About WillowPrintWorks

An independent reference covering handmade paper arts and bookbinding traditions in Canada — without commercial intent.

What this site covers

WillowPrintWorks.org documents handmade paper arts and bookbinding traditions as practised by craftspeople working in Canada. The site covers paper marbling technique and historical context, letterpress printing from its colonial-era origins to its contemporary studio practice, and structural bookbinding methods including Japanese stab binding and Coptic binding.

Content is intended to be useful to someone beginning a first marbling or bookbinding project, to a student researching the history of print trades in Canada, or to a practitioner looking for specific technical notes on materials or regional considerations. The site does not sell materials, equipment, instruction, or any products.

Approach to content

Articles on this site are written in a factual, descriptive register. Technical information is drawn from documented sources, including standard reference texts used in Canadian bookbinding and paper arts teaching contexts, institutional publications from organizations such as the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild and the Alcuin Society, and historical records held by Library and Archives Canada.

Where prices, supplier names, or regulatory information are mentioned, they are current as of the publication date shown on each article. These details change; readers should verify current information directly with suppliers and organizations. The site does not publish sponsored content, affiliate links, or paid placements.

Who writes for this site

Claire Dufresne

Contributing Editor — Paper Marbling

Claire has worked with paper marbling for over fifteen years, primarily in a studio context in Montreal and later Vancouver. She has taught carrageenan marbling through CBBAG workshops and writes on marbling materials, water chemistry, and the history of decorative paper in Canada.

Thomas Archibald

Contributing Editor — Letterpress

Thomas has a background in the history of Canadian print trades and has worked with letterpress equipment in studio and institutional settings in Ontario. He writes on the history of commercial printing in Canada, press equipment, and the intersection of letterpress and fine bookbinding.

Marie-Soleil Bergeron

Contributing Editor — Bookbinding

Marie-Soleil trained in traditional bookbinding through CBBAG workshops in Montreal and continued her study with individual mentors in the fine binding tradition. She writes on structural binding techniques, historical binding contexts, and the teaching of bookbinding in Canadian craft education settings.

Contact

For corrections to published content, factual questions, or general enquiries about the site, use the form below or reach us directly by email or phone.

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Disclaimer

Information on this site is provided for general reference only. Technical specifications, material availability, supplier details, and organizational information change regularly. Verify all details directly with suppliers, institutions, and relevant organizations before undertaking work based on information published here. WillowPrintWorks.org is not responsible for outcomes arising from reliance on information published on this site.

This site provides general reference information about handmade paper arts and bookbinding techniques. Methods, materials, and historical details vary by tradition and practitioner. Verify technical specifics with qualified bookbinders and suppliers before undertaking conservation or restoration work.