September Workshop: Zentangles in a Stacked Circle Book

Zentangle by Peggy Marrs

Our workshop for this month will be to make the stacked circle book, using 4" circles and then fill the tiny pages with Zentangles. What are Zentangles? Working with a fine point, you just let your hand move the pen wherever it wants to go. Well, there's a little more to it than that, but it is basically a very easy process and we'll all have a lot of fun.

The only things you have to bring are:
● Cutting mat
● Bone folder
● X-acto/craft knife or scissors
● Soft pencil (not mechanical)
● Very fine pointed pen*
*I strongly recommend Micron pens. They are under $3.00, last a long time, deliciously glide across the paper and the ink is permanent. Once you have used them, you won't ever want to be without one or two or three. The pens come in different point sizes with #1 being the smallest. For our project, I recommend a #1 and/or #2. #3 is okay too. Micron pens are available at Ellis Art & Engineering and at Michael's (Michael's seldom has good supply, but Ellis has all sizes and has them in stock).

What will be provided:
● Pre-cut circles
● Information handout
There will be a $1.00 fee. Please RSVP (see newsletter).
Now take a deep breath, smile, and get ready to have some fun.

Create a Display in Your Library

Bonnie Julien, longtime Norbag member has appealed to "distant" Norbag members to create book arts displays in their local libraries. Her story is inspiring, please enjoy it and the photos that follow (you may recognize your books).

"The Kitsap Regional Library branch on Sylvan Way in Bremerton, WA has graciously allowed me to create a display of NORBAG exchange books in one of their display cases. They have two full-size locked cases with glass doors opening to both the lobby and inside of the library. One or more of your books are currently on display for the month of May. These books are from my collection and also some borrowed from Dolores. Your names and home towns are included in a list inside the case. I wanted the viewers to see that not everyone who joins the Guild and participates in the exchanges lives in Humboldt County. Apparently the response has been great. The first set of about 25 bookmarks disappeared so I just added 30 more. The bookmarks have information about book art in general as well as the web addresses to Norbag. My name, phone number, and email are listed and I've already had three responses...two who I believe will become actively involved in book art. I also included Dolores' name and the Cutten address in case anyone wanted to join NORBAG. It is a policy of the library to only allow an individual or organization to use a display case once in a calendar year, but the person I'm working with is so excited by the books that she thinks the library board will allow another display this December of our holiday cards.

Those of you who live outside of Humboldt County might consider asking at your local library (or school or college) to see if they would be interested in having you do a similar display. The only real criteria is that they have a secure case."

Editor Note (Michele): I will take Bonnie's advice to heart and create a display this fall in the small town library of Fullerton, Nebraska. I am also donating Cover to Cover by Shereen Laplantz and may give some introductory workshops. Thank you Bonnie for your support of the book arts.

Library Kiosk: Constance Rose

The Humboldt County Library kiosk has a display of local artist and Norbag member, Connie Rose. As always, it is better to go see them than rely on two-dimensional photographs! Connie says this about her work:

"My interest in book arts is focused largely on creating journals from recycled materials. I make "art" journals, as distinct from writing journals—that is books with pages that might be painted or collaged on addition to some narrative text. My journals aren't "about" anything in particular, but exist to be filled in some creative way, thereby becoming something special as one is used.

I fill the journal with pages made from recycled book and (heavyweight) magazine pages, journal and accounting paper, sheet music, wallpaper, my own sketchbook pages, scrapbook paper, drawing paper, old envelopes—anything that can withstand being folded and bound. I cover books with hand-painted or printed papers, hand-dyed fabrics, or recycled upholstery samples. I use different methods of binding each new journal using one of a variety of hand bookbinding stitches."

Altered Book—Recycled Journal

August Workshop with Connie Rose

We’ll be altering an old book by removing the book block, reinforcing the spine, and inserting pages of our own. Use an old book you already have, pick one up at a garage sale or thrift shop, or choose one to work with from a selection provided at the workshop. We’ll make a 3-signature journal and learn the Diamond X stitch to bind the book.

The workshop is in 3 parts:
Part 1, we’ll dismantle and rebuild the book itself. 
Part 2, we’ll cut or tear papers and create three signatures. 
Part 3, we will bind the new journal.

The fee is $45. Please RSVP as soon as possible, and send payment by Tuesday August 6 . See newsletter for details. 

Materials To Bring:
Old book to alter, with spine no more than 1 inch thick.
Various papers including scrapbook or drawing paper, magazine or catalog pages), large format picture or photo books, pages from large old journals, accounting paper, flap envelopes of any kind—pretty much any paper you can recycle/reuse.
Decorative paper for insides of front and back covers.
Piece of cardstock 3 inches wide and as long as your book is tall (for hole template).
Book cloth tape OR contact paper OR plain or decorative duct tape for inside spine.

Tools To Bring:
• PVA or Mod Podge and glue brush
• Cutting mat
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Bone folder
• Awl or screw punch
• Binding needle
• Waxed or unwaxed linen thread – can also use hemp thread
• Wax, if using hemp thread
• BIG paper clips, the plastic-coated kind (they don’t mar the paper like metal ones often do)
• OPTIONAL: If you want to cover the outside spine of your book with paper, bring a special piece for that purpose, 4 inches longer than the spine and 5 – 5-1/2 inches wide. OR you can use contact paper cut to the same size as above. OR if you want to cover the outside spine with fabric, then cut a piece of fabric the size specified above, glue it onto paper smoothing it down to get all the wrinkles out, let dry completely. Or you can fuse the fabric to paper, which I prefer over glue. In either case, bring the fabric/paper/contact paper strip to the workshop ready to glue onto your book.

Materials to be provided:
• Extra papers/pages. You’ll need between 15 and 24 papers to fold into folios. Bring 15 and use some of Connie’s if you need more.
• Decorative duct tape (Duck brand). If you want to buy your own, Michaels has the biggest selection, also Ace Hardware.
• Contact paper. Also available at Ace if you prefer your own.
• Hemp threads in neutral colors. Michaels has in a variety of colors
• Books to alter, if you need one
• Piercing cradles

More detailed info will be emailed when you pre-register for the workshop.

Library Kiosk: Workshop Books

This month's Humboldt County Library display contains examples made by NORBAG members at workshops held out of the area. Every year in April, the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts holds the Newport Paper Arts Festival, which consists of three days of celebrating papermaking, surface embellihsment, bookmaking, bindings, techniques, and tools for working with paper and fiber.

Focus on Book Arts (FOBA) workshops are held every other year in June at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. This year there were five days of workshops taught by nationally recognized book and paper artists. 

These "out of the area" workshops are a wonderful way to explore new techniques and styles, and to meet new wild wacky, and talented book artists! Join us sometime!

July Workshop: Illuminations taught by Linda Hirsch

Our book this month was inspired by the illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages. Many of those handmade books had decorated margins, marginalia or elaborate first letters created in beautiful colors and real gold and silver. We will be using metallic paints or gold and silver stamps to suggest this same idea. 

We will decorate our papers, before folding, with stamping in gold and silver. Then we will sew our pages onto the spine of an accordion.

These books can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes depending on the size of your starting paper and your own preferences. The one we will be making is about four and a half inches by seven and a quarter inches and will be in cool colors: blues, greens and purple.

Materials to bring: 

•  2 covers: 4.5" high by 7.25" wide, with the grain going up and down on the short side. 

• Mat board, cereal box cardboard, or any similar pasteboard will work. Cover the cardboard on one side with a decorative paper and wrap the edges over and onto the back, covering at least a half inch around the edges. The materials I provide will make the inside cover, spine, and pages. 

Tools to bring: 

• Ruler and T-square if you have one 

• Thread, such as waxed linen or six-strand embroidery floss in one or two colors 

• Rubber stamps and metallic-colored stamp pads 

• 1/16" paper punch or awl and thick magazine to punch holes 

• Scissors 

• Mat knife 

• Cutting mat 

• Pencil 

• Scribe 

• PVA glue or glue stick 

• Bone folder 

Please note: An RSVP is required by July 10 for this workshop. Check your newsletter for contact details. We'll be meeting at the usual time in our usual location. There will be a $1.50 fee for materials.

Making Burritos in June (Burrito Books, that is)

Thank you to Bobbie H. for this month's fun and instructive workshop. We all enjoyed learning the secrets behind making these simple, yet interestingly decorative books that are joined together through slitted pages. No need for glue or thread! We called them burrito books, but other names for this structure include slot and tab books, slit and slot books, or interlocking signatures books. However you describe them, they're fun to make.

Papers and instructions were provided.

Colorful pages.

One of Bobbie's models.

Some of us got a little extra creative.