November Workshop - Herringbone Calendar

Dolores Guffey led the NORBAG November workshop. She taught a structure that was inspired by Margaret Beech's July exchange book. Dolores brought copies of the 2018 calendar so that we could cut out and paste them into our herringbone structure. 

Dolores also brought many samples showing that this structure could be glued, sewn (needle or machine stitched), bound with washi tape, brads or even staples. This delightful little structure can have content on either one or both sides. It will sit on a shelf opened for display or collapsed flat and read like a book. When the structure is flat, it can fit in a pocket, purse or envelope. 

While we all made this little book using a 2 3/4"x 5.5 dimensions, it can be adapted to almost any size and subject matter. In the last picture Dolores made one that was square.

We started out scoring one end of six of the seven pages. We then folded them so that pages alternated with a valley fold on the left and then on the right.

We stacked the cards together, added paper clips where each folded edge met an unfolded edge. Then we opened it to make sure that the pages were in the proper order.

When we were sure that the pages were in the correct order, we put them together. In the above picture, a member was using tape. The picture below showed another member putting sewing holes on the folded edges. Our members used pamphlet stitches and Japanese stab binding patterns on these. The method of joining the pages was up to each member.

This picture shows the Japanese stab binding on one side while the opposite end still had paperclips holding the pages together.

We then needed to decide how we would decorate these little calendars. Some used patterned papers on the covers, others used collage or photographs. The folded edges also carried a design. Some had decorated papers to cover the ends while others wrapped the ends in washi paper. As always, in NORBAG, we are limited only by our imaginations.

We cut the calendar months apart. These two pictures show that we don't lack for ways to cut paper: from paper cutter above to our favorite standby, ruler, pencil and craft knife.

In this calendar, the member used patterned pages and if you look at the stitching, it is a pamphlet stitch. She did not use any other decoration on the folded edges.

And then we call it finished!

The structure at the back of the table shows a different size. To the right is Margaret's July book. She had some photos that were portrait and others that were landscape. So all of the landscape are showing on the front side while the portrait orientation ones are on the back.  What a great afternoon.