Making Our Own Books: Together!

Making Our Own Books: Together!

I had the wonderful experience of teaching “MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKS’, an enrichment class offered at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Monica by the CREST Enrichment program.

The sweet and talented students ranged from first to fourth grade, and had a blast making books of different sizes, structures and materials.

They first bound together their portfolios, made of hanging file folders, then designed and developed the outside covers of these,

getting acquainted with each other, their materials, myself, and their own creativity and imagination.

Then we began our book projects…which included accordion fold books, flag books, fan books,

single signature bindings, and side “stab” bindings.

To celebrate our achievements, learning and fun, we had a “last class” family event.

Family and CREST staff were invited to Make Books Together!

Did we have fun making “double” single signature books, learning the pamphlet stitch, and embellishing up a storm!

Moms,

Nannies,

and Dads got into the act,

along with our delightful students…

and CREST staffers who got to take a creative break!

i will miss this class, and the open, fluid creativity of the students. I hope to have the opportunity to work with them again!

 Wishing everyone a creative and healthful New Year…and a celebration of the positive power of the Imagination. Let us imagine a better world…and Make It, Together.

Flags and Found Fun at the Fowler

Flags and Found Fun at the Fowler

It was a joy to teach a “Flag Books and Found Writing” workshop at the Fowler Museum at UCLA last Saturday.

Participants created the Flag Book structure (invented by master Hedi Kyle),

after perusing plenty of samples,

experimenting with color, and expressing their own sensibilities.

Then filled their books  with “found” writing, and images,

garnered from myriad scrap, recycled and repurposed print media. assorted papers, drawing and writing materials, and their own creativity.

They played with pattern, texture, shape, font, similarities and contrasts.

There were many surfaces of each book to consider adding content to.

Each student displayed an individual approach to color, collage, layering, placement of images, and use of text and image in their books.

Indeed.

This student cut letters out of paper patterned with…letters. (words),

integrating color, pattern, text and imagery.

They were focused!

This artist used the program from the museum about the current José Montoya show…re-purposing it for her book!

We used beautiful wooden tools designed for ceramics work, as our “bone folders“, to make our folds crisp, and “smooth” the process along (!).

This adventurous student even took off with the accordion folding technique, creating a second accordion fold book.

I was thrilled to hear what some of the participants felt about our workshop…

“….I really feel I have learned something useful. Thank you for offering the workshop.”

 “I enjoyed the flag bookmaking class very much. ….each of us produced something totally individual yet with the same format…. More, please!”

Yes, more indeed!

Sending Bookish Love

Sending Bookish Love

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I led an hands-on Envelope Bookmaking workshop for families, at a building owned and operated by The Community Corporation of Santa Monica, or CCSM.

Participants learned to make a concertina or accordion fold,

and attach it as pages to their envelope covers.

Then came the fun part…

EMBELLISHMENT!

Markers, stickers, collage, ribbon…this is a mixed media project.

This artist displayed not only a wonderful color sense, but tremendous patience, as she cut and glued on paper triangles mosaic style to her envelope cover.

   This artist became absorbed in her writing.  Who is the lucky recipient of her efforts?

     The sky is the limit…or should we say the stars…

Proudly displayed…A very special Valentine, or some kind of communication.

BRAVO!