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.

MAKING VALENTINES

Our last workshop/meeting was February 8, 2020. We had the usual early birds who put out all the tables and chairs for the meeting. Members came in saying hello to friends, meeting new members, and putting their tool kits and materials on the tables. We took about 30 minutes to look at the exchange books, the free table and the “show and tell” table before going back to our seats to begin card making. This meeting was different, we didn’t need instructions or demonstrations about making valentine cards... we are paper people so we started immediately. About an hour later than usual we took a break for the book exchange, an introduction to Lorraine Miller-Wolf, and the general business of NORBAG. Afterwards, we went back to making cards.

This is our eighth annual Valentine card making workshop lead by Lorraine Miller-Wolf. She started making and delivering cards to various shut-ins in 2005. In 2011, some NORBAG members joined in the donation of cards to distribute on Valentine’s Day. In 2013 the tradition was born when we started making cards to donate at our February workshop/meeting. We enjoy getting together to bring and share materials to make Valentine’s cards for other people. Here are some photos of the "making" meeting.

These are the Valentine cards from the exchange.

This is Lorraine.

Here and in the following photo are some of the materials that Lorraine brought for us to use.

These are a few of Lorraine's samples as well as more materials.

Rosie brought her daughter to help us with the valentines.

As usual, one of the members brought an embossing machine for our use.

Say "Hi" to Diane. She is a brand new member!

Helping each other with a page top paper punch.

Even pop-ups were made.

Drum Roll! Here are our lovely cards.

Here is the Valentine making crew.

THE VALENTINE WORKSHOP

North Redwoods Book Arts Guild has its own traditions. In December we do not have a workshop. Instead, it's a social event with a holiday card exchange similar to a cookie exchange where members sign up in advance and then make an edition of cards one for each participant. At our September workshop we have a theme called "Second Chance" that encourages us to use a theme that we may have missed. In February, the tradition is to celebrate the holiday with a Valentine's Day card exchange and the workshop is devoted to making Valentine cards for Seniors receiving home delivered meals and for the residents of board and care homes.

This year Lorraine Miller-Wolf was back to lead our Valentine card making workshop. Lorraine brought some materials for us to use and invited us to bring any other materials we would like. It's always an interesting workshop because we get to see many working styles. Some members are spontaneous with their creations. Other members come with materials that are built around a particular theme; the creativity having started at home. Both methods result in a multitude of great cards for our Seniors. 

This is Lorraine. She has been leading this workshop for several years. 
It is a lovely gift to the Seniors in the community.

The card on the left shows a paper technique that we learned
 in a previous workshop.
 On the right, you can see the current newsletter project.

Toward the bottom of the photo, you can see a page of LOVE stamped paper
 for inserting into Becky's cards.

  

Not only are Seniors happy with the cards, so is Kristi.

We had five tables of people making cards 
with lots of laughter and talking around those tables.

Not only do we have differences in style and aesthetic of these cards, we even have different physical styles for working. Michele stands a lot during her playtime.

Look at all of the lovely tools that Debbi has!

Edge takes a minute to see what others are doing.

This is just a tiny part of the cards we made!

Show and Tell Table

We have a table where we display items that we are working on, techniques we've learned and books we've made that aren't entered into the exchange.

Lynne G's fish bone book

Lara Cox's folding tree.

I can hardly wait for the next "Show and Tell" next month. You will see more of the pictures in the future.

VALENTINE MAKING

The February Valentine workshop will be led by Lorraine Miller-Wolf. Once again we will be making valentines for people receiving the Senior Nutrition home delivered meals, participants at the senior lunch sites, kidney dialysis patients and people living in our local convalescent and board and care homes. Last year Lorraine distributed 1000 valentines...many made by NORBAG members! She received a note last March from one of the board and care homes: "Many thanks from our residents for the lovely valentines! Your kindness year after year is so appreciated. Sometimes our residents have no family other than our facility staff and so these beautiful cards bring some cheer and happiness." That says it all! If you can't come to the meeting/workshop, but would like to contribute your handmade valentines, just contact Lorraine: curly1363@gmail.com.

Materials to Bring:

• Miscellaneous papers suitable for valentines
• Paper doilies
• Ribbon, lace and other adornments
• Bone folder
• Scissors
• PVA glue or glue stick
• X-acto knife & cutting mat
• Stamps and stamp pads
• Scrap paper to protect table surface

When?   Saturday, Feb. 9 at noon
Where?  Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte & F Streets
Bring?    See above list
RSVP?    No
Cost?     None

VALENTINE MAKING WORKSHOP

From February 13 to 15 ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, according to the tale of St. Valentine. He wrote his inamorata (female sweetheart or lover) a note signed “from your Valentine”, which is considered the first Valentine's greeting. Valentine greetings were popular in the Middle Ages when lovers said or sang their Valentines.  According to information from www.history.com, written Valentines began to appear after 1400.  The oldest written Valentine in existence was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans while imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Not a heart nor a bit of red to be seen in the Duke's written Valentine.

In a much more modern style, NORBAG members got together for our February meeting to make Valentine cards. Lorraine Miller-Wolf takes our cards to Senior Nutrition home delivered meals and senior lunch sites, to dialysis patients and to our local convalescent homes. Hopefully you will enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the day.

Lorraine doesn't hesitate for a moment. She used stamps
 and stamp pads, decorative scissors and cutters. 

Miriam is busy too. She makes her Holiday cards out of reused holiday cards.
 I wonder if her material is from recycled cards.

Edge's card for the exchange had three hearts with paper lace.
 She also loves pop-ups. Look closely, you can see them at the bottom of the picture.

The tables were covered with red, white, and pink papers!

We started with some very pretty ones.

Pretty pinks and reds with paper lace and a very bold black, white and red.

Lots of lovely paper lace!

Anytime we get together, it's always fun to see how we have such different aesthetics.

I love that this little elephant has hearts raining from under the umbrella.

Is this a play on words or slightly slushy speech?

We are so happy that we have filled the box.