STRAP JOURNAL WORKSHOP

The June workshop will be a Strap Journal taught by Michele Kamprath. This is a fairly straightforward but fun version of a strap book that she learned in a Michael Jacobs workshop years ago. The great thing about this journal is that it can easily be changed from a simple journal to an elaborate one depending upon the papers that you use. Michele asks that you please have your papers cut to size ahead of time.

Materials to bring:

• Cover paper - One piece Mi-Teints or similar weight paper, 5 5/8" high by 16" wide. Grain short.
• Strap paper - One piece Mi-Teints or similar weight paper, matching or contrasting (will show up better) with your cover paper, 1 3/4" high by 8 1/2" wide. Grain short.
• Signatures - 12 pieces text weight paper 8 1/2" X 11" cut in half for four signatures with six papers each 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" when folded.
• Three pieces of 3-4-ply waxed linen thread or #5 Perle cotton thread to match or contrast with your cover and strap colors.

Note: If you have papers you'd rather use other than plain text papers, feel free to use those cut to size. The bulk of the signature should be approximate to a signature made with text paper. Slightly bulkier is okay.

Tools to bring:

• Metal ruler
• Cutting knife with a sharp blade
• Cutting mat
• Pencil
• Bone folder
• Needle
• Awl
• Scissors
• Piercing cradle

Note: Michele will supply instructions and jig papers.

When:   Saturday, June 9 at noon
Where:  Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte & F Streets
Bring:    See above list...papers cut in advance
Cost:     50 cents
RSVP:    YES, by June 4 to Michele. Contact information in the newsletter.

MAY MATCHBOX BOOK WORKSHOP

The May workshop featured miniature pop-ups. Edge Gerring shared what she learned from a workshop she took at the Newport Paper & Book Arts Festival (NPBAF) taught by fellow NORBAG member, Jackie Wygant. As you will see from the photos, it was fun yet challenging to work with tiny pop-ups to fit into a tiny book which fits into a tiny matchbox. Tiny was definitely the theme of the day!

Making the cover

A beautiful cover

Cutting out and coloring the various parts

Preparing the pop-ups

The snake

The snake spirals out when the page is opened
 and the butterfly spreads its wings.

Cutting out the flower pot

Gluing the book together

Many thanks to Jackie and Edge for sharing this fun structure!

NORBAG members who attended the April Newport Paper & Book Arts Festival brought some of their creations to share for Show & Tell.

Collage reveal

Book Necklaces

Buttonhole Binding, and in the background, a Spirit House

Sunprint, Blueprint, Cyanotype

And last but not least, here is a photo of some of the May exchange books. Individual photos plus colophons will soon be available for viewing in the Guild Flickr gallery. Click on the link in the upper left hand corner of this page.

The theme for the month was Project Page or Compendium structures.

MAY DISPLAY IN THE LIBRARY KIOSK

The theme for May in the Humboldt County Library kiosk is "Age-old techniques still in use". Dianne B. has created a display that includes: handmade papers, calligraphy, Coptic binding, case binding, stab binding, and a page for a human powered letterpress. Blue Ox Historical Park loaned the single book page with decorative elements for the display. It is an incredibly heavy “made ready chase” all ready for ink and a foot powered treadle letterpress. The chase was created by Times Printing Company, a local print shop in business since 1854. Celebrate the old techniques and welcome new technology! 

Coptic and case bound books

Here are examples of books with handmade papers and calligraphy.

These books have stab bindings.

This "page" is ready for printing.

Thank you to Blue Ox Historical Park for lending these pieces from the Times Printing Company collection. For more information about Blue Ox visit their website at www.blueoxmill.com.

NEWPORT PAPER & BOOK ARTS FESTIVAL

The 23rd annual Newport Paper & Book Arts Festival (NPBAF) was held the weekend of April 20th. With 107 participants including 21 NORBAG members (four who were also instructors), it was the largest NPBAF attendance recorded. There was a wonderful variety of classes that covered surface design, collage, printing, mixed media, assemblage, various book bindings, and the Dremel tool. We were lucky to experience beautiful sunny weather the whole weekend along with a robust ocean breeze in the afternoons. Included below are some photos from the festival.

We love the Sylvia Beach Hotel!

Sandy V. and Jackie W. at the evening reception.

Cheri A. and Dolores G. in the lobby of the Sylvia Beach Hotel.

Randi P. showing her work in the Exposed Binding class.

Spirit House class members display their houses.

Woven spine binding class participants.

Margo K. setting out materials for her woven spine binding class.

A sampling of books from the woven spine binding class.

Michele K.'s beautiful woven spine book.

Dolores G.'s  class making three different book bindings and closures.

These books were made in the Textured & Bound class.

Randi P.'s Japanese Screen structure with her eco-dyed papers.

One of John A's books from the Instructor's show.

Spirit houses from the Instructor's show.

Another beautiful book from the Instructor's Show.

MINIATURE POP-UP WORKSHOP

A popular class taught by Jackie Wygant at the Newport Paper & Book Art Festival last month was how to make a miniature pop-up book in a matchbox. This month Edge Gerring will show us how to make a hardcover book with three pop-ups. There's too much to do to repeat the whole class, but a miniature pop-up book is very doable. Edge will show and tell us about decorating a matchbox so you can do it at home, but there won't be enough time to do the matchbox in this class. This book is small, but not TOO small, so don't be afraid to come and play. Note: the exchange book theme for June is Miniature Pop-Up Book so the timing of this workshop is ideal.

Tools and Materials to bring:

• Metal ruler
• Cutting knife with sharp, fine point blade
• Pencil
• Small scissors
• Small brush (1/4" wide)
• Colored pencils, pens
• Bone folder
• Elmer's white glue (more forgiving than PVA)
• Fine line scoring tool/stylus (optional)
• Decorative paper for the book cover

Edge will Supply:

• Templates and instructions
• Book cover boards and book binding cloth
• Cardstock for the pages and pop-ups
• Small matchboxes

May Meeting Details:

When:   Saturday, May 12 at noon

Where:  Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte & F Streets

Bring:    See above list

Cost:     $1.00

RSVP:    YES, by May 7 to Edge Gerring (contact information in the newsletter)