North Redwoods Book Arts Guild

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

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

SCULPTURAL LEPORELLO with Michele Kamprath

The July workshop is a playful, accordion-like structure made with sections that fit together and include simple pop-up components. This structure lends itself to various approaches including pictures, stamping, decorative paper, collage, and much more. 



Tools and materials to bring:
  • Cutting mat
  • Craft knife (X-acto)
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Bone folder
  • 1/4" - 1/2" double-sided tape
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • 6-8 pieces of cardstock 8 1/2" x 11" and/or double-sided paper. A note from Michele about the paper: For one version of this book, plain cardstock was used. For another version, I used decorated cardstock. Either works fine. If you have some decorative cardstock, you may want to bring it to help your book "pop". (You may want plain on the backside and decorative on the front of your individual elements--see photos for examples.)




Decorating possibilities to bring if desired:
  • Stamps, inks, pictures, Washi tape, pens, colored pencils, paper punches, bevel-edged scissors, quotations


What will be provided:
  • Instructions
  • ribbon
  • bevel-edged scissors
  • paper bits


When:    Saturday July 9 at 12 noon
Where:   Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte & F Streets
Bring:     See the above list
Cost:       50 cents
RSVP:     YES, by July 5 to Michele Kamprath, (contact information is in the newsletter)






Friday, June 17, 2016

Quarto's workshop with Paul Johnson

The following article was submitted by our member across the pond, Margaret Beech. Her UK book arts group, Quarto, invited Paul Johnson to teach a workshop this past April and here is her report.



Paul Johnson, book artist extraordinaire, has an international reputation, and many of his one off books are in American collections. My UK book arts group, Quarto, invited Paul to teach a workshop for our April meeting. While many NORBAG friends were having paper arts fun in Newport, OR, thirteen British book artists were learning from the 'master'. It was as a result of Paul's first publication A Book of One's Own that I got into book arts and I feel I owe Paul a great debt. Had it not been for him I would never have known about NORBAG, become a member and traveled to spend time with you all.


Paul Johnson

Paul was my house guest the night before and we were able to travel to the workshop together. How wonderful to properly meet the man himself. The workshop was a triumph. Together we cut and folded to create a maze book with slip cover. Then the real work began, as in a game of consequences. Starting with our own book we filled a double page spread in response to a given poem using mark making tools, collage, pop ups, whatever seemed appropriate. Then the book was passed to the next person for them to add their contribution on the next double page spread. The book continued to travel--each person was given 10 minutes--until it arrived back with its creator and the whole book was full. A Book of Ours. Very different from our usual workshops and despite some hesitancy to start we all enjoyed the process very much. Paul is a lovely man, a good instructor and more than happy to share his work and techniques.




Very special was the one off carousel book he brought to show us. The whole thing constructed in his trade mark wonderfully coloured papers with the addition of Paul's pen and ink drawings. The book would be around 12" high and when open each page would be about 9" wide. The whole thing is held with paper hinges which means the entire book folds completely flat for carrying. There really were gasps of delight and wonder when Paul displayed the book for us all to enjoy.




Paul brought lots of his small books for us to look at and/or buy. It really was a privilege to have him with us for the day. If you get the chance to take a workshop with him, don't pass up the opportunity.
~ Margaret Beech, York, UK






Thank you Margaret for sharing this wonderful workshop experience with us.




Sunday, June 12, 2016

Books by Michele Kamprath

The kiosk at the Humboldt County Library is now featuring books made by NORBAG artist Michele Kamprath. Local members know that Michele has been very active in NORBAG since she joined in 2007. Michele is our librarian as well as a frequent instructor at our monthly workshops. In fact, she will be leading the upcoming July workshop. Please stop by the library to see these beautiful books in person.







Thanks to Lynne Gurnee for arranging the display and providing the photographs.







Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Origami Fold "Wallet Book" with Bobbie Hayes

Bobbie explains her fun project:  "I was playing on the internet and saw a little “wallet” made by Karen Thomas. It is an origami fold that can use either rectangular or square pieces of paper and can easily be used as a book structure. The finished structure shows both the front and back sides of paper allowing you a lot of different looks. You can use paper decorated on two sides if you like. The structure has many pockets for ephemera. We will sew in a signature using the pamphlet stitch. We will be making three books in the workshop."

Tools to bring: 
  • Cutting mat 
  • Bone Folder 
  • 2 small to medium binder clips 
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Awl 
  • Scissors 
  • Craft knife (X-acto)
  • Needle (for sewing pamphlet stitch)
  • Wax for thread 
Materials to bring:
1 sheet of paper that is any of these  sizes: 12" x 12", 9" x 12", 9" square or 8" x 10". Both sides will show in the finished structure. The paper should not be a very heavy weight paper because it will be folded over itself and gets bulky quickly. Mi-Teintes or Fabriano (98 lb) is too heavy for all of them but I have made it in a 70 lb. drawing paper. Bobbie adds: "Why am I being so vague? Because we will experiment with this and it will be fun (for me) to see all of the variations."

What will be provided: Paper for two books. Participants will provide paper for the third book.

When:     Saturday, June 11 at 12 noon
Where:   Eureka Methodist Church on Del Norte & F Streets
Cost:      $1.00
Bring:     See list above for tools and papers
RSVP:     Yes! By May 6 to Bobbie Hayes - see the newsletter for her contact information.