CHRISTMAS IN JULY with Beth McIlraith

 Christmas in July...a chance to make some fun ornaments using recycled books. 

When: Saturday, July 11 at 12 noon
Where: Eureka Methodist Church
RSVP: Yes, by July 8

We'll make two structures. The first, a series of circles with a cord and beads, was designed by Beth.











The second structure is a modified "star book" copied (with her permission) from Bobbie Hayes' Christmas card exchange item last year. This small book or card can be tied open into a star ornament.

Beth will provide all of the illustrations, cardstock, beads, ribbon and cord. Everything will be cut to size and ready to use. We'll have lots of time to explore variations on the structures. Since the process is pretty simple, our goal will be to have several well-made ornaments to take home. There will also be extra sets to take home and put together later...which means we will have plenty to keep AND give away!

Tools to Bring:

• Bone folder (Teflon ones are great if you have one)
• Cutting mat
• Small ruler
• Scissors (small)
• Waste paper to glue on (old catalog, magazine, etc.)
• Pencil and pens
• OPTIONAL: Metallic pens, colored pencils

Materials Provided:

• Cardstock & illustrations (cut to size) including extras to take home
• Glue sticks
• Double stick tape
• Beads, cord, and ribbon
• Printed instructions

Materials Fee: $3.00

By the way--Beth is down-sizing in preparation for a move. As a result, we will have access to both free and sale items from her stash.

RSVP by July 8 to Beth. Her contact information can be found in the newsletter.

Humboldt County Library Kiosk Featured Artists

There have been so many different book art events and exhibitions lately that we got a little behind in posting photos of the kiosk display at the Humboldt County Library. Beginning in May, and still showing, the featured artists are Edge Gerring and Lynne Gurnee. Edge and Lynne both joined NORBAG early in 2014 and have been making beautiful creative books ever since. If you haven't yet seen this exhibit we hope these photos will pique your interest. 

Lynne said,"I joined NORBAG in January 2014 and have especially enjoyed the challenge of making a book each month for the book exchange (optional participation), and I am inspired by what I receive in return. Some of the complicated designs in bookmaking are like mental push-ups, great creative exercise for my brain.”

Edge shared, “I thought my first taste of book and paper arts was in March 2014. I had been invited to come to a NORBAG meeting by a friend. I had such a good time learning how to make a tunnel book - still a favorite structure of mine - that I signed up there and then. It wasn’t until later that I remembered I had enjoyed making an accordion fold travel journal several years before with the help of a friend who was also a NORBAG member. It just hadn’t occurred to me at that time that I should join the group! Now there is no going back. Learning the structures, handling all the amazing papers that are available, even designing my own structures is an endless source of pleasure, challenge, creativity, and fun.”

The following photos feature books that were received by Edge and Lynne in the monthly exchanges and were made by other guild members.

June Stacked Boxes Workshop

Becky Mc. and Angela T. hard at work

The June workshop was well attended by 25 participants. The first hour was spent putting together the stacked boxes with folded sleeve, and the remainder of the time was left for making four miniature folded books to go in the boxes. There was a wide variety of papers used, so although the structure was the same they all had a very individual look. 

Rusty B., Edge G., and Lynne G.

Rusty B folding a box

Joann B., Lori W., and Nicole G. listening to directions.

Stacked boxes in a folded sleeve

What a variety

Nice panels on the outside of the sleeve

Plaid is fun

Vicki V admires the pop-up exchange books

Michele K shares one of the pop-up exchange books

All in all, it was another very successful workshop. Thank you to Dolores G. for teaching the structure and Bobbie H. for providing the photographs.

PSBA Members' Exhibition

Do you live in the Pacific Northwest or are you planning a visit during the months of June or July? If so, be sure to check out Puget Sound Book Artists’ Fifth Annual Members’ Exhibition. The exhibit is held in Collins Library on the campus of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and features 44 handmade books by 28 different artists. Puget Sound Book Artists (PSBA) is a non-profit organization comprised of professionals and amateurs from all quarters of book, paper, and printing arts. For more information about PSBA check out their blog:  http://blogs.pugetsound.edu/pugetsoundbookartists/   Currently two NORBAG members are also members of PSBA. This exhibition will run through July 30. To check on the hours for Collins Library visit the website at: http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/collins-memorial-library/. Scroll down for a sample of some of the books in the exhibition.

Collins Library

One of the display cases

Monsters & Beasts by Gabby Cooksey, winner of the Collins Library Award

Smoke by Lynn Skordal, winner of the Curator's Award

Circle or Zero by Mari Eckstein Gower, winner of the award for Excellence

The Studio Illustrated Magazine by An Gates

Pencils by Elizabeth Walsh

Token by Deborah Greenwood

Small Migrations by Gina Pisello

Knock on Wood by MalPina Chan

Tine Language by Gina Pisello

Empire Builder by Chandler O'Leary

Thanksgiving 1959 by An Gates

Bridge 2 by Kim Izenman

Alpha Bravo Charlie by Bonnie Julien

Our Family by Lynn Skordal

PSBA 5th Anniversary Book with individual pages by members

STACKED BOXES IN A FOLDED SLEEVE WITH FOUR MINIATURE BOOKS

   Dolores G. will be teaching the June 13 workshop. This stacked box structure is so easy to make and great fun to customize for special occasions or holidays. Once you learn this structure consider making a special birthday box with little gifts, books, or mini cards inside. How about a Father's Day inspired box with tiny goodies for Dad. Or a box to celebrate a new baby... I just can't stop myself because there are no limits to the creative possibilities for this structure. 

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Cardstock - Solid color cardstock (same color on both sides)
to be cut as follows:

• (1 piece)  10 1/4" x 4 3/4" grain short for the body of the sleeve
• (4 pieces) 2" x 2" for box liners
• (1 piece)   2 1/4" x 2 1/4" for inside top lid

DECORATIVE PAPERS:
This paper should be color coordinated with your cardstock. The pattern need only be one side and the paper should be text weight (not as heavy as cardstock). Scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper, paste paper, magazine pages, calendar pages, are some examples. The boxes, panels, and book covers will be made from this decorative paper.

Cut as follows:

• (4 pieces) 6" x 6" for boxes
• (1 piece)   6 1/2" x 6 1/2" for top lid
• (1 piece)   4 3/4" x 1" for decorative strip to wrap the closing of the box
• (3 pieces) 1 1/2" x 3" for outside decorative panels
• (2 pieces) 2" x 4" for covers of books (pamphlet & meander book)
• (2 pieces) 2" x 8" for covers of WOW fold books

Note: covers for the books can be the same decorative paper, or a complimentary paper, or cardstock. These will be the miniature books which will sit inside the stacked boxes.

TOOLS NEEDED:

• Cutting Mat
• Craft knife or X-Acto
• Scissors
• Metal Ruler
• Bone Folder
• Pencil
• Piercing Tool
• Needle & Thread
• Glue Stick

INSTRUCTOR WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Printed Instructions
• Paper (pre-cut) for the signatures of each miniature book. There will be four different books: a pamphlet stitch, a meander, and two different WOW folds.

WHEN:   Saturday June 13 at 12 Noon

WHERE: Eureka Methodist Church, Del Norte and F Streets

COST:    50 cents

RSVP DEFINITELY NEEDED - Please email Dolores by June 10. Her email address can be found in the newsletter. Also, please have your cardstock and decorative papers cut prior to coming to the workshop and bring extra paper "just in case".

Here are more examples of this structure, some of which were made by the NORBAG North group who meet for play dates in Washington.

Three boxes by Bobbie H. using her Zentangle designed papers.

Nature themed box by Robyn T.

Halloween boxes with sweet treats by Carol S.

Paste papers with leaf themed books by Bonnie J.