Sketchbooks Made at Tim Ely's Workshop

Last week, we took a five day workshop entitled "Sketchbook- Plan and Action" with Tim Ely at the Focus on Book Arts Conference at Pacific University in Forest Grove.  These unique manuscript books demonstrate the incredible personality and individuality of each artist. It's an honor to share them with you.  Click on images to enlarge them.  It's hard to tell from the cover photos how beautiful these books are, their feel in the hand- all awaiting to be filled with creative ideas and images.

Anita Bigelow

 

Marian Christensen

 

Michele Olsen

 

 

Drora Kopernik

Pamela Horne

Laurie Weiss

Carole Sauter

Amy Pfleiger

Beth McIlraith

Beth Lee

Cathy Buckley

 

Selene Fisher

Judy Strom

Paula McNamee

Brenda Shackleford's Book Binding Workshop

Brenda Shackleford taught my last ArtFest workshop entitled "Get Your Sheets Together". It's a book binding method based on Keith Smith's "Single Sheet Sewing". In May, I'm planning a trip to New Mexico and decided to bind my travel journal using this technique.

A highlight of this day was spending it with friends and fellow students- Penelope Harris, Marty Wallace, Jann Sage and Karen Shafer.

This technique is great for binding together all different kinds of materials- heavy paper, metal, wood, canvas, pieces of artwork, artist trading cards, you name it. I took the covers of an old dictionary, attached ribbons to the cover and a NM state map on the inside cover.

The pages are from a box of 3M graphic arts film that someone in my art group gave to me years ago. The heavy paper sheets measure 16x20 inches and are like 300# hotpress watercolor paper. I tested it and it takes water media and ink really well. I think this was the the paper between the sheets of the film in the box. It says use before 2/93 on the label. I cut the pages to size and added some folded file folder pockets that I stitched on the spine side with the cover ribbon.
I'm looking forward to binding other books using this sewing method. I like how the pages lay flat which makes them easier to write text, sketch images and paint. Next month, I'll post photos of my completed travel journal.

Sail the Seven Seas Book Constructed of Wood

A couple weeks ago, I took a class at the Focus on Book Arts Conference from Susan Collard, an architect and book artist. She makes one of a kind books out of wood. I first saw her books at the 23 Sandy Gallery. The construction and creativity in her books really caught my eye.

Over two days, we sawed, drilled, and glued wood to build our books. Check out an overview of our workshop HERE and HERE on Elissa Campbell's blog- Blue Roof Designs.

We completed the basic construction of our books in the workshop. I just finished mine yesterday. This photo is of the book cover and text block. The back spine and inside covers are made of painted tyvek. I used my Dremel tool to carve the book title, Sail the Seven Seas on the painted covers. I learned how to use my Dremel and all of its attachments in Jill Timm's workshop at the book conference.

Here is the book with the text block open.

On the first page, I used a wood burner to draw the schooner.

The next pages include a map on one side and a shadow box with the ship's wheel, porthole and binnacle drawing.

The next pages snap together with a built in magnet with portholes and a drop down compartment.

Here the drop down mirror is open. I want to find something to put inside this compartment.

The last page has another map. This book was simple to make with my new woodshop skills. It gave me a whole new appreciation for how much work Susan puts into her art books.

Bamboo Book for Book Arts Confercence

As a found object artist challenge, the Focus on Book Arts Conference gave each person who registered a packet of materials with a bamboo theme to use in her handmade book. A minimum of five items had to be incorporated into the book.

I decorated Thai kozo paper for the cover and used the Secret Belgian bookbinding technique with watercolor paper signatures to make my book. The first item I used was a piece of bamboo about five inches long. It's split in half and wired to the front cover drawing. With an eyelet in the bookend, I attached the face (which I painted) and another small bamboo bead- three items used.

For the inside book covers front and back, I glued paper provided in the packet. Then I cutout part of a stamped design, added a Japanese stamp in red that says "Good Day" and framed it with a decorated slide cover. I did the same for the back inside cover with a different stamped design and another Japanese stamp in red that says "Gook Luck". Six items used.

The artist books will be displayed at the registration desk. Attendees vote on their favorite book and the winner receives a $50 gift certificate from the Accidental Bookmaker store sponsored by Green Heron Book Arts.

Idea Books

In reorganizing my studio, I wanted to find a shelf for all of the idea books I've kept the past ten years. Inside, I write class notes, project ideas, information on favorite artists, inspiration, quotes and sketches for future projects. For example, I came across on old Somerset Studios magazine article by Gina Armfield on "Finding Your Voice". She says it's all a process of acquiring skills, being apart of an art community and developing your own voice by finding out what you like and prefer. I cut out and put that article in my idea book. I'm always striving to find my artistic voice.

Below are pages from some of my idea books. It's great to have them all organized chronologically and tagged. Now, I can easily find what I want to reread and remember.

A Little Holiday Cheer

We sketched at Monticello Antique Marketplace and visited their Old Fashioned Christmas Show. It's fun to see collections from Christmas past. Seeing friends Christmas decorations and collections inspires creativity for the holidays and good cheer.

Last week, we celebrated my mother's 90th birthday. The guest book holds memories of guests and photos from her party. She's healthy, independent and active. I'm so fortunate to have her and enjoy our times together. Her party added holiday cheer to our lives.

I made this book by sewing panels of fabric together, adding a layer of sheer, light turquoise fabric with stitched flowers and my free-motion stitching of flowers on top in red thread. It's bound in a peach-colored satin ribbon with a dragon button from the Button Emporium in downtown Portland. Hope you're enjoying this holiday season.

Knitted Cranes and Book Power Artist Date

Yesterday, I went downtown to see the "Knit Not War 1000" installation at the Ace Hotel. Edina recommended that I see it and writes about the project in her blog HERE. One of her knitted cranes is part of the exhibit.
It's amazing to see what women can do to with their talents to make a statement. The installation continues all weekend. The colors, softness of the wool and number of cranes sure impressed me.
After seeing the knitted cranes, I headed for the 23 Sandy Gallery to see their Book Power exhibit. It's an international exhibition of artist books addressing our social, political and environmental world. Being able to handle the books makes this is one of my favorite galleries.
The artists challenged my thinking and beliefs in very different ways- through their words, visual images, book construction and use of different mediums. The exhibit runs through June 26th and I highly recommend it.

"Remains of the Day" Shabby Journal Cover

A couple art friends signed up for Mary Ann Moss's "Remains of the Day" shabby journal online class. I wanted to join in the fun and joined the class last week. For our first assignment, we made the journal cover with a paper template, scraps of fabric and lots of machine stitching. The tie wraps around to keep it all together.

My fabric selections include some from France and Japan. I love the French toile. My overseas vacations usually include a trip to a few local fabric stores.

Here is the cover laid out with both front and back.

I made the tie with duopioni silk and sewed on strips of Japanese fabrics that I used to make my sewing machine cover last year. I highly recommend Mary Ann's online classes. She demos with lots of videos, offers PDF files for each lesson, lots of resources and you receive all with a great sense of humor and fun.