My name is Mary and I am a bookbinder and book artist. I am an active member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild and the Ontario Crafts Council. I am also an Adult Educator, and offer workshops in bookbinding and box making.
I took my first bookbinding workshop in the early 1990s in Edmonton, Alberta, while studying at University. I learned how to make accordion books with non-adhesive covers using fine handmade Japanese papers. When I settled in Ottawa, Ontario, I took a bookbinding and paper making class at the Ottawa School of Art and bookbinding and box making workshops from the Guild. Since then, my work has been self-directed and I draw from my environment when creating new designs
I have had a love affair with books since childhood. I purchased my first collection of books at the age of 12, from my paper route money. Books have introduced me to other countries, other cultures, organizations like the United Nations, as well as, history and art. I have read books for the sheer pleasure of the story. I love the smell of a new book, the feel and texture of the page and the written word that engages me and invites me to participate in the story.
The blank book is an opportunity to create my own story through pictures, drawings, words, and any other medium I choose. I get a great deal of satisfaction from creating a book from papers, board, and objects. They are aesthetically pleasing and functional. This is why I create books.
I invite you to take a walk through Sweet Woods Trading and discover the unique and creative offerings of handmade books, boxes and art. You won't be disappointed.
I customize books for people who want to give themselves, or that someone special, a unique, one-of-a-kind gift. Give me a call, and let's discuss your needs for a creative, one-of-a-kind book or box.
