Triangle Books with Pop-ups Workshop

This is a fun and simple book. The secret is in how you choose to decorate it and what text or background you add. Those of you who have made circle books in the past will recognize this structure.

You will need to bring the following materials:

• 4 pieces of 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" cardstock. If you would like, print text or

a background photo on the card stock.

• 2-4 pieces of decorative papers. Coordinate colors to match

your cardstock.

• Old stamps, stickers or printed goodies that are 2" x2" or less

• Double-sided tape or PVA, brush and wastepaper

• Bone folder

• X-Acto knife (or craft knife of your choice)

• Cutting mat

• Pencil, eraser

• Metal ruler

Live links from the April newsletter:

1.  Book of Art: photostream of paper cutting to alter books. Check out the infinity book.
2. History of Miniature Books: University of Missouri-Columbia.
3. Reuse of Books: From Inspiration Green. These are amazing!
 

Opportunities Abound

Paul Johnson workshop, San Francisco Center for the Book

When this editor (Michele O.) first joined NORBAG I knew little about the art of making books. The monthly workshops helped me grow by leaps and bounds and I was always amazed at how creative our members were with their ideas—this is still the case today! I also had the good fortune to have a daughter who lived six blocks from the San Francisco Center for the Book and I took a number of one to two day courses that allowed me to fully immerse myself into the art of making books. Spending hours with a group of artists exploring the myriad topics involved in book arts is a luxury akin to long bubble baths and I highly recommend it. Since then I've enjoyed many in-depth workshops and would encourage those of you who might be interested in more extensive instruction to consider participating in the following upcoming or ongoing events, all recommended by members:

• The Newport Paper Arts Festival, April 15-17, 2011. Newport Beach Oregon. NORBAG members attend every year as students or teachers.
• Focus on Book Arts, June 22-26. Forest Grove, Oregon. NORBAG members attend every year as students or teachers. Housing is available on campus.
• San Francisco Center for the Book, ongoing 
• San Diego Book Arts, ongoing
• Art and Soul, venue varies
• An Artful Journey, Santa Cruz Mountains.

There are also classes a little closer to home:

• DJ Pettitt, Jacksonville, Oregon.
• Art for the Young at Heart, Arcata, California. Adults 50 and up. Taught by Maureen McGarry and a project of the Ink People. 
• Art is...You, September 22-27, Petaluma, California

March Workshop--Stiff Leaf Binding

A Stiff Leaf Structure book is made of “hard” pages from illustration board that is put together with hinges made of book cloth. The pages can include decorative papers, photos with or without paper frames, or ephemera. This is a book that is glued together, not sewn.

Materials needed:

6 pieces of illustration board cut to 4" x 5" each grain long [see note about board at end].

Jig made of illustration board cut to 1⅛" x 5¾" inches for book cloth template.

Extra piece of illustration board for use as a spacer
(spacer will be 1 board thickness).

Heavy triangle or ruler to use as a straight edge.

12 pieces of 4" x 5" paper to cover boards, grain long. [Note: grain of paper should be in the same direction as the grain of the illustration board]. Text, illustration and papers etc can be added when your book is completed.

Glue stick and PVA—if you do not have PVA, there will be some available.

Glue brush for PVA.

Jar or container to rinse brush.

Waste paper for gluing.

X-acto Knife or craft  knife.

Scissors and basic workshop tools including a cutting mat and ruler.

Optional:

Book cloth if you have a particular color scheme going.

Marker to color the edges of illustration board.
Weights or a clean brick or pieces of board to weight your boards after gluing if you have this available.

Dolores will supply book cloth in the color swatch sent in the newsletter. We will have a board cutter available if you would like to cut your board at the meeting. Please come early to cut boards before the workshop begins as there is lots of gluing to be done.

  

Note: Illustration board is available at both Ellis Engineering in Eureka, and at the Art Center in Arcata. (If you go to Ellis, be sure to mention your NORBAG membership so you can receive your 10% discount.) A piece of illustration board is 15 x 20" and costs about $2.50 a sheet.

When you first get the board, bend it ever so slightly to determine grain. The direction that bends the easiest is the direction of the grain; mark this direction with parallel lines about 1 inch apart. Now, when you cut up the board you only need to look at your pencil marks to know in which direction the grain runs. Do the same with your decorative paper.

You will also need illustration board for the June workshop so you can buy a full sheet.

Please RSVP by Wed. March 9 to Michele K. Contact details are in the newsletter or directory.

 

Valentine Exchange

ANNUAL VALENTINE CARD EXCHANGE

Here are just a few of the valentine cards present at today's exchange. It's always a treat (yes, there were candies in some of the boxes) to see how each artist interprets the theme. This is one of our guild's favorite exchanges.

Instead of holding a workshop, members brought some of their favorite books received in an exchange or just a favorite book they made or found in their travels. Dolores displayed books created using the the newsletter project pages, providing a fabulous lineup of books with the project page sitting behind each book. Project pages from 1996 through 2008 are in the compendiums (vol. 1, 2, & 3) and still available to members for sale ($5.00 per volume, unbound).

Peggy brought the set of books below.

Members then were free to shop around for ideas as they looked through the vast array of handmade books. We should have some interesting exchanges in the future.

February Meeting--Valentines and Book Share

Because we usually have quite a few valentines in our February exchange, we will be foregoing an actual workshop this month. Instead, we are having a book share of old exchange (and other) books. 

If you'd like, please look through your collection of books received in previous exchanges and bring in 6 or so favorites to share with everyone else. It would be especially interesting to see books from the early years. Books you've made yourself and handmade books purchased elsewhere are also welcome. We're looking for creative ideas. 

Be sure to bring a notebook to jot down ideas and/or sketch out a structure. The idea is not to copy a book, but rather to be inspired by one. This can be a great way for everyone to get ideas for future projects. 

We'll be meeting in our usual spot, BSS 166 at HSU, at 12 noon on Saturday, February 12.

Library Kiosk Valentines

Valentines Abound in the

Humboldt County Library kiosk

If you need any ideas for the Valentine Exchange in February, these are sure to inspire (click on each photo to see a larger image). Look at the colors and book structures! These should be on display through February. Aren't our library patrons lucky to walk by these when they enter the facility?

Calling All Valentines

Free clip-art: www.valentine-clipart.net/

NORBAG members have two opportunities to spread Valentine cheer.

• Bonnie will be creating a library kiosk display featuring our valentine cards. If you would like to contribute, she would love to have them. Members can bring their items (labeled with names please) to the meeting or to Bonnie's house. You can also give her a call to make other arrangements.

• Lorraine is asking for help. Each year she takes homemade valentines to the patients at the Kidney Dialysis Unit, Seaview Convalescence, and the Senior Center's home delivered meals. If you'd like to participate in this worthwhile project, just make cards of any size and shape (no need to make envelopes), and send her  anemail to make arrangements to get them to her by February 10. Email: lorraine@millerwolf.com