SINGLE PAGE BOOK WITH POCKETS

 This clever little book is made from a single sheet of paper. It's a wonderful structure that can easily be enlarged, reduced, or even changed in configuration depending upon how you fold and/or cut it. The version pictured below will be taught by Mary Elizabeth Nelson (aka Emmy). Emmy suggests that you first print out the PDF on regular copy paper in black and white to make a mock up during the workshop. Afterwards you can print it on better paper in color. After you RSVP for this workshop you'll receive the pdf to make the book shown below.

Emmy's beautiful calligraphy is featured
on this friendship book.

Tools Needed:

• Black & white printout of Emmy's pdf design
• Cutting mat
• C-THRU gridded ruler 2" x 18" or 2" x 12"
• Bone folder
• Pencil with eraser
• X-Acto knife
• Scoring tool

Here are more photos of the structure using different paper/designs.

In these examples plain paper is used for the book
 with different papers placed in the pockets.

When:    Saturday August 12 at 10 a.m. PDT
Where:   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom
RSVP:     Dolores Guffey by August 7
Workshop Questions:  Mary Elizabeth Nelson
Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes
Contact information for everyone is in the newsletter

NOTES FROM THE ART LAB

 

What’s in a Name?

Maybe because the space where I make my art has changed over the years from the kitchen table to the extra bedroom to the downstairs tv room to an actual dedicated space, I have never been comfortable calling it my art studio.  My immediate response is to associate “art studio” with paints and an easel.  Then, the word “studio” sounds a bit close to the word “study” and “studious”, and according to the Oxford English Dictionary, they all come from the Latin studium.  Maybe I am too literal minded about this, but I don’t feel I “study” art in a “studio”; I feel I do my best to create it.  I might study art in a museum or even a gallery, online or in classes.  If I am ambitious, I may create a maquette, or a sketchbook before I produce the artwork; but that is not the same.  

So, over the years I have heard the process of creating art described as an attempt at alchemy-turning base materials into gold- and alchemists worked in laboratories.  Oddly enough, the word studio does not show up in print until 1785 and seems to be associated with the idea of creating a “study” for the actual piece.  Laboratory appeared in print from the 1580’s onward, as the place where alchemists work.  The current definition for laboratory is “a place for providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study”.  As this comes closer to the way I work, I feel comfortable referring to the space where I now work as my Art Lab. 

This is not to say that if you’ve been comfortable calling your space an art studio, you shouldn’t do that!  I am just sharing my thoughts about what my space means to me and why.  Your thoughts?  Does anyone use other terms for that place where you work your magic?  Please send any responses to www.norbag.blogspot.com or to bhalfpen@gmail.com. 

We've been looking for a special "heading" to use for Bonnie's articles and have decided Notes from the Art Lab by Bonnie Halfpenny is the winner. 

LIBRARY KIOSK & MISCELLANEOUS

 Our July workshop of Sewn Boards Binding with Sewn-in Wrapper taught by Celeste Chalasani was very well presented and attended! Thank you Celeste for showing us a different way to bind a book block that also showcases the cover. The book shown below was made by Sherrill Story.

This book was made by Michele Kamprath

Thanks go to Kenzie Mullen for creating the book exhibits in the kiosk inside the Humboldt County Library in Eureka, California. The latest exhibit showcased exchange books made by Bonnie Julien.

Here is a new challenge from Bonnie Halfpenny...

Try to Remember!

Here is a challenge- can you remember how you first became aware of book arts? I was trying to figure this out for myself. It certainly wasn't from seeing them in a museum! It wasn't from finding a great discussion of them in a book. It wasn't from hearing about them in any art class. I do know I saw an exciting exhibit of them about 25 years ago at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla, CA, where we happened to be vacationing (escaping Phoenix heat). I remember I was impressed by the variety of book forms and media used. That institution now has a collection of more than 2200 artists' books if you are ever down that way.

But, back to the question! Maybe some of you were lucky enough to be taking art classes where they had book arts on offer, but that didn't happen for me. It would be interesting to hear the various ways that you became aware of this field. So give your brain a workout and let us know how and when this fertile field opened for you. Send your responses to me at bhalfpen@gmail.com or no.redwoods.bag@gmail.com.