MARVELOUS MINIS

What a fun workshop! Many thanks to Edge Gerring for leading us through a great workshop where we not only learned how to make a miniature book, but had a bonus lesson in simple drawing. I belong to the "I can't draw anything but a daisy" camp and I came away with a whole new perspective on drawing. Afterwards, members commented on how relaxing the whole process was and how eager they were to try more. It's true that these were simple basic drawings, but it all worked so well with the cute miniature book. And best of all, it's a stepping stone to expanding on the technique.

This screenshot shows Edge demonstrating the vine drawing.

A split-screen image of Edge as she finishes the cover of one mini book.

Here are a few examples of our books.

Bonnie Julien

Michele Kamprath

This is the front side of Michele's book, the photo above is the back side.

The cover of Michele's book

Margaret Beech

If you are interested in more book art "eye candy" check out this exhibit at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center. This is the Illustrated Accordion Exhibition. Our member, Mary Elizabeth Nelson, has a wonderful leaf alphabet book in the exhibit. Look for a green book with black leaves and tree names around four+ minutes into the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP95N5cyv8k 

MINIATURE JOURNAL

Do miniature books catch your interest and make you smile? If so, you're not alone. There just seems to be something about tiny things that are captivating. At the March NORBAG workshop Edge Gerring will lead us in making a hard cover accordion fold journal in miniature. We will decorate the pages with a wandering vine drawing, or any other image of your choosing. These little books are not only perfect for gifts, the making of them is perfect for soothing jangled nerves and calming harried brains. There will also be a show and tell of several book samples.

Book samples, plus the wandering vine
 that could be used for the accordion fold pages. 

Supplies:

• Two pieces of 2" x 1-1/2" cardboard (for the covers)
• One piece of 2" x 1" cardboard (this will be trimmed later for the spine)
• One piece 3" x 4" of decorative paper for the cover. The 3" is the vertical direction of the cover, so orient paper accordingly.
• One piece 1-7/8" x 12-1/2" paper (grain short) for the accordion fold page block. A lightweight watercolor paper or 70 lb. (approximately) drawing type paper is good. Use a paper that will take ink without bleed through.
• Ink pens, fine point black and colors, and/or colored pencils or watercolors
• Scissors, ruler, glue stick, cutting mat & knife

The following examples of miniature books were made by Lynne Gurnee

A book of cartoony dogs painted in gouache on black paper.

Black & white only

"A sheet of 140 lb. watercolor paper that I'd practiced painting faces onto
in black & white, then sliced up the sheet to make a book, letting the
faces occur where they might. Then I added more color, acrylic, and
collage. This book has a separate spine paper. Some books just use one
sheet of paper for cover & spine." 

This is the other half of the book above.

White Gelly Roll 08 pen on black paper

Lynne's great little bookcase for her miniature books.
She found the three little crates at Michaels and glued
 them together. Size is 10" tall by 5" wide by 2.5" deep.

Covers of three of these adorable books

This workshop should be great fun. Thanks in advance to Edge and Lynne for sharing their miniature books.

When:   Saturday, March 12 at 10 am PST

Where:  On Zoom

RSVP:    by Monday, March 7 to Dolores Guffey

Workshop Questions:  Edge Gerring

Tech Questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact information for everyone is in the newsletter

PEEK-A-BOO & ROOT BOUND EXHIBIT

Our February workshop to make a Peek-a-Boo card was a lot of fun. Thank you Diane Williams for presenting a wonderful moveable card that can easily be adapted for any occasion. Diane also gave us some good tips for purchasing circle cutters and how to line up the series of circles needed for this card. Here's one example by Michele Kamprath .

The inside will remain a surprise.

ROOT BOUND

The current exhibit in the Sherry Grover Gallery at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art features work by Puget Sound Book Artist member Catherine Alice Michaelis. Titled Root Bound, this exhibit will run through February 23. For more information about the exhibit, visit https://www.biartmuseum.org/exhibitions/catherine-alice-michaelis-root-bound/ 

Here are some photos from the exhibit.

Viewers are invited to spell out their own comments on the magnetic boards.

Mother's Measure

Hazel Tree Lore & Legend

Plant Dyes from the Kitchen

Pandemic Post #3

Catherine explains her "Pandemic Post" project

Root, Leaf & Garden: A Printed Garden

Matches

Poppy

Beyond Blue

The box was made from a salmon skin.

PEEK-A-BOO CARD

 With little time to spare before Valentine's Day, Diane Williams will show us a great card structure to make for our special Valentines. This fun card was inspired by Carol Duvall and features a window that changes when the card is opened. The size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (A2) and can feature anything you like in the changing window as long as it is flat. Here are some examples provided by Diane.

Front of card #1

Card 1 opened

Card #2 front

Card 2 opened

Supplies for the workshop:

• Pencil
• Stylus for scoring
• Bone folder
• Tape or glue
• Exacto knife for cutting the circle
• 2" circle template to trace for window opening. Other options - 2" circle punch or circle die with die cutting machine
• 2 sheets 8 1/2" x 11" paper, 80 to 100 lb. weight
• Embellishments to decorate your card and to use for the changing image such as: stamps and inks, photos, whatever fits your style as long as it is flat to allow the image to slide.

Please prepare in advance by cutting and labeling the following using the 8 1/2" x 11" paper listed above:

• One front panel - 4 1/4" x 8 1/4"
• One inside panel - 4 1/4" x 8 1/2"
• One back panel - 4 1/4" x 5 3/4"

When:    Saturday, 10 am PST February 12, 2022

Where:   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:     Dolores Guffey by February 7, 2022

Workshop questions:  Diane Williams

Zoom questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact information for everyone is in the newsletter

Don't forget to make valentines to give to Lorraine Miller-Wolf for distribution to seniors in Care Homes etc. For more information check the newsletter, the bottom of the previous blog article, or contact Lorraine.

The Humboldt County library in Eureka currently has a display of Valentines made for previous exchanges. Thank you Kenzie Mullen for arranging the display. 

SLIP KNOT WORKSHOP

Our first workshop of 2022 got off to a great start with more than 50 members in attendance. Carol DuBosch showed us how to sew a binding that is ideal for use with single sheets of heavy papers or book boards. One happy aspect of the Slip Knot binding is that it is pretty simple to do and does not even require a needle. The hardest part is keeping the threads from twisting so that you get a kind of braid that resembles the Coptic stitch.  

Here are some screenshots of Carol 

and her demonstration of the binding.

We started with the back cover.

We added more pages and finished by tucking
 the threads to the inside of the front cover to tie off.

This screenshot shows some members
displaying their newly bound books.

Allegra Burke's open book

Allegra's book closed

Barbara Clark bound one of her art journals.

Bobbie Hayes

Dolores Guffey redid the stitching on her book
 from a previous workshop.

Sherrill Story made two books for her grandchildren
 using the Slip Knot.

Bonnie Julien used beer coasters for her book
and added a bead before tying off.

Thank you Carol for a fun and informative workshop.

Valentines made at a previous NORBAG workshop

For the past 16 years our local member, Lorraine Miller-Wolf, has been hosting valentine making events and collecting handmade valentines to distribute to the senior nutrition program, various senior health care homes as well as the dialysis centers. Due to Covid-19 she is unable to host these events this year but will still collect valentines for distribution. If you are able to contribute your handmade valentines please contact Lorraine (curly1363@gmail.com). If you live outside of Humboldt county consider making and donating valentines in your own area. Lorraine reports that the seniors always enjoy and appreciate the valentines.