Yesterday, the Sharjah Art Foundation hosted a workshop at the Sharjah International Book Fair titled the Art of Book Binding. Karen Goodwin Legg, artist and assistant professor at the College of Fine Art and Design and Shaikha AlMazroo', who is also an artist, taught the audience how to bind their own books by hand.

Karen used the technique of combining squares of Islamic style carpets, leather and paper and putting them together using a number of different needle and thread sewing techniques. The audience, who ranged in a wide array of ages and nationalities all joined in together for an hour and a half to interact with one another and create beautiful books.

"For me, the best part of a workshop is having all the different people together in one room working together sharing stories and having conversations." Karen said after the workshop was over. The participants were very excited about the books they got to take home;

A mother of three said she loved joining in activities with her children but did not know where to find such events. She will be joining the next Sharjah Art Foundation workshop this Thursday with her three children who were given certificates for their participation.