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.

HINTS, TIPS, & TOOLS

The August Zoom workshop will feature Dolores Guffey sharing her book art Hints, Tips, and Tools. Having been one of the original NORBAG members (25 years ago this September), Dolores has amassed a wealth of great ideas learned from fellow book artists, her own discoveries, and from the many conferences she has attended. This “workshop” will be a time for sharing ideas. She invites those of you who join the Zoom meeting to bring your own tips and favorite tools to share with us. We all learn from one another and there is always something new to discover.

When:   Saturday, August 8 at noon, Pacific time

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

RSVP:   YES, to Dolores Guffey by August 5 to receive the password. Her contact information is in the newsletter.

What to have on hand:  Paper to take notes and your own tips & tools to share.

Projects from our members

Michele's Keith Smith books

Those of you who received the June NORBAG newsletter saw the information about how to purchase unbound copies of some of Keith Smith’s books to bind yourself. Our member, Michele Kamprath, did just that and shared with us this photo of her books. Like the examples Dolores Guffey shared in the newsletter, binding these books with a Coptic stitch or sewing over tapes is a perfect way to have them bound so that they will open flat…very helpful when trying to follow Keith’s instructions.

Bonnie's "books-in-sheets" classics

Did you know that it is also possible to find unbound copies of classic books? On the Volcano Arts website you can find “Books-in-Sheets” that are ready to bind with your favorite materials. According to the website, the books “have been formatted in content-appropriate fonts. They’re imposed into separate sections and copied onto good quality 70 lb. paper. You just fold and sew.” Some of the books that are available include A Christmas Carol, The Secret Garden, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and several favorites by Jane Austen. Bonnie Julien has bound several of these books with plans to give one to each of her grandchildren. Here is a link to Volcano Arts: 
https://volcanoarts.com/?s=books+in+sheets&post_type=product

Randi's Eco-dyed print

This print and the one above are available on Etsy

What else can you do with your beautiful eco-dyed or other surface designed papers besides make cards and books? Frame them! Our member, Randi Parkhurst, has refined her eco-dyeing techniques into an art form worthy of framing. Here are some photos of her work currently for sale on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/EcoPrintLove

Thank you to our members for sharing information about your projects. We're happy to pass along your photos and ideas.

MORE PROJECTS AND ZOOM

As we begin the fourth month of dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic most of us are slowly moving into a more open environment. Who knows what the new normal will actually turn out to be, but for now it's refreshing to hear that many of us have been coping with isolation by making some beautiful book art and sharing it on various platforms. One can see wonderful examples on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Zoom meetings and other online classes are also becoming more popular since we haven't been able to meet in person. We hope you will continue to share your projects with us as we all strive to move forward and remain healthy.

NORBAG will hold its first Zoom meeting on Saturday June 13. This meeting will not have a workshop but rather a chance for our members to get comfortable with Zoom and meet and greet other members. It will be hosted by Celeste Chalasani and she will do a PowerPoint presentation of photos our members send to her. These photos could include books they've made for the exchanges (yet to be exchanged) as well as any projects they've been working on. In other words, your basic "show & tell". Please refer to page 1 of the June Newsletter for information and tips for using Zoom. 

WHAT:  NORBAG Zoom Meeting

WHEN:  June 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm Pacific Time (US and Canada)

RSVP:   YES, to Dolores by June 10 to receive information on how to join the Zoom meeting, along with the password. For the PowerPoint presentation, please send photos in JPG format to Celeste by June 10. Contact information for both Dolores and Celeste is in the newsletter.

Here are some examples of how our members have been using their "free" time.

  

This photo is a collection of books Bonnie Julien made in Helen Hiebert’s Flexible Book Structures 2 online class. The six week course included the following projects: Momigami & stained Tyvek, Expandable File Folder, Book Light, Pocket Book, Envelope Photo Album, and Scroll-a-Notebook. For more information about Helen’s classes here is a link: https://helenhiebertstudio.com/shop/product-category/class/

Michele Kamprath has been busy making some lovely books using monoprints. She watched Sally Hirst's Monotype Mayhem classes and came up with some wonderful prints.

Secret Belgian binding

This Secret Belgian binding book was a birthday gift to Michele's son.

Monoprints galore

This book features many of the monoprints.

Margaret Beech has sent another one of her fun book structures. She called this structure a crazy fold, but if you have a copy of the NORBAG compendium, vol.3 pg.20 you’ll find it listed as the "Whirligig" book.

This book was made several years ago by Dolores Guffey for a book exchange.

The "whirligig" part way opened

Here is what Margaret shared. "This time I am sharing my Crazy Fold with you. This is very easy BUT requires maximum concentration when measuring up. It's fun to make and it's up to you how you decorate the pages. In the illustration I simply used papers cut from old books but you could use decorated papers, music paper, write some quotations or verses of a poem or even old map pages. The fun really lies in the unraveling and the way the book folds up again. You will need to keep it under control so might need to make an envelope to hold your fold."

Margaret also said that you could cut from a roll of wallpaper lining paper (or even some leftover wallpaper and your crazy fold will already be decorated). It's best to cut a longer length than needed once you start to measure. If you need to get rid of the natural curl of the wallpaper or lining, simply place the roll into a sink full of warm water. It doesn't need to remain long and you will see that the paper soon flattens. Just drip the water off then lay flat on a towel until the paper is really dry and you will be all ready to begin. Margaret said that this is not a good way to flatten brown paper from the roll however.

Margaret sent this piece "to give you encouragement 

if you are whiling away your days with creative stuff.

I find it's a wonderful way to spend time, and the things

we make give pleasure to the people we share them with."

MAY CREATIVITY

Since we, and most of the world, are staying home in hope of flattening the curve of coronavirus cases, this blog will strive to offer suggestions and projects from some of our members. We will try to update the blog every two weeks, so be sure to check in for new ideas as well as information about when regular NORBAG workshops will resume. Remember to scroll down for previous projects sent by our members.

 A former member of NORBAG emailed with a request about sending some cheer to long-term care residents experiencing isolation. She wrote that "in this time of uncertainty, we need human connection more than ever! But many of our older adults are experiencing isolation on a deep level. In order to protect residents and staff from exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19), long-term care facilities have temporarily stopped welcoming visitors. This means that residents are not able to see their families and friends...and since many of them do not use social media or teleconferencing apps, they have little or no connection to the outside world. They could really use support!" She asked if our members would pledge to send 10 cards to long-term care residents who need encouragement. "Whether it is a postcard with a pep talk, a construction paper creation, all contributions would be welcome!" A separate email has been sent to local NORBAG members with information on how to join this cause, but we're sure this kind of support would be welcome in any community. This is a great opportunity to share your artistic creations with people who are truly isolated. Many of our members are already making cards using their own paste, marbled, or eco-dyed papers so please consider sharing some of these beautiful creations with others in need of support.

Now to share some photos of what our members have been doing...

Watercolor leaf print cards by Michele K.

Biophilia by Michele K
(EO Wilson coined this term for basically the human love of nature)

Biophilia sewn over straps

Random by Michele K

Artist Trading Cards by Edge G

This is the back of the ATC cards...mixed media collage
 inspired by a You Tube video by Lorrie Marie Jenkins

Eco-dyeing by Randi P.
These latest prints were made using techniques from
Jane Dunnewold's book, Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing

This print has sting added

Grace B. made collages using cut-outs from copies of the rock print and collage work
done by Dolores G and Lynne G shown in the previous blog article. Grace is 90 years
young and a charter member (25 years) of NORBAG! 

Another of Grace's new collage prints

Collage by Grace B

Bonnie J is taking Helen Hiebert's online course Flexible Book Structures 2.
The book on the left is a book light and the other two are expandable file folders.

Book Light opened and illuminated

One of the expandable file folders...the green cards lift out

Bonnie's pocket folder book. It has six slots on the left,
 plus two large slots underneath.
A slim book is just visible coming from one of those pockets.

Front of the pocket book. It closes with velcro dots,
 the brad is just for decoration.

Back side of the book has an envelope pocket
 that has been sewn with a sewing machine.

PSBA Members' Exhibit

The Puget Sound Book Artists (PSBA), which also includes at least five NORBAG members, is currently holding its eighth annual exhibit. According to the exhibition catalog: "On display at the University of Puget Sound Collins Library are books by artists from all over the Pacific Northwest working with a great diversity of materials and methods. Each piece is a fresh take on what a book can be and how its creator thinks and imagines." The exhibition will continue through July 27, 2018. To view photos of every book in the exhibit visit the following website at Collins Library: https://tinyurl.com/y95qtqc8.

The Collins Memorial Library Award went to NORBAG member Bonnie Halfpenny for her book titled, With a Compass, Without a Map.

This book is a tribute to four talented women. It includes photo transfers,
scans, as well as hand and machine stitching.

Photographs by Bonnie Halfpenny

The curator's choice award went to Jan Dove for her book, The Horsemen.

Jan works in Photoshop using layers to create her book that is pigment

 printed on paper.

The award of Excellence went to Isabel Duffey for her book titled, Unpacking.

Shown here, the book (box) is unfolded, but it all folds up into a perfect 4.25" cube.
It has letterpress printed panels with a combination of photopolymer plates, handset
type and linoleum cuts.

Photograph by Isabel Duffey

The following photographs are a small selection of books taken the opening night of the exhibition.

 

NORBAG member Kathy Dickerson is shown by a poster that includes her box titled,
Random Idea Generator in a Box, on the right second row from the bottom.

Shubahlup-Grit City by Angela Yoder

Copse by Carrie Larson

Chronos and Kairos by Debbi Commodore

Who Wrote the Book of Love? by Dorothy McCuistion

Blooming Verses by Elizabeth Walsh

The Packard Book by Gabby Cooksey

Grandpa, the Boy, and the Goat by NORBAG member John Arbuckle

Crow Anting by Jan Ward

Imagining Spring by Laurie Strong

Bark Beetle Book Vol. XIA and B: Tenaway Log by Suze Woolf

Forming Common Threads by Mari Eckstein Gower

Body Parts by NORBAG member Bonnie Julien