SURFACE DESIGNS

The June 8 NORBAG workshop will be taught by Michele Kamprath and Sandy Vrem. Surface design techniques will be used to decorate a variety of papers that can then be used as decorative elements in books, cards, collage and more. We will learn four different ways to decorate papers using crayon batik, crayon rubbings with texture plates and stencils, balloon printing, and combing through acrylic paint. Check out these beautiful examples and come prepared to have fun creating different designs.

Tools to Bring:

• water container, wide enough for your brush
• foam brush (1" to 3")
• plastic fork or paste paper comb
• cutting mat
• apron

Materials to bring (only if you already have them):

• favorite acrylic paints
• card stock, mixed media, drawing, and watercolor papers (8.5" x 11")
• paper towels or baby wipes
• crayons
• stencils, texture plates, paint marking tools
• newspaper to cover your workspace and for drying

Materials provided:

• balloons
• paint pallet
• deli paper
• painter's paper
• telephone and dictionary pages
• assorted acrylic paints

When?    Saturday, June 8 at noon
Where?   Eureka Methodist Church, Del Norte and F Streets
Bring?     See above list
Cost?      50 cents
RSVP?     YES, by Wednesday June 5 to Michele
               (contact information in the newsletter)

FISHBONE AND TREE FOLD WORKSHOP

On Saturday, May 11, Dianne Byington led us in a workshop using two of Hedi Kyle's structures, the fishbone and tree folds. When telescoped together, the fishbone structure has panels of the same width. The tree fold results in panels of different sizes. Dianne had several tips and tricks for us to use, as well as different versions of the folds. She also showed us different kinds of covers.

Dianne showing us the cutting pattern

One of the things that Dianne spoke about was the terminology used for making these structures. So we adapted to new terminology. Dianne also made mention of the different marking and scoring methods. Here you see different types of rulers being used, as well as someone using a scoring board.

After marking, we scored the pages.

After scoring, we marked the areas to be left uncut. We cut some parts

 and left others attached which allowed the folds/pleats to open. 

The paper was folded along the cuts and the uncut areas.

This picture better illustrates how the pleats open. On the uncut

section, we used double stick tape to hold the last uncut section.

We telescoped the pleats to achieve the fishbone structure.

This is a model of Dianne's tree fold. You can see that the open
 areas are larger as you go, resulting in a very tree-like structure.

We made both structures during the workshop using papers that Dianne brought. She also brought four samples of covers for us to use. 

Dianne brought many samples of these two structures and how we could use them.

The uncut section size will affect the overall look of a fishbone book. On the left, the uncut sections are one-half inch. On the right, the uncut sections are one-quarter between each resulting in a more compack structure.

Soft folds look more like organic structures. To achieve this look, 
when a crease occurs, it isn't set with a bone folder.

Tyvek that has been painted makes a lovely tree fold.

This is a fish fold in a simple cover shown both closed and open.

This was a fun workshop and it will be interesting to see how it appears in our future exchanges. 

Please note: many of our members went to the Newport Paper and Book Art Festival last month and we have pictures of their efforts in the previous post. 

2019 NEWPORT PAPER & BOOK ART FESTIVAL

The 24th annual Newport Paper and Book Arts Festival was held this past April.  Twenty-two of the 105 people listed in the roster of participants are members of NORBAG including four who were instructors. The three day event featured a great selection of both one and two day classes. Everything from eco-dyeing to paper bead making, various boxes to spirit houses, and paper decoration to different binding techniques were offered. There were several evening events where one could visit with other participants and view examples from the various workshops, check out the beautiful books and art at the Instructor's Exhibition, and listen to some featured speakers. We especially enjoyed hearing NORBAG member Margo Klass, talk about her Artist in Residence experience on Boulder Creek, Alaska with her husband Frank Soos. Following are photos contributed by Edge Gerring, Dolores Guffey, Bobbie Hayes and Bonnie Julien.

Margo Klass displays her book documenting her Artist in Residence
experience with her husband, Frank Soos.

Photographs, poetry, and journal entries are recorded in the little books
that fit into the empty niches and are displayed along with found objects
such as stones, bones, and wood.

The book is comprised of various boxes that
accordion fold together into a neat package.

 Spirit House workshop participants display their houses.

Dolores's house has an Asian decor.

Randi Parkhurst displays her house made with her hand painted papers.
She taught the Paper Bead making workshop.

Travel Kraft boxes before covering with decorative papers.

Bonnie's finished box

Dolores used her marbled paper to cover the top and trays.

Michele Kamprath's kraft box.

Kraft box by Mary Humphrey

Donna Gephart's Kraft box.

John Arbuckle was also an instructor and had this beautiful book
in the Instructor's Exhibit. His classes were Art Journal in a Pouch,
Vintage Letter Art Journal, and Bound Tunnel Book.

These gorgeous books in the Instructor's Exhibit show off the long stitch binding 
(Let the Spine Speak) taught by Connie Stricks, a member 
of the Northwoods Book Art Guild in Alaska.

Margo's entry in the Instructor's show featured the same box structure
she taught in a workshop and that she used for her Boulder Creek book seen above. 

The colorful spines of Becky McAllister's books from Connie's class
definitely illustrate the title of the "Let the Spine Speak" workshop.

Michele Kamprath's beautiful books from Connie's workshop.

Beads by Mary Humphrey

Donna Gephart's book from Margo's class.

 Dianne Byington's lovely book from the Altered Book Journal workshop.

Dolores' miniature book with wood covers.

Eco-dyed papers by Becky McAllister

FISHBONE AND TREE FOLDS

Hedi Kyle's book, The Art of the Fold, (available in the NORBAG Lending Library) provides a wealth of information and examples of some wonderful book structures. The May NORBAG workshop will feature two of those folds, the fishbone and the tree. Dianne Byington will instruct us on the difference between them and how to make them along with some variations. Some basic skills to be covered are paper folding, mountain fold, valley fold, and because of the many folds, we will review how to determine grain direction of papers to prevent cracked folds.

Tree fold, with varying page lengths

Tools and Materials to Bring:

• Self-healing cutting mat
• Scissors
• Craft knife or X-acto knife
• Bone folder
• Pencil & eraser
• Scoring tool - paper will be scored multiple times so bring your favorite scoring tool: clear gridded ruler, measuring rules, ruler, or scoring board
• Embossing stylus or pointed bone folder
• Double-sided tape, 1/4" wide suggested

Materials Provided:

• Paper, decorative on one side, white on the other 

Fishbone fold, with sharp folds

Fishbone fold, with soft folds

WHEN:    Saturday, May 11 at noon

WHERE:  Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte and F Streets

BRING?   See list above

COST:     50 cents

RSVP:     YES! by Wednesday May 8 to Dianne Byington, contact information will be in the newsletter.