STAR BOOK WORKSHOP

 We will kick-off the new year with a Star Book structure taught by Michele Kamprath. 

This is a fun little book to make but a bit involved, so Michele asks us to please do some prep a day or so before the workshop so that we will have time to finish our books.

PLEASE (1) cut your papers; (2) cover your coverboards with decorative paper; and (3) weight your covered boards overnight. You might also want to label the different cut papers so that you will know which layer is which. The finished book size is 3 1/2" high x 5 1/2" wide. If you decide to make cards for your pockets, the cards will be about 3 1/4" wide by just short of 3 1/2" tall.

Materials:

For the layers: cut cardstock to the following dimensions, grain short. Cardstock color can vary or be the same. Layer 4 is the main layer in the front so you might want to use printed cardstock for it. You can also showcase artwork, collage, photos, etc., on the Layer 4 papers and/or in the pocket enclosures.

Layer 1: 7 pieces 3 1/2" x 11"

Layer 2: 7 pieces 3" x 7" (YES, 3", not a typo)

Layer 3: 7 pieces 3 1/2" x 8"

Layer 4: 7 pieces 3 1/2" x 7" (This is the front layer that you look at when opening the book).

NOTE: If you want pockets in layer 4, the paper size would be 7" x 7". You can have some or all of your Layer 4 pages with pockets, or some with pockets, and some without.

For the covers:

2 coverboards - 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" (use matt board or book board)

2 decorative papers to cover the boards: 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"

Tools:

• Piercing cradle or old phone book
• Cutting mat
• Sharp knife with extra blades
• Steel ruler
• Scissors
• Bone folder
• 1/4" - 1/2" double stick tape (both sizes if you have them), red tape is best
• Several paper clips
• Pencil
• Awl
• Sewing jig paper 3 1/2" x 3"
• 2 pieces of ribbon for the ties, 10-12" each
• PVA & glue brush; or other glue, glue stick
• Needle and waxed linen thread if you have it or crewel embroidery thread and beeswax
• Optional: pictures, artwork, patterned cardstock for layers, collage, or cards to go into the pockets 

Another example of how to "decorate" your fourth layer

Fourth layer pockets

When?    Saturday Jan. 9 NEW MEETING TIME at 10 a.m. PST

Where?   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP?     YES, by Jan. 4 to Dolores Guffey to receive the link and password and workshop instructions

Workshop Questions: Michele Kamprath

Zoom Questions: Bobbie Hayes

(Contact information for these members is in the newsletter)

 

2020 HOLIDAY CARD EXCHANGE

 The 2020 annual NORBAG holiday exchange was a bit different this year. For those of us who have attended the event in the past, we missed the warm hospitality of being together at Sandy Vrem’s lovely home. On the other hand, we were able to be together on Zoom with our out-of-town members. Jill and Margaret joined from England, several from Pennsylvania, as well as members from Michigan, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and throughout California. There were no snacks to share, but it was fun to see all 30 of the exchange cards and hear about each of them from the artists. We are thankful to have the ability to use Zoom to bring us all together. Photographs of all of the beautiful and creative exchange cards are on our Flickr site (the link is on the top left of this page).

Here is an example of one of the wonderful holiday cards.
This was made by Donna LaVallee. For more views of this
card and all the others, check out the Flickr site.

 WORKSHOP TIME CHANGE

Now that we are using Zoom, we have more flexibility than we had with our face-to-face workshops. We sent 72 email queries to members who regularly attend our Zoom meetings asking if a change to 10 AM PST would be acceptable. Of the approximately 31% of respondents, the vast majority of members liked the idea. Starting in January 2021 our meetings will start at 10 AM PST (1 PM EST and 6 PM in England). Occasionally we may have a workshop at a different time because of the needs of the artist, but we will give you ample notice of the time changes.

One more holiday card to share Edith Fuller's wishes for 2021!

HOLIDAY CARD SHOW & TELL

 This year's Holiday card exchange will be quite different from previous years. For the local members it means they won't be enjoying the hospitality of Sandy Vrem for a festive get-together of food and card sharing. But, for those of us who live out of town, we will benefit by visiting together via Zoom and seeing and hearing each other describe our cards. We invite all of our members to join Dolores Guffey at the December 12th Zoom meeting as she presents the 30 cards in this year's exchange. 

Many thanks to everyone who participated in making cards. We hope you will be joining us at the Zoom meeting to share your inspiration, structure, and design, etc. Those unable to join us will have their colophon read as the card is shown on the screen. If time permits after the sharing of the cards, we will be able to "visit" and exchange greetings. We hope to "see" you there! Details about the December meeting are at the bottom of this post.

A collection of cards from previous years.

More cards from the past

Becky McAllister

Becky Luening

Bobbie Hayes

Ellen Golla

Ellen Clague

Andrea Penn

Bonnie Julien

Miriam Hall

Michele Kamprath

Peggy Marrs

Sandy Hansen

Vicki Van Horn

What:     Holiday Card Exchange

When:    Saturday, Dec. 12 at noon, Pacific Time

Where:   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:    YES, to Dolores Guffey by December 8 to receive password and instructions

Zoom:    For questions, Bobbie Hayes 

Contact information for Dolores & Bobbie can be found in the newsletter.

PIANO-HINGE ACCORDION ALBUM

 Our East Coast member, Mary Elizabeth Nelson, gave a wonderful workshop this past weekend. She led us through the steps to make a variation of the piano-hinge album shown in the book The Art of the Fold by Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol. Forty-three NORBAG members participated via Zoom.

Mary Elizabeth Nelson (aka Emmy)

This is one of the example books Emmy
 made using her cyanotype papers.

Examples of Emmy's pages

Preparing the accordion spine to cut out the holes
for the stick or dowel.

We were sent a materials list along with instructions to have some of the materials cut and folded prior to the workshop. This book was designed to have four pages with Mylar inserts to showcase flat objects. It was great to see the different items that were chosen, such as dried leaves, papers, buttons, and mark-making designs. A few members also made slight variations to the design by keeping a flap to cover one side of the window or adding a feature that allowed the center of the page to spin. Below are examples of some of the books that were completed.

Dolores Guffey used antique buttons in her book.

The covers were marbled by Dolores.

DJ Gaskin

DJ used various leaves in her windows.

Edge Gerring

Edge used leaves as a background for the words of a poem.

Michele Kamprath

Michele showcased her mark-making
techniques in the windows of her book.

Bonnie Julien

Bonnie left the flap to cover the front of the window,
but cut out the entire part of the back window so you
 can still see the leaf print of the paper in front but the 
leaf shows against a plain background in the back.

Margaret Beech made her book with window inserts
that would rotate within the space.

A Gallery of Gods by Betty Steckman

Many thanks to Mary Elizabeth for presenting a great workshop. 

PIANO HINGE ACCORDION VARIATION

 If there has been anything good about the coronavirus, it's that it has provided the opportunity for out-of-town members to teach and/or attend our monthly workshops. The November Zoom workshop will feature our East coast member, Mary Elizabeth Nelson, guiding us through a variation of the piano hinge album from Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol's book The Art of the Fold. Using your own papers and inclusions you will create a lovely display book. The finished dimensions will be 5" x 5-1/2" (or taller depending on the size of your rod). Once you RSVP for the class, instructions will be emailed to you, along with the Zoom link & password. Please note below there are a few important preparations to do prior to the workshop.

Materials

• Accordion spine: one piece 5-1/2" x 12" sturdy paper, grain short. This spine needs a strong paper, not too thin. Paper suggestions: 120 gsm Elephant Hide or Bugra paper, available at Talas & Dick Blick; Mohawk, Superfine (80 lb. cover stock). Mary Elizabeth added that "as long as the grain direction is short and you can fold it to a 16 panel accordion, anything will work. I didn't want anyone to order stuff...you should just use what you have on hand."
• Pages: four pieces 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", grain short, cardstock or a paper similar to Mi Teintes, 160-180 gsm.
• Pockets (windows): four pieces 4-1/2" x 7" Mylar, Dura-Lar, a medium weight acetate (clear acetate page protectors).
• Covers: two pieces 5-1/2+" x 9" cover weight paper like 80 to 100# cover stock (the + sign means a smidge over 5-1/2", just so the cover will be slightly more than the pages).
• Rod: one straight twig, skewer or round pencil, less than 1/4" in diameter; 5-1/2" or taller if you prefer.
• INCLUSIONS: Four pieces to go in pockets such as dried & pressed leaves or flowers, cut-outs, or anything flat and less than 1/16" thick. These will be viewed from both sides.

Tools

• Cutting mat
• Sharp knife with extra blades
• Steel ruler
• Bone folder
• 1/4" double stick tape
• Paper clips
• Pencil - white pencil if using dark papers
• Awl
• C-Thru 2" wide ruler (handy, but not necessary)

IMPORTANT! Three to four days before workshop:

• Cut and fold the pages and covers and put them under weight
• Prepare the accordion: fold to 16 equal sections; put under weight
• Cut and fold the Mylar/acetate pockets in half, to be 4-1/2" x 3-1/2". Fold crisply with a bone folder. If your acetate is old it may crack when folded.

Workshop Details

When:    Saturday, Nov. 14 at noon, Pacific time

Where:   On your computer, tablet, or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:     YES! to Dolores by Nov. 9 to receive the password and instructions

Contact information for Dolores, Mary Elizabeth, and Bobbie Hayes (Zoom questions) are in the newsletter.