Julie Chen on PBS

We had the wonderful opportunity last March of having Julie Chen come to present a workshop. Julie was just featured on the PBS show Craft in America. If you missed it, you can view it online. You can skip directly to Julie's segment by clicking on the last button to the right below the video.

There's a local angle to keep in mind. Julie was working on her newest edition, a book with a mathematics theme, when she came to visit us. The NORBAG member and her husband who gave her a place to stay are, coincidentally, both mathematicians. Julie was a bit surprised, apparently, to discover that she could discuss mathematical equations with her hosts. This is one of the books shown in the video.

Cross Strap Expandable Journal Workshop

Our next workshop, on Saturday Oct 10, will be taught by Dolores Guffey. 
If you want to come, you 
will need to RSVP by Oct 5 
(details below).


In January we made a four strap cross structure binding. This month we'll be doing a similar structure sewn on two straps. The extra neat thing with this one is that it is expandable. After making the journal you can add signatures, eliminate signatures, and even change the order of the signatures. The signatures aren't sewn to each other, but are individually sewn onto the straps. This allows the front and back covers to slip apart for modification.


What you'll need to bring:


16 sheets of 8½ x 11" text weight paper
Please have your paper cut and folded ahead of time as follows: Cut each sheet in half to 8½ x 5½". This will give you 32 pieces of paper. Gather 4 pieces together and fold in half (4¼ x 5½") to form a signature. Your text block will consist of 8 signatures of 4 pages each.


Plus supplies:
Metal ruler
Craft knife and cutting mat
Scissors
Pencil and eraser
Glue stick
Double-sided tape
Piercing cradle (extras will be on hand if you don't have one)
Beeswax
Bone folder
Needle (with eye large enough for crewel thread)


The following materials will be provided for a $1.00 materials fee:
Covers, thread, and brads


We will be in our usual location at the usual time. Further info is in the newsletter that you received, or you can contact us for details. Please, you must RSVP Dolores by Monday, October 5 so that she has time to prepare enough materials for all participants. Her contact information is on page 2 of any newsletter from the Guild, and is also in the membership directory.

Paste Paper Workshop

photos and article by Sandy V.

Our creative juices were flowing thanks to the Paste Paper workshop put on by Jackie Wygant this past weekend.  There were two workshops put on in my garage with twelve or so participants in each session.  We were taught several techniques for working with paste papers and found ourselves experimenting with luscious colors and a multitude of tools.  Jackie shared recipes for making the paste and techniques for adding color to the paste.  She suggested papers and had many samples for us to try including papers with texture and color.  The techniques involved brushing, combing, stamping, splattering, resists and all possible combinations of these.  The results were gorgeous and every participant went home with many, many papers that are ready for book making projects.  Jackie is a very talented artist who helped us play and create.  She is a great teacher and a joy to have as a house guest.  She left this morning, my garage is cleaned up and I am going to have a cup of coffee and admire my own creations!  It was a productive weekend with many good friends and talented women.        

To see more photos, click this link:

Paste Paper Workshop

Additional photos by Dolores G:

Arts Alive 2009

Welcome to

North Redwoods Book Arts Guild

(NORBAG)

Arts Alive is a monthly event in Eureka, California. This September, Eureka Books hosted the second annual NORBAG exhibit and sale of handmade books.  The weather was perfect (high 60's) and the event coincided with Blues by the Bay. The turnout was fabulous with people in the streets listening to music well past 9:00 pm. The books displayed represented guild members from Humboldt County as well as other locations in the US, England and Thailand.  

The event served to expand the definition of "book" for most of those attending and it was great fun for artists to watch people admiring their books.  

To see photos of the event use the link below.  A web photo album will open in a new window. Click on the individual photos to see larger images or use the Slideshow button. 


Arts Alive 2009

(Photos by Bonnie, J. Rollie L. and Michele O.)