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2-Day European Marbling and Leatherwork Course

23rd - 24th May: This two-day marbling and leatherwork course, give you the opportunity to try your hand at the art of marbling, perfectly complimented with learning basic leatherworking skills. Creating a unique marble-lined, leather wrap journal.

  • Booking essential

This two-day course is a great introduction to leatherwork and heritage marbling techniques. Students will learn about the history of marbling the basics of leatherwork to create a leather wrap journal.

Day 1 of the course, students will marble on a variety of smaller papers and build up pattern knowledge to create a more complex heritage pattern using simple tools and rakes.

On day 2, students will create 3 stitched paper notebooks, using their marbled papers and line their leather wrap journal. They will use simple leatherwork tools, learning to cut, hole punch and attach eyelets, as well as edge their leather and personalise their journal with embossed initials and a marbled bead made on day one.

This course is suitable for beginners, over 18 only.

Marbling is a surface pattern made when ink or acrylic paint float on a surface of treated water and a marbled effect occurs. Marbled paper was used for book covers, and endpapers and by the 19th century was popular, latterly mechanising book making caused this to wane. Today this craft is included in the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts 2025.

Your tutor Rachel O’Connell is a multi-media marbling artist, leatherworker and an educator, with over 30 years marbling experience. Rachel turned professional, launching her sustainable brand, ROCWORX®, in 2021.

This course takes place on 23rd - 24th May, 10.30am - 4pm. Each day there will be a short break for lunch and tea/coffee will be provided.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

Ticket typeTicket category
Adult £295.00
Concession Young Person (18 -25)£220.00

The basics

Booking details

Call 0344 249 1895

Suitability

Suitable for those aged 18 and over

Meeting point

The Heritage and Rural Skills Centre is located in Coleshill village. Follow signs from the main road.

What to bring and wear

All tools/materials included. Wear practical clothes suitable for crafting, with sturdy shoes (no open toes). Please bring your own refreshments (or the means to purchase these from the on-site café).

Accessibility

Toilets on site, including accessible toilet. Level access into the teaching space. Some uneven surfaces such as cobbles due to the historic nature of the building. Please contact us if you require an accessible parking space or if you would like to have an informal chat about access before you book.

Other

Mess room available for course participants to use during breaks. Drinking water and facilities for making tea and coffee available. Refreshments/lunches available to purchase from on-site café. Accommodation not included.

Contact info

Buscot & Coleshill Estate

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