Create Your Own Notebook – From Paper Pulp to Covers

Have we ever wondered how a book is made? Join our course, where we will explore the entire process – from making paper to designing covers. We will learn traditional techniques such as handmade paper, marbling, and book block binding. By the end of the course, we will take home our own notebooks, made from Japanese knotweed fibers and finished with unique covers.

We will learn to:

• Make handmade paper from plant fibers (Japanese knotweed)
• Prepare paper for binding and create a book block
• Explore the traditional Turkish Ebru technique for paper marbling
• Design unique patterns and use them for our notebook covers
• Combine all elements into a finished product – our own notebook

Who is the course for?

No prior knowledge is required, as experienced masters and mentors will guide us through every step of the process. Basic hand skills, precision, and a love for paper and books are welcome. Designers and other creatives who work with books are especially invited, as well as anyone attracted to handmade and unique items.

Course dates:

• October 17, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (The first session will take place at the PAPLAB papermaking workshop, located at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant area, Cesta v Prod 100, 1000 Ljubljana. Accessible by car or LPP bus no. 11 towards Zalog, stop Zeleni gaj.)
• October 18, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Center Rog)
• October 25, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Center Rog)

If you are unable to attend the first session at PAPLAB, the paper will be prepared for you, and you can participate in the remaining two sessions.

Mentors:

The course is organized in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Restoration at the National and University Library (NUK), the PAPLAB papermaking workshop, and the Anatolija Women’s Cultural Association.

Conservators-restorers with decades of experience from the Department of Conservation and Restoration at NUK will guide us through the bookbinding part of the course. Paper made from Japanese knotweed, an invasive alien plant, will be handcrafted under the guidance of master papermakers from PAPLAB.

Members of the Anatolija Women’s Cultural Association will lead the paper marbling workshop using the Ebru technique, where we will experiment with various patterns and transfer them from the water surface to paper, which we can then use to decorate our notebook covers.

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Participants should gather 15 minutes before the scheduled session in the main lobby of Center Rog.
Please store your personal belongings in the lockers shown by the mentor. Do not be late, as this disrupts the workflow; late entry to the workshop cannot be guaranteed.

The program is conducted in Slovenian, unless otherwise stated.

In case of cancellation, we will notify you at least two days before the program starts.
If you cannot attend, the fee is non-refundable and the session cannot be rescheduled. Participation may be transferred to another person if you notify us at least 24 hours in advance at zeleni@center-rog.si.