about swellbinding

Swellbinding is a one-woman operation in Chicago, Illinois. The one woman is Sydney, who started to explore bookbinding in college as a way to combine her avid interests in art and literature. One class was all it took to get her going, and she continued on creating artist books and eventually studied with a master bookbinder in Florence, Italy. Since then Sydney has taught bookbinding in university and community settings.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Sydney set up shop in Chicago in 2022. She partners with local businesses to host workshops around town, and when she hosts them solo they take place in her cozy studio in Ravenswood.