So many structures so little time.

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Altered Book Followup

In the second OLLI Book Arts class of Spring Semester, 2016,  the students gave new life to old books. Each participant  brought a book that had appealing covers along with decorative and/or text weight papers for the four sections.  They also brought a strip of fabric to use for creating their own book cloth. The results are fabulous and unique.

First, the covers of the books to be repurposed were cut from the text block and spine.  Next we made our own book cloth using Heat-N-Bond Lite fused to the fabric and bond paper. I prefer book cloth made from wheat paste and bond paper but there wasn’t time for this to dry during the four hours class. The strip of cloth for the outer spine was then glued to the covers. The covers of the example below already had beautiful papers on the inside and those were preserved.  A strip of book cloth was glued to the inside of the spine. The next photo shows the positioning of the sewing template. The template was adjusted for each book—they all had different heights!


 Students then pierced the sewing stations. Some of the holes were very hard to see but if you held them up to the light, the holes were obvious.   The books were sewing using the long stitch on four sections.  Here are the beautiful results.


  
 Everyone did a super job. It’s such a privilege to work with students who are SO artistically adventurous. This is the 14th book structure I’ve taught in our OLLI classes and I can always depend on these book artists to go beyond what is being taught to create something that is unique. Gisela added metal corner decorations as well as a pencil and elastic closure. Terrific! 

  Stay tuned for the “What’s It Book” starting March 10.

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Basics Workshop Followup

I like to teach an OLLI basic book arts class each semester. It’s meant to provide beginners with the skills needed to construct their own book; sometimes more experienced book makers will take the class to review accurate measuring, cutting, folding and gluing. We also cover different types of glue, the 3 hole pamphlet stitch, and the need to take paper grain into account. We also discuss local and online book binding resources. The structure that provides me with all of the opportunities to teach the basics uses a single section sewn with the pamphlet stitch into it’s outer folio (usual heavier paper). The back of the outer folios are then glued and pressed into a case bound cover that we also make. I learned the structure from Paul Johnson many years ago at a workshop at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Everyone finished with the additional assignment that they have to glue something on the cover to that we would know which side was the front of the book. Good job class!! I had several of these students in a more advanced workshop I gave today and they did a GREAT job. In the end we’re all beginners; I never fail to learning something new from the people in the class.

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The Plot Thickens


I just realized that I hadn’t posted my very first folded book. I love used book stores and thrift shops and always keep an eye out for interesting titles. Next I want to try folding images!

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The Meditation of Folding

Sometimes I like to create something that involves repetitive tasks. I find folding to be relaxing. I’ve learned to create templates of text using Photoshop. It’s fun to come up with words that reflect something amusing about the title of the re-purposed book and I want to choose my own fonts. I am not a fan of purchasing a templates because they aren’t “mine”. This particular book was folded for the Osher Life Long Learning Institute’s Open House. OLLI means a lot to me. It’s run by caring, forward thinking people who have created an organization that supports seniors by offering stimulating classes, brown bag lunch discussions, interest groups, and a way to connect with people in the senior community.  I teach several book arts classes each semester and the experience has changed my life because of the friendships and our dedication to making really creative books. I also take a lot of classes and have ventured outside of my comfort zone many times—OLLI is a safe place to do that!


Thanks to OLLI for taking this photo. The title on the spine of the book is The Best and the Brightest. I will include a brief outline of the Photoshop commands I used. These steps were adapted from several DIY internet sites and use the current version of Photoshop and Word.

  1. Open Photoshop > New
  2. Set up document with width of 10″. For the height use the actual height of your book in Inches. 250 ppi.
  3. Select the Gradient Tool making sure the two sheets near the bottom of the tool list have black in the front and white in the back. Center the cursor over the center top of the document and drag down to the center bottom and release.
  4. Filter > Distort > Wave: then place 999 in Generator, Wavelength 7 and 7.
  5. Layer > New Layer
  6. Select Text. Choose a font. I like Marker Felt or Hobo Standard, size 300. Type your word and center on the document.
  7. Layer > Rastersize > Type
  8. Select Magic Wand, hold the SHIFT KEY and select each letter in the text.
  9. Select > Inverse
  10. Change to the Background Layer. Edit > Cut
  11. Turn off the Layer with the text (can delete).
  12. Save document
  13. Open Word and Print Options. Select Legal size and Landscape. Format the document with .25 in top and bottom margins.
  14. Insert the Photoshop photo. Stretch horizontally ONLY. This moves the black vertical bars further apart making them easier to see.
  15. Print on Legal paper. I prefer to use a card stock weight paper.

You now have a document that can be inserted into the book so that no measuring is necessary. Simply fold to the tops and bottoms of the bars (be sure to consider the white spaces to be a bar for folding).

The only thing I don’t like about this method is that it is hard to match the number of bars to the number of pages to be folded. I had to work with the font size to make those numbers match. I have instructions for using Illustrator that look promising and if successful, I will report back.

Fold on!

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The Basics

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Learn the basics about the tools, materials, and techniques required to make your own books. A survey of current book arts programs and book artists will be sure to inspire you. You will practice all of your new skills in this clever little structure. The single section is sewn using the simple pamphlet stitch. There is no stitching visible on the spine! The materials are provided and the text block contains information and techniques being taught in the course.

Bring to class: Cutting mat (or old phone book), small utility knife, small sharp scissors, metal ruler, sharp pencil, bone folder (or small wooden spoon), glue stick, bookbinder’s awl (or T-pin).

Day & Date: Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018

Time:  1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center

Register Here: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

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Altered Book Long Stitch

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OLLI Book Arts: Judge a Book by Its Cover with Michele Olsen

Create your own personal journal by using the covers from an old book. The spine will be replaced with book cloth made in class and sections of the book will be sewn using the easy long stitch pattern.  This technique can be used with just about anything for covers.

Bring to class:

Basic Toolkit: cutting mat, small utility knife, metal ruler, bookbinder’s awl, embroidery thread or linen thread, size 20 or 22 tapestry needle, PVA glue, glue brush, sharp pencil, baby wipes, sewing cradle (or phonebook), bone folder.

Materials: an old book with interesting covers (about 5 ” x 7″ would be best), favorite text weight papers, decorative papers, a strip of fabric for the spine (2-3″ wide and 2 inches taller than the height of your book), button for a closure.

Prerequisite: Book Arts: The Basics or previous instruction in book arts. Level: Beginner.

Day & Date: Saturday, Feb. 20

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fee: OLLI Members $50

Class #: 27851: REGISTER ONLINE

Location: Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center

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French Link Stitch with Wood

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OLLI Book Arts: The “What’s It” Book

I’m calling this structure a “What’s It ” book because it’s a creative space for organizing anything you treasure. These make great planning journals with pullouts for photos, a couple of pockets, and sections for writing. The accordion spine provides expansion space for attaching tickets, packets, flyers, etc. Everything is sewn together using either the long stitch or French link stitch and the wooden hand-painted covers make it very durable. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A THREE-AFTERNOON CLASS and most of our time will be spent assembling the structure! Some homework too.
Materials List: Bring to the first day of class.Basic Toolkit: Cutting mat, small utility knife, metal ruler, bookbinder’s awl, sewing cradle (or old phone book), bone folder, small sharp scissors, sharp pencil, #20 or #22 tapestry needles, waxed linen or embroidery thread, PVA glue, glue brush, baby wipes, rags, waste paper, 125- and 220-grit sandpaper, two 2″ foam paint brushes. Materials: Pad of sketching paper (11″ x 14″), 1 sheet black Mi-Tientes, 1 sheet colored Mi-Tientes. Several sheets of decorative card stock. Optional: Electric handheld drill (Dremel) with drill bit slightly larger than tapestry needles (1/16 inch drill bit for wood).

Level: Intermediate. Previous Basic Book Arts course required.

Day & Date: Thurs., March 10, 17 & Tues. March 15

Time: 1-4 p.m.

Fee: OLLI Members $65

Class #: 27852: REGISTER ONLINE

Location: Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center

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Coptic Stitch Class

Our OLLI class Book of Words: Coptic Stitch was officially completed last week but as we usually do, we assembled at Humboldt Coffee and Chocolates for “debriefing” and sharing. As always, it’s a privilege to work with such talented and daring people. Adding a window to the cover was optional but everyone wanted to make them and really, in the end, this feature really made the books more personal. I learn so much from all of them. The following photos are from the class or followup. Enjoy!

The following photos were taken during class. The first hour was spent decorating a large piece of Arches Text Wove paper. For color students used everything: stamp pads, watercolors, acrylic inks, acrylic paints, pens, colored pencils. There were some very creative mark makers too: handmade stamps, interesting brushes, sticks, and a helix style lightbulb!

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Many books were finished during our coffee session. These photos show some of the sewing taking place. We used a double needle Coptic stitch. The second photo shows how creative these students can be—it was too dark for Joan to see so Darcy used the flashlight on her phone to assist. Funny!

 

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AND!! These are the books that are finished.

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Judy’s Book: Family

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Denise’s Book

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Azalea’s Book

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Pat’s Book

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Pat’s Book

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Cheryl’s Book: Welcome

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Darcy’s Book

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Gisela’s Book

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Joan’s Book

If you couldn’t attend the coffee gathering, please let me know if you need help finishing. Most books took a mere 15 minutes to finish. If you did finish, would you send me a photo and I’ll include it. THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT CLASS. GOOD JOB.

Donna has finished her book and sent me a photo. It’s never to late to add your photo!  Nice work and great colors.

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Caterpillars, Sewn Headbands, Coptic!

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My Fall stay in Nebraska was very productive in terms of reading books (seven!) and making books (four!). Two of my books were created for future OLLI workshops so you will see those at the end of January. The book I enjoyed the most was created from lacewood boards (a gift from my woodworking husband). All of the sewing was done with waxed Irish linen thread. The section wraps were made with handmade papers. The interior pages were made a year ago from rose petals and various leaves. Folios were bundled together with the plant materials in a kind of “sandwich” and boiled for 1.5 hours in a solution of water, vinegar, and alum. All of the holes were drilled with a vintage Dremel rotary tool purchased several years ago at an antique store in Eastern Colorado. Except for the electric drill, I felt like I was working in a medieval bookbinding studio. I really do like older materials and techniques. I suppose I should start looking for a vintage hand drill.

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Double Needle Coptic Stitch

It’s time for the last book arts class of the HSU OLLI Fall 2015 Semester!

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Course Description:

Explore the written word as an art form as you create pages for your small book. Bring your favorite writing or drawing tools — pens, watercolor, stamps, or colored pencils — to decorate the pages. The structure is sewn using a double needle Coptic stitch. The cover will include a small window. The book will be small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and would make a wonderful gift.

Prerequisite: “Book Arts: The Basics” or an introductory book arts class elsewhere.

Day & Date: Tues. & Thurs., Dec. 8 & 10

Time: 1-4 p.m.

Fee: OLLI Members $65

Class #: 47546

Location: HBAC

Supplies:

Basic Toolkit: bone folder, cutting mat, small cutting knife, small sharp scissors, metal ruler (bring 25″or 36″ if you have them), bookmaker’s awl, two #20 or #22 tapestry needles, PVA glue, glue brush, book press (or heavy book or brick), wet wipes, beeswax, glossy  magazines for scrap paper.

Materials: mark making supplies (stamps/stamp pads, watercolors, colored pencils, markers, or acrylic ink), cotton embroidery thread (or linen thread) in color of choice.

Provided: Arches Text Wove and Mat Board, Stencils

See you soon!

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