Words by Heart, Books by Hand

A series of workshops titled “Words by Heart, Books by Hand,” focusing on book-making, storytelling, and connecting with place. These workshops are designed to be regenerative, using recycled materials and leading to shared collections that can be displayed in local libraries.

The project will include three workshops:

• Reclaim the Page – Participants will paint over used card or paper to create covers and pages, then be guided to bind them into a saddle-stitched book.

• Folded Story – Participants will create an 8-page zine-style story using prompts and reclaimed paper from the first workshop.

• I Have a Story to Tell – Crafting a prompt journal with Japanese binding, participants will be inspired to create their own stories or drawings.

These workshops provide a space for participants to share and transform their stories into books, emphasising the power of our own story connected with place and community. The finished books will be displayed in local libraries as a pop-up Light Library, offering an exhibition that can tour the area.

“The Light Library is where creativity and care merge to create stories that connect us with each other and the natural world. These workshops foster a living culture where art, storytelling, and nature come together. I am deeply connected to the Henderson-Massey area and am collaborating with local artists to offer workshops for whānau with children.” – Emma Hinton