Alter Books with Surgical Tools

Guild member Lorraine sent this link to a post titled Insane Art Formed by Carving Books with Surgical Tools. Karan Arora's blog post has some wonderful pictures of books carved by Brian Dettmer (be sure to scroll to the bottom of Brian's site to see more of this books). To see Brian at work on one of his books, enjoy this YouTube video from CBS News.  

These books are a feast for the eyes. Enjoy.

January/February Library Kiosk

Happy belated Valentine's Day to our readers. The library kiosk is a splash of red and pink cards created over the years by North Redwoods Book Arts Guild members. You may click on the slide in the slideshow to see a larger image.
 

February Workshop Variations

Many guild members participated in Becky Luening's all day workshop. Becky has been a long time member and it was good of her to come down from Portland to visit and provide us with an opportunity to explore this fascinating and challenging structure. After a morning of folding the origami pages for the structure we took a break for the annual Valentine exchange and lunch. In the afternoon the origami pages were sewn to the straps and covers created. The structure was inspired by Keith Smith's Non-adhesive Binding: Books Without Paste or Glue, Volume 1. Becky explained that she was a big fan of Keith Smith's intricate, clever structures mainly because he encourages book artists to vary aspects of the structure to come up with something uniquely their own. You can see some of Keith's books and read his interview on the TJ Book Arts website. 

Becky's exchange and exhibition books are always an inspiration and so is her teaching. Thanks for a great job, Becky. 

Straps stitched to the covers with endpapers as extensions of the accordion spine.

These straps are woven into slits in the covers.

Woven straps with added embellishment.

 

Special Workshop for February

An example of the book's exterior.

Please note: As noted in the newsletter that members received earlier, an RSVP by February 6 was essential for this workshop. The cost will be $10 +$3 material fee.

Learn how to make one variation of a concertina binding (a.k.a. accordion binding) in which the spine pleat is fixed into place by being sewn onto straps that are then woven onto separate side covers.

The February 11 workshop will include instructions for folding envelopes from 8-1/2" x 11" sheets of paper, which will be sewn onto the spine pleats and serve as pockets for holding cardstock pages. The book will include non-adhesive side covers. If there is time, participants may begin decorating or adding content to their book pages.

Doors open at 9:30 am; workshop starts promptly at 10:00.
We'll break for sack lunch at noon with our Valentine Exchange at 12:30.
Workshop resumes at 2:00 pm.

Materials to bring:
• For envelopes and end papers: 12 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" text-weight paper (plain, colored or decorative--please note that straps and binding cord will be brown)
• For page inserts: 7 pieces cut from card or cover stock, 4-3/4" x 5-5/8", grain long
• Sack lunch and beverage
 
Tools to bring:
• X-acto knife with #11 blade
• Cutting mat
• Pencil & eraser
• Scissors
• Glue (PVA)
• Small glue brush, waste paper
• Bone folder
• Metal ruler
• Piercing tool
• Beeswax
• Tapestry needles #20 and #22
• Sewing cradle*
• Brass strips*
• Japanese screw punch*
• Corner punch*
(* = optional; bring if you have)

Materials that will be provided:
• Precut material for straps (see note below)
• Precut materials for spine and cover
• Cord for sewing
• Extra sewing cradles
• Extra bookbinding needles
(Note: Dolores will supply Tyvek strips dyed with brown walnut ink. If you want to bring your own, whether Tyvek of a different color or an alternative such as elephant hide paper, lokta, or sturdy drawing paper, cut to dimension of 2-1/4" x 12", grain long)

Our special guest instructor will be Becky Luening, who says she has been hooked on books as an artform since the mid-1990s. She enjoys exploring different forms and has gravitated toward bindings with interesting external elements such as books sewn on straps and piano-hinge structures. She appreciates how books can serve as containers for just about any 2D art media, and how content can drive structure and vice versa.

Becky resided in Arcata for 6-1/2 years and was active in NORBAG from 2003 until 2008 when she relocated to Portland, Oregon. She continues to participate in exchanges and exhibits occasionally as a long-distance member.

Map Your World made by Becky Luening in 2010. The workshop will
include instruction for making envelope pocket pages like these.

Toolboxes and the Women Who Love Them

It's always intriguing to see the tool boxes that are brought to our monthly meetings. They are as individual as our members and anyone looking at them knows that there are artists at work in this room.

Hand-painted Suitcase

Another Suitcase

This Toolbox is a Computer!

Everything in Its Place

Briefcase Toolbox

Have Bag Will Travel

Lunch Box

Repurposed Pencil Holder

Plastic Carry-all with Useful Lid

So Many Shelves in this Carry Case

Another Suitcase

Tool Bag

Stackable Toolbox

Farmer's Market to Workshop

Handy Three Level Toolbox

Everything Fits in This

Juicy Toolbox

Why not?

Another Bag of Goodies

This Toolkit came from England with its Owner!

Vintage Cosmetic Case

Another Vintage Case with Maximum Storage. Wonderful!

Does anyone have another toolbox tip to add? What are your favorite storage devices? Leave a comment below (or, if you are on the main page, click on the word "comments" in the bar below to be taken to the appropriate place). We like to hear from you!