Created by hand, inspired by nature, supporting causes that matter.
Handcrafted pieces, made to order
An ancient form reimagined. Each concertina book celebrates time-honoured craft, light and the beauty of nature. Every book is made completely by hand, making each piece a small testament to patience and artistry.
Price: $40
Materials cost: $10
Donation to charity: $30
Time to create: 3 hours
Materials & method
• Inspired by one of the earliest book forms from the Eastern bookbinding tradition, dating back to the 9th century BCE.
• Each book measures 150 x 100 mm (height x width) and features an eight-page text block made from European 250 gsm cotton rag paper, machine made, yet full of the tactile warmth and texture of handmade paper.
• The lignin-free paper resists yellowing with age and provides a beautifully rough surface suited to watercolour, pencil and ink.
• Adhesive is made from scratch using wheat starch, cooked and prepared by hand following traditional Japanese methods.
• The concertina design makes this piece ideal as a “keep forever” card, where multiple people can write or draw their messages or alternatively as an artist’s book where compositions flow from one page to the next.
• Covers are made using cyanotype, a photographic technique invented in 1841 that harnesses the power of the sun. Each image is created by hand-coating paper with a light-sensitive solution, arranging foraged foliage from the garden at Thrums, and exposing it to sunlight to reveal the rich blue impression.
• While cyanotypes are light-sensitive, their colour can be refreshed simply by resting them in a dark place for a time. Much like me on some days!
• Every concertina book is unique, a quiet meeting of craft, chemistry, and natural form.
Drawing inspiration from one of the earliest Eastern book forms, this concertina book is a meeting of history, sunlight and handcraft. Every book is made by hand, slowly and thoughtfully, a labour of love that honours traditional technique and natural beauty.
Price: $70
Materials cost: $15
Donation to charity: $55
Time to create: 5 hours
Materials & method
• Inspired by the ancient concertina book form, first created in the Eastern bookbinding tradition centuries ago.
• Each book measures 150 x 100 mm (height x width) and contains a six-page text block made from European 200 gsm cotton rag pape, machine made but rich in the character and texture of handmade paper.
• The lignin-free paper ensures longevity, resisting the yellowing and brittleness of time.
• The continuous concertina pages form a flowing cyanotype, a photographic process invented in 1841 that captures the silhouette of foraged foliage using sunlight and chemistry.
• Each image is created using foliage gathered from the garden at Thrums, often featuring native Australian plants, making this an especially meaningful gift for those travelling abroad.
• The covers are crafted from archival card and wrapped in Japanese Chiyogami paper, made from mulberry fibres using methods dating back to Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868).
• Adhesive is handmade from wheat starch, cooked and prepared by hand following traditional Japanese techniques.
• Perfect as a “keep forever” gift, a collective message book for retirements, anniversaries or milestones, or as a freestanding display piece, opened to showcase its rich blue artwork.
• Though cyanotypes are light-sensitive, their deep blue can be restored simply by resting the piece in a dark place for a time. Much like me some days.
• Every book is unique, its details shaped by sunlight, season and the hand that made it.
Each cyanotype is created slowly, by hand and by sunlight, a modern echo of one of photography’s earliest techniques. Every piece is unique, shaped by the plants that inspired it and the light of the day it was made.
Price: $15
Materials cost: $5
Donation to charity: $10
Time to create: 1 hour
Materials & method
• Created using the cyanotype process, first invented in 1841, a photographic method that captures the silhouette of natural forms using sunlight and chemistry.
• The board is coated by hand with a light-sensitive solution, then arranged with foraged foliage from the garden at Thrums.
• When exposed to the sun, the foliage acts as a negative, shielding areas of the board to create a delicate contrast between deep indigo and soft white.
• Made on lignin-free board, ensuring the artwork remains strong and free from the yellowing or brittleness caused by age.
• Each cyanotype measures 100 x 150 mm (height x width), the perfect size to display in a standard 4 x 6 inch frame (not included).
• While cyanotypes are light-sensitive, their rich blue tones can be easily revived by resting the piece in a dark place for a short time. Much like me some days.
• Every cyanotype is a one-of-a-kind artwork, no two are ever the same, each one a fleeting moment of sun, shadow and craftsmanship.
Hands-on, heart-led workshops
Date: Sunday 7 December
Time: 1 - 4pm
Location: Williamstown
Price: $150
Materials and afternoon tea cost: $15
Donation to charity: $135
Workshop time: 3 hours
Join us this December for a relaxed and creative afternoon of wreath making hosted by Louise from Thrums Craft Cottage. Over three hours, you’ll learn how to design and craft your own beautiful, one-of-a-kind festive wreath using locally gathered foliage and seasonal decorations.
We’ll pause for afternoon tea, featuring a selection of Indigenous-inspired treats and tea, before returning to finish your wreath, ready to take home and enjoy for the festive season.
All proceeds beyond material costs will be donated to charity, making this a lovely way to connect, create and give back.
Date: Sunday 31 May 2026
Time: 1 - 4pm
Location: Williamstown
Price: $150
Materials and afternoon tea cost: $10
Donation to charity: $140
Workshop time: 3 hours
Spend a peaceful few hours learning the gentle art of willow basket weaving, taught by Louise from Thrums Craft Cottage. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind basket using locally scavenged sticks, vines, grasses and other natural fibres.
You’ll learn traditional willow basket weaving techniques, explore how to shape and strengthen your form, and leave with a truly unique piece — a functional and decorative reminder of what can be made from the simplest materials.
All proceeds beyond material costs will be donated to charity, so you’ll be doing good while learning a new skill and connecting with nature.
Date: Sunday 29 August
Time: 1 - 4pm
Location: Williamstown
Price: $150
Materials and afternoon tea cost: $20
Donation to charity: $130
Workshop time: 3 hours
Spend a creative afternoon with Louise from Thrums Craft Cottage learning how to make a concertina book with a beautiful, hand-printed cyanotype cover. Using the sun as your printing press, you’ll create delicate blue-toned designs with locally gathered flowers and leaves, before learning how to fold and assemble your own concertina-style book, a timeless structure passed down through generations of bookbinders.
We’ll pause for afternoon tea, featuring Indigenous-inspired treats and tea, before completing your book — ready to take home or gift to someone special.
All proceeds beyond material costs will be donated to charity, making this workshop a lovely way to learn, create and give back.
The Thrums story
I’ve loved working with paper for as long as I can remember, a passion that led me to a career as a conservator and bookbinder. Today, through Thrums Craft Cottage, I combine that experience with a love of nature and traditional crafts — from handmade paper and plant-based dyes to cyanotypes and bookbinding — to create unique, thoughtful products and run workshops. Every piece is made with care, using materials chosen for their beauty and longevity, and all proceeds are donated to charities I care deeply about.
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country and their connection to land, waterways, sky and community and pay my respect to Elders past, present and future.