Wood Bookmaking and Bookbinding with Hana
Set in the countryside 30 minutes from Lisbon, and surrounded by fragrant vineyards and Old World splendor, learn how to create handmade books using reclaimed furniture and Coptic bookbinding techniques. Hana considers her studio as a place to be healed and her books carry this ethos and energy too.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
- Local Transportation
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1185
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $540
Accommodation
- One Guest
- USD $300
- Additional guest(s)
- USD $225
Meet the Artist
Hana is a bookbinder and woodworker whose handmade books have traveled around the world. Her journey began when she saw fragments of old, ornate Portuguese furniture discarded on the streets. Wanting to find a second use for such beauty, she started turning them into book covers for journals, guest books, diaries, recipe books and photo albums. She calls them “books with a wooden memory.” With emphasis on reclaimed materials, she personalizes each cover with delicate hand engraving and furniture accessories like keyholes, pulls etc. Her principal Coptic stitch bookbinding techniques are unique to her books. When you visit, you'll meet Rúben, her husband and an antique wood restorer who shares her passion to give old wood a new life. She considers her studio as a place to be healed and her books carry this ethos and energy too.
VAWAA Includes:
- Discovering characteristics of different types of wood and paper.
- Introduction to basic woodworking tools and equipment, and experience dismantling furniture.
- Woodworking techniques such as wood cleaning, repairing, cutting, and sanding.
- Sketching and wood engraving with small chisels, including other creative options for cover construction using reclaimed materials.
- Homemade natural wood treatment preparation and wood finishing techniques.
- Paper cutting and folding for journals and photo albums.
- Bookbinding, including Coptic stitch technique and variations.
- Materials and access to tools.
- Your own upcycled wood book.
- hiking - our house offers many beautiful hiking options.
Stay at Hana's
Stay at Hana’s charming cottage, separate from the studio and her family country house. It has two beds, a private bathroom, and an outdoor swimming pool. You'll be thirty minutes away from the capital city of Lisbon and an hour from the ocean.
The property has friendly animals such as cats, dogs, sheep, and chickens.
The property has friendly animals such as cats, dogs, sheep, and chickens.
Explore Pero Negro
Half an hour from the capital city of Lisbon, wild Atlantic beaches, and the famous Sintra or Obidos, the quaint village of Pero Negro is surrounded by picturesque vineyards that stretch on for miles along the hilly landscape. In a nearby town you can see remnants of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a series of fortresses. You can also see old castles, churches, and plenty of Baroque carvings scattered throughout. A little further away you’ll hear fado music in Lisbon’s pubs, cafes, and restaurants--it’s a traditional style of Portuguese singing known for its expressive and melancholy lyrics. Rooted in themes of marginalization and social oppression, it historically frequented the brothels and pubs of sailors along the port.
Additional Details
The best time to visit Portugal is in spring (March–May) when the country is in bloom. Fall (September–October) is also a great time, as the weather is warm with fewer crowds.
This VAWAA can be extended for up to 10 days. Please ask when you submit your booking request. More time can be dedicated to hand-carving techniques that require extra practice.
The wood and paper studios are an extension of Hana's house where she lives with her two kids and partner, a furniture restorer with whom she shares the wood studio.
You'll be in a rural area with friendly animals. Cats and a dog are often in the house/studio, and other animals such as sheep and chickens live in the garden. If you are allergic to these animals, please bring suitable medication before you arrive.
This VAWAA can be extended for up to 10 days. Please ask when you submit your booking request. More time can be dedicated to hand-carving techniques that require extra practice.
The wood and paper studios are an extension of Hana's house where she lives with her two kids and partner, a furniture restorer with whom she shares the wood studio.
You'll be in a rural area with friendly animals. Cats and a dog are often in the house/studio, and other animals such as sheep and chickens live in the garden. If you are allergic to these animals, please bring suitable medication before you arrive.
Guest Reviews
Fatima A., United States
A true artist's retreat! My stay with Hana was a balm for my creatively blocked soul. Complete with an artists studio, woodworking workshop, and breathtaking view - Hana provides a healing environment that allows one to commune with their muses. She has the remarkable mix of being both an incredibly talented artist and patient teacher. I left with a lighter heart, a hand crafted family heirloom, Read more
Denise L., United States
From the moment we met Hana, we found her to be friendly, welcoming, and a fantastic host. We also enjoyed her obvious passion for artistic pursuits including the construction of wooden books. She has a tremendous supply of interesting wood which is repurposed to create these beautiful and useful projects. She also utilizes recycled paper which is bound between the wood covers utilizing some very Read more
