Renegade Retreat

In April 2023, 25 members of the Renegade Bindery discord server met up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the first official Renegade Retreat.

The next retreat is planned to take place in 2025, at a location within the United States.

“My favorite part(s) have been both reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Just sitting down and talking is so nice.”
— Blue Shoe Books

Past Activities

  • Intro to Marbling (MCBA)

  • Boxmaking for Beginners (MCBA)

  • Member-led demonstrations and presentations on binding topics

  • “My Immortal” round-robin binding

  • In-person craft chatting

  • Friday night s’mores by the firepit

  • Retreat members were encouraged to bring examples of their work for the library.

  • Retreat member Rhi shows off the merch and book swap items she took home.

  • A sextodecimo book sits on a cutting mat awaiting endpapers and cover design.

  • A handful of sextodecimo-sixed "My Immortal" binds rest in a basket.

  • A set of textblocks sit in the press after bring folded.

  • Bone folders sit ready for use. One is carved with butterflies, ones with origami cranes.

  • Some retreat members took a marbling class at Minnesota Center for Book Arts.

  • The table of holding contains multitudes, from thread to paper to knives.

“This whole retreat was SO MUCH FUN! Everything from the deli to the workshops have been awesome. I’ve been quite enjoying watching the birds in the snow, and admiring everyone’s gorgeous books (TEXTURE!).”

“So glad to have the chance to join in and meet everyone! The “My Immortal” bind was a great excuse to chat with people I might not have otherwise, and laugh at ourselves, too.”

Folded paper pages hang in cluster from the ceiling at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.

“I put together my first book! Had a fantastic time!”

“It’s been amazing and so inspirational to meet everyone and finally put a face to all the screen names. There were so many fun memories made, but ringing the church bell and getting subsequently “caught” was a classic.”

“What a delight this all is — in-person craft chat, learning and teaching and telling terrible jokes and “fandom rants” — even organized s’mores! Everyone is awesome.”

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