, the date was chosen to mark key dates in the life/death of several prominent authors including William Shakespeare.

ABC invited members to participate in this special day with a simple and fun activity, inspired by on the theme of Where You Are ~ thank you Rachel!

Many thanks to Karen, Jill, Maria, Amira, Rosie-Anne, Jeanie, Fiona, Marion and Yinghua for participating. This was not a competition but a little spot prize will be winging its way to Jeanie :)

Send a message to learn more

Entries are coming in for the 2026 John Sansom Memorial Competition but there is still plenty of room for more.

Key points:

** theme ~ Centenary, in recognition of it being 100 years since John Sansom was born

** this is just the starting point. Your book does not have to be about John, unless you want it to be

** think rebinding a book with “100” or “centenary/centennial” in the title / events from 1926 or the last 100 years / binding in a style from a century ago / Art Deco references / symbolic interpretations of “100” / incorporating “100” or time-related motifs such as hourglasses into your cover design / list/s of 100 things / connection, memory, pathways, milestones.....

** for the first time we have a novice section (see entry form for details)

** due 12 August

** ABC members only sorry (but do feel free to join up, then enter :)

https://abc-nz.org.nz/news-events-and-regional-pages/john-sansom-memorial-competition/

Pictured from 2025 Ann Bell/Marion Manson ~ Concertina and Sarah Davies ~ Bind19

Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

From a Headless Chicken to a Hot take and everything in between, the 2025 John Sansom Memorial Competition entries were a feast for the eyes. What a privilege it was to display these wonderful creations from NZ, Australia, England and the US at BIND25! It might not be an international conference but the 2026 Wayzgoose on Whanganui from 19-20 September will be an equally fitting venue to exhibit this year’s entries (which do have an international flavour with bookbinders from Australia in the mix already)) See the next post for details of how to enter.

If learning to make your own handcrafted books is on your bucket list for 2026, and you live in the Auckland region, then this one is for you.

Sun 22 Mar 2026
10:30am–2:30pm
Howick Historical Village
$40 ~ includes all materials

Discover the art of book making and make a hand-bound, hardcover book of your own in this comprehensive introductory workshop at Howick Historical Village.

Run by expert bookmakers at the Auckland Regional Bindery, you will be guided through the process of making a beautiful compact notebook, fully bound in bookcloth, which includes a small A7 flip pad and integrated pencil.

Learn the basics of tools and materials, terminology, different styles of binding, structure of paper, grain, grammage, paper handling, repair principles and more. This course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the art of book crafts and leads on other workshops run by the Auckland Regional Bindery.

If you wish to join the Association of Book Crafts this allows free use of the bindery and invitation to members-only workshops throughout the year.

All materials are provided. A half-hour break is included (bring lunch or visit the onsite café). Tickets include admission to explore the Village.

Bookings essential as places are limited.

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/auckland-regional-bindery/auckland/howick

This is a bindery!

And this is , Aotearoa’s youngest apprentice bookbinder who works alongside Andrew at in Cuba St. Tiffany and Andrew featured on tonight ~ catch it on demand and be caught up yourself in their enthusiasm and love for their craft

Tiffany was the very worthy winner of the Student Scholaship at our BIND25 Conference last September.

The future of bookbinding is bright ✨

The Auckland Regional Bindery has an exciting programme of Members’ Only days and Open days lined up for 2026.

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The first MEMBERS ONLY DAY is on 22 February at

Time: 10.30 -2.30 with a break around 12.00 for lunch.

All local paid up ABC members, Friends of the Auckland Regional Bindery and anyone else who would like to join on the day are most welcome. The project is a very handy refillable notebook with an attached pencil - perfect for taking notes on something other than your phone!
All materials and tools are provided (a gold coin donation will be much appreciated)

Please sign up at https://abc-nz.org.nz/news-events-and-regional-pages/auckland/

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BONUS: a draw will be held at lunchtime for a handmade book from the Ben Elbel batch production workshop at BIND25. Be there for your chance to add a little French flair to your day 🇫🇷

The closing date for registration in this year’s Print + Bind collaboration is rapidly drawing near. To date we have 15 printers and 16, possibly 17 binders.
This is a fabulous number and there is still room for more, especially printers as we must have an even number of each.

The list closes on Saturday 14 February - any more names please to [email protected]

This is for ABC members only (one of the many benefits of belonging to the organisation!) Check out the introductory information in the latest communisation from Karen, our secretary.

To all those who have already signed up - thank you! Further information will be sent out as soon as possible after 14 Feb.

Can’t wait to see what creativity this year’s theme ~ ALPHABET ~ unleashes!

Books shown are from 2025 Botanicals and are by Amira Beadsmoore, Jill Rose from Spellbound Quality Bookbinding and Jenny Laycock

It's been a while between posts! And now it's a new year with new possibilities and some announcements coming up very soon.

One of those will be to do with this year's John Sansom Memorial Competition. While we wait for the final tweaks to be made to the guidelines (watch out for a new section especially for novice bookbinders) let's look back at last year's wonderful winning entries
1,2 ~ Rebind winner ~ Jill Rose "The Lamplighter's Bookshop"
3,4 ~ Craft winner ~ Lou James "Plan Drawers"
5,6 ~ Craft runner-up ~ Jill Timms (USA) "Hot"
7,8 ~ Modern winner ~ Sharon Peoples (Australia) "On the Edge of Silver Water"
9,10 ~ Modern runner-up ~ Ann Bell "Headless Chicken"

📚📚📚📚📚📚 REMINDER 📚📚📚📚📚📚

There are still a few places left on the next Auckland Regional Bindery workshop but don’t delay!!
Read on for all the details.

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Introduction to Bookbindng & the Crisscross Binding
Sunday 9 November 2025
10:30am–2:30pm
Howick Historical Village
$44.30

Discover the art of bookbinding and make a hand-bound, hardcover book of your own in this comprehensive introductory workshop at Howick Historical Village.

Led by expert bookbinders at the Auckland Regional Bindery based on site, you will learn the basics of tools and materials, terminology, different styles of binding, structure of paper, grain, grammage, paper handling, repair principles and more. This course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the art of book crafts and leads on to other workshops run by the Auckland Regional Bindery.

You will then be guided through the process of making a Crisscross bound book. This inventive and useful form of binding, which results in a distinct thread pattern on the cover and spine. was invented in the 1980s by Belgian bookbinder Anne Goy.

All materials are provided.

A half-hour break is included (bring lunch or visit the onsite café). Tickets include admission to explore the Village LIVE DAY ‘History in the Baking’

This workshop is open to the public. If you wish to join the Association of Book Crafts you will be given free use of the bindery and invitations to members-only workshops and classes throughout the year.

Bookings are essential. Places are limited.

Book on Eventfinda: search for Auckland Regional Bindery at the Howick Historical Village

Auckland Regional Bindery
Introduction to Bookbindng & the Crisscross Binding
Sunday 9 November 2025
10:30am–2:30pm
Howick Historical Village
$44.30

Discover the art of bookbinding and make a hand-bound, hardcover book of your own in this comprehensive introductory workshop at Howick Historical Village.

Led by expert bookbinders at the Auckland Regional Bindery based on site, you will learn the basics of tools and materials, terminology, different styles of binding, structure of paper, grain, grammage, paper handling, repair principles and more. This course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the art of book crafts and leads on to other workshops run by the Auckland Regional Bindery.

You will then be guided through the process of making a Crisscross bound book. This inventive and useful form of binding, which results in a distinct thread pattern on the cover and spine. was invented in the 1980s by Belgian bookbinder Anne Goy.

All materials are provided.

A half-hour break is included (bring lunch or visit the onsite café). Tickets include admission to explore the Village LIVE DAY ‘History in the Baking’

This workshop is open to the public. If you wish to join the Association of Book Crafts you will be given free use of the bindery and invitations to members-only workshops and classes throughout the year.

Bookings are essential. Places are limited.

Book on Eventfinda:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/auckland-regional-bindery2/auckland/howick

ONE SPACE LEFT!

~ guest workshop with at ~

Aesthetically Pleasing & Robust Conservation Repairs of Leather Bindings
Using strong long fibred Japanese tissue and conservation techniques, you will learn to expertly repair detached boards, damaged corners and leather losses on leather bindings.

This workshop is a great stepping stone to repairing at home and feeling confident with bookbinding processes.

Tutor: David Ashman
Date / time:
Two day workshop- Friday 14th & Saturday 15th November / 10am to 4pm both days

Skill Level: Intermediate / bookbinding experience required
Workshop Length: 12 hours / over 2 days
Number of Participants: 6

Go to the link in the bio at for more information and to sign up for

THE LAST SPACE