North Redwoods Book Arts Guild

If you are interested in more info or joining, please email to no.redwoods.bag@gmail.com

Friday, July 29, 2011

August, 2011, Workshop

HANDMADE JOURNAL
presented by LORETTA GARCIA
Our August workshop is dedicated to making and donating a handmade journal for each of 25 visiting authors who are participating in Humboldt County's 2011 Author Festival. This wonderful program brings authors to local schools for presentations on the author’s work, techniques, illustrations, and more. Each author visits a number of classrooms and participates in a book signing event at the Humboldt County Library. In preparation for each Author Festival the organizing committee puts together a “gift bag” for the authors that represents some aspect of Humboldt County. I thought this might be a perfect opportunity to bring two book-loving organizations together! For this project we have chosen “Vintage Children’s Literature” as the theme. All materials will be provided, including a vintage children’s book for altering into the journal structure. The covers of the vintage book will be used as the cover of the journal. Art and text from the vintage book will be used to embellish selected pages of the journal. The five signatures that will make up the interior of the book will be bound with the Exposed Spine Binding with the Bow-tie stitch that Dolores Guffey taught at the July workshop (see the July Blog Post for pictures of spine designs). If members prefer, a children’s book of their own can be used. We are looking for usable covers from a much loved children’s book that would most likely be recognized by all. Also, members can volunteer to make more than one journal to donate, as we have 25 authors participating in the 2011 event.
What to bring:
• Sewing cradle (if you have one)
• Piercing tool
• Beeswax
• Scissors
• Bone folder
• Pencil & ruler
• Children's book (optional)
What will be provided:
• Needles & Thread
• Tapes on which signatures will be sewn
• Endpapers
• Two-sided adhesive tape
• Extra sewing cradles
• Extra beeswax
• Children's book

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bow-Tie Binding, Workshop Results

This workshop was the second of two, the first being the creation of embossed copper covers. This workshop, taught by Dolores Guffey, led members through the complicated bow-tie binding. The binding holds the signatures together and she designed a way of attaching the copper covers without needing to drill holes. The following pictures will give you some idea of the process.
Dolores created kits for each participant,
Creating a template for piercing signatures,

Piercing the signatures. This is a very creative sewing cradle,
Signatures pierced and ready to sew.

Running thread through beeswax.

Dolores assisting a member.

Sewing signatures with bands in place.
The bow-ties make their appearance.

Sewing completed, end papers added, ready to add covers.
The finished product of two monthly workshops!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Focus on Book Arts 2011

First, let me explain that there are very few photos of our experiences at Focus on Book Arts 2011 because we were all so busy during the four days of workshops that we had little time to take out our cameras! Five local NORBAG members and eleven (yes, eleven!) out-of-town members converged on Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon for workshops by some of the most creative book artists working today. The photos below represent the work of four of our local members.
Caterpillar Stitch book by Sandy Vrem

 
Caterpillar Stitch Book by Michele Kamprath, closeup of top caterpillar.

Longstitch with Beads, Leather Cover by Michele Olsen
Drawing in Nature (sticks, watercolor, sepia ink) by Sandy Vrem
Inset and Raised Cover Designs by Dolores Guffey
Wooden Covers, Tyvek spine by Michele Olsen
Interior wooden pages with moveable parts by Michele Olsen
 Our evenings will filled with book exhibits and lectures but we did manage time to have breakfast together, thanks to Becky Leuning, our member from Portland. Becky brought oatmeal from home, and the rest of us brought assorted food items. 
Our oatmeal feast complete with raisins, chocolate chips, bananas, prunes (!)

Becky serving her oatmeal. Many Thanks!

Michele K., Dolores, and Sandy enjoying the condiments and company.
 The next Focus on Book Arts is scheduled for 2013.

Miniature Treasures in the Library Kiosk

These books may be small but they will give a large amount of enjoyment to anyone lucky enough to visit the Humboldt County Library kiosk. According to The Miniature Book Society books (in the US) must be no more than 3" in height, width, or thickness. Outside of the US it is acceptable to be 4".




 Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Visit with The Wandering Book Artists

On June 27, the Humboldt Bay area received a visit by "The Wandering Book Artists", Donna and Peter Thomas. After traveling about the US for over 230 days in their handcrafted gypsy wagon this talented couple was headed home. These ambassadors of the books arts taught many workshops (some of you might remember the NORBAG  workshop they gave a number of years ago), sold books, and talked about books to anyone who was interested. Many of our local guild members were traveling back from Focus on Book Arts in Forest Grove, Oregon but thanks to the organizing skills of Bonnie Julien some of our members were able to share a potluck dinner with the Thomases at the Arcata Marsh. 
Their colorful gypsy wagon attracted a lot of attention and we all had a great time in spite of the bit of drizzle we encountered. 
Visit their blog by clicking on The Wandering Book Artists and you can follow along on their adventures. They have included a post about their Humboldt visit and they have a link to their website which features their creative books. The photos above were taken by Bonnie Julien, Michele Olsen, and Rollie Lamberson.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

July, 2011 Workshop

Samples of Exposed Spine Binding 
by Dolores Guffey


 
Samples of Exposed Spine Binding 
by Dolores Guffey
 At the June workshop we made copper covers and now we will sew signatures to put between the covers. Those who have their copper covers just need to bring them with their folded signatures. If you weren't able to attend the June workshop, don't despair–you can still make this book. You need to make a set of covers and follow all the instructions as well. Choose which of the two books below you wish to make. Both have an exposed spine, but one has decorative wrapped signatures (see page 2 for instructions).

What will be provided:
• Needles & Thread
• Tapes on which signatures will be sewn
• Endpapers
• Two-sided adhesive tape
• Extra sewing cradles
• Extra beeswax

What to bring:
• Folded signatures, with or without decorative spine wraps
(see instructions
on page 2)
• Sewing cradle
• Piercing tool
• 2 Covers: 5-5/8" x 4-1/2" (either your copper covered ones, or finished
covers of your own)
• Beeswax
• Scissors
• Bone folder
• Pencil & ruler