Hedi Kyle - Piano Hinge Workshop

The March 2019 meeting was very busy. Hedi Kyle structures were the theme. We had a total of 22 exchange books. Our “Show and Tell” table was full too. And the workshop had about 21 of us. Lots of things to see and do.

Workshop

Lara Cox taught us the Hedi Kyle structure from The Art of the Fold found on pgs. 144-147. The structure is a marriage of the simple accordion fold and a piano hinge. The pages are made from a double length folded in half with the folded edge at the fore edge. Then we cut a window through the entire page and put a mylar pocket between the folded page and filled it with things of choice. Those windows can be viewed separately, but also as a marriage of images because they are all see through.

This was an unusual workshop. It sounds like it should be easy and quick. Fold an accordion, make a few cuts on the accordion spine, fold the pages over, cut out windows, fold mylar, put “stuff” inside the mylar. Done and done quickly. That did not happen on Saturday. Lara led us through all the steps easily. There were a few questions about where to cut the accordion that were immediately resolved. But things slowed down with the “put stuff into the mylar pockets.” Also, the marriage of structure and content was delightful. Our members, recognizing that you would see the contents of a single page and all pages at the same time, recognized the need for thought and creativity. We don’t have a lot of finished books because people wanted to spend time working on content at home. The members will bring their finished books to the next meeting.

Lara brought several examples of this structure.

The square cut from the cover is much smaller than the interior windows.
 It gives a taste of what is to come.

When opening the book, you see all of the inclusions at once
 or simply concentrate on the topmost page.
 (Note: sorry for the reflections.)

This sample shows how the contours of the book can be changed.  

This is the interior of the above book. Lara has an unusual paper being used in the windows. She explained that she was doing suminagashi and between prints, she used a torn strip of paper to remove the unused ink. She saved them and they are the contents of these mylar pockets.

WORKSHOP PHOTOS

After making a 16 panel accordion fold, we clipped the ends together
 to make sure that the horizontal cuts in the spine were identical.

The vertical cuts were different from end to end so the piano hinge worked.

We added a bit of tape on the inner edge of the cutouts so that the opening
 would hold the "hotdog on a stick" piece of wood stay in place.

Checking for fit of the stick.

When we put the ends together and slid in the stick,
 the marriage of the two structures was easily seen.
  The pages will be affixed to the accordion.

Spine finished, we folded the double length pages in half and using the orange jig, cut a hole in each folded page. In this picture, the folded edge of the light blue/lavender page is on the left.

Next was the mylar. Some of us used gloves
 to make sure we didn't leave any fingerprints on the mylar.

As usual, each member brought their own creativity to their pages. 
This member is using a background photo with geometric shapes floating above.

Feathers? Yes. 

Next comes someone with photograph cutouts and lacy sheets.

This member brought some mylar that had been used as a pastepaper base. Interesting? Yes!

Threads. On several layers of pages.

Just scraps (as shown in Hedi Kyle's book).

Circus signs.

Looking through the pages. 

Show and Tell Table

The Show and Tell table this month included more examples of the workshop
 structure as well as works in process, experimentation and awesome books. 

This was the March project page.

This is a pop-up book that actually used the book pages for the pop-ups.

As usual, we laughed, we worked, we had fun!

 If you have made it this far, go back to the top of the blog and click on Flickr gallery. The exchange pictures are up!

BOUND TOGETHER IN PENNSYLVANIA

A number of mini NORBAG groups have sprung up in various parts of the country. The Pennsylvania group, Bound Together (BT), has nine members and has been active since 2004. Six members also belong to NORBAG with several of them participating in our monthly exchanges.

The BT group began with six members and five of them are still in the group. To date they have completed over 40 projects. They meet four times a year at each others homes and have a holiday gathering usually in January at a nice BYOB restaurant. They started out making an edition of the chosen topic so that each member would receive a copy plus one to archive. Last year they decided that was too much so now they exchange with only two members at a time and skip the archive copies. With this system they figured out that it would take two years for everyone to receive a book from each member. Once a year they also make a collaborative book where the rules are set for size, type of paper, etc. and then they get together to exchange contributions and bind their own copy.

Mary Elizabeth Nelson (NORBAG member since 2011) has shared some wonderful exchange books and ideas with us. She sent the following photos of boxes that she made for her exchange partners this month. Mary Elizabeth received one of these Treasure Boxes in a NORBAG exchange a couple of years ago and now the structure will be passed on to her BT group. The theme for this exchange is Gems and Jewels so she chose to feature the birthstone of the two recipients.

Mary Elizabeth recently learned how to make these beautiful cords
that compliment the structure.

Garnet was the birthstone used for this box.

Paste papers were used for both boxes with aquamarine featured here.

According to Mary Elizabeth the group tries to exchange ideas and teach each other some structures and techniques, but they also enjoy the social aspects of getting together to share their interest in book art. Here are a few of their exchange themes:

• Gardens (boxed) 2010
• Spices & Herbs (collaborative) 2011
• Grab Bag Stories 2011
• Travel 2011
• Pop-up Books 2011
• Natural Environments (collaborative) 2012
• Charles Dickens 2012
• Bridges 2012
• Postcards/Correspondence 2013
• Setting the Table (collaborative) 2013
• Silence 2014
• Inspiration 2014
• The Beach 2014
• Bird Book (collaborative) 2014
• Frakturs (collaborative) 2015
• Deck of Cards 2015
• Paper Weaving 2015
• The Seasons (collaborative) 2015

We would love to hear from more mini groups of NORBAG members who get together in other parts of the country. Many thanks to Mary Elizabeth for providing us with this information and the photos of her beautiful boxes.