Applications now open for bookbinding internship

I'm seeking an intern to join my bookbinding studio. I'm passionate about teaching, as well as binding books, and I'd like share my skills with a young artist who wants to bind books by hand and learn what it takes to run a creative business.

Interested? Learn more about the internship here, and then submit your application!

The ideal candidate would be a current college student majoring in an art-related field, or a student in marketing or communications with an interest in fine craft. I'm looking for someone with exceptional craftsmanship, a fine attention to detail, excellent written communication skills, and someone who loves dogs! (I have a large — but very friendly — brindle bullmastiff named Porter.)

The internship will be based out of my home studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and the dates of the internship are flexible in terms of length, start and end dates, and daily schedule. 

Job responsibilities

The linenlaid&felt internship can be tailored to your interests and skills. Some of the tasks that might be involved are:

BOOKBINDING
• Assist with bookbinding and paper marbling projects
• Measuring and cutting paper, leather, bookboard and other materials
• Prepping materials for bookbinding classes and workshops
• Brainstorming ideas for new products and assisting with prototypes
• Helping out at art shows and craft fair

MARKETING
• Writing blog posts and press releases
• Creating and sending e-mail marketing campaigns
• Updating social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest)
• Assisting with product photo shoots

ADMINISTRATIVE
• Packaging and shipping orders
• Listing new products in Etsy shop
• Ordering supplies
• Delivering local orders

The perks

Although this is an unpaid internship, it is structured as a work-study environment and it comes with a slew of benefits:

PRIVATE BOOKBINDING LESSONS
• For every 30 hours worked, I'll provide a one-on-one bookbinding lesson (approximately 6 hours in length) on the topic(s) of your choice. 

BOOKBINDING MATERIALS AND TOOLS
• You'll have access to professional bookbinding tools and equipment.
• I'll provide materials (decorative paper, leather, bookboard, thread, etc.) for you to use in personal projects.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• The opportunity to work with a professional bookbinder with a decade of experience and a passion for teaching.
• Bookbinding skills, as well as business and marketing experience.
• An inside glimpse into what it takes to be a full-time artist.

If you're ready to apply, you can submit your application here. And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail. 

"Inspiring Workspaces" feature of linenlaid&felt on The Etsy Blog

I am excited, honored, and humbled for linenlaid&felt to be featured on the Etsy blog as part of a new series that shows artists in their inspiring workspaces. My bookbinding studio has been part of the Etsy marketplace for five years now (my Etsyversary was earlier this month) and to be selected from among some 1.2 million active shops just amazes me.

The response from this feature has been incredible, and I've enjoyed reading all of the blog comments, receiving e-mails from college classmates and Cortona, Italy study abroad alumni, and shipping out orders to new customers. Plus, having my leather journals featured by Etsy on Instagram was an exciting and unexpected surprise as well. 

It was also fun to host visitors to my Nashville bookbinding studio. I got to talk deeply about my work with Etsy blog writer Julie Schneider, of Your Secret Admiral, and to watch Dylan Reyes photograph what he observed in my studio.

I’ve been a devoted reader of the Etsy blog for years, and it has undoubtedly contributed to the evolution of my book business. I’d also had my eye on the inspiring workspaces blog features, which have also included food illustrator Lucile’s Kitchen, cut paper artist Swallowfield, and creature designer Hine.

As for the feature itself, it shines a light on how I work in what is now my fourth home studio. That’s being a little generous — my “first” workspace was barely a studio. I had a corner carved out of an attic/bedroom and ended up doing most of my work at the kitchen table.

I shared on my blog a few months ago just how far I’ve come. My studio is much improved, with better lighting and equipment, including my beloved flat file and heavy-duty paper cutter, plus standing West Elm work table and daylight lamp. Out the window, I watch my flower bed bloom (although not in January).

I hope you’ll check out the Etsy blog feature and follow up with more writing by Julie and photography by Dylan, including on Instagram.

Adventures in homeownership and a sneak peek into my new bookbinding studio

A few months ago my husband and I purchased our first home, a cozy little bungalow built in 1935. Since moving in, we've been happily spending our days getting settled and enjoying our new surroundings. 

The picture above was taken just after we finished signing all the paperwork and were handed the keys to our new abode. As soon as the house was officially ours, we picked up our dog, Riviera, and brought her over to explore her new yard and house for the first time. I think she was just as happy about the new house as we were.

Although I haven't been blogging much lately, I've still been keeping busy.  Most of the rooms in the house are unpacked, organized, and decorated, and now that the weather is warming up we've been starting to do some gardening in our new yard.

I've also been getting settled into my new studio space. My studio is located in a downstairs bedroom in the house with a big window overlooking a flower bed with peonies and lilies. 

While getting my studio set up is still a work in progress, I'm pleased with how it's all coming together so far. I've hung up my collection of art show posters from Porter Flea and Handmade & Bound above my worktable, along with a few other posters by local printmakers. 

I also invested in a some new shelving to get things organized in my studio. All of my inventory now gets safely stashed inside the glass cabinets, and the open shelves display some of the first books I ever made while studying in Italy, prototypes of new styles of books I'm working on, and other lovely little books that I've collected from other book artists. 

My studio is also full of plenty of books in progress. I've been creating new styles of journals and photo albums in preparation for the upcoming marketplace at Thistle Farms next weekend and the next Porter Flea on June 7. I'll be posting more updates here in the coming weeks, but in the meantime be sure to check out  my Instagram photos for more images of the new house, our garden, and of course, beautiful handbound books!