Happy Birthday SMPL

Happy Birthday SMPL

December 2015 marked the 125th Anniversary of the Santa Monica Public Library. The Library celebrated from November 2015 through January 2016 with programs and special events that “honor the library’s position as a connecting point – bridging the past to the future, bringing community members together, and plugging library patrons into the resources they need to read, connect, relax and learn.”

I was honored to lead a bookmaking program for families and folks of all ages on Saturday, January 12th.

Sat, Jan 9

Make a Fan-Style Memory Book Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 11:00 am Main Library, Youth Activity Room, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard For families with children and adults. Commemorate the library’s anniversary with a memory book in this craft workshop.

Let the fun begin!

After folding their accordion spines, participants added covers and pages to create their books.

Our first hour was spent learning how to create the book structure and doing so, then…

we got to the fun part (well, it is ALL fun…)…what to add to our books.

Colorful, glittery stickers were in abundance.

The folded “fan” book (which has some similarities to the  “Flag Book“) can stand up on a surface in a star-like shape…

so that the pages can be seen from different vantage points, and used to great effect for display. Great for a centerpiece, and to display photos on.

Participants enjoyed a multitude of foam sticker letters.  Has spelling ever been so fun?

Here’s our line-up of stellar assistants, two library pages (yes, they are still called “pages”,) and a volunteer.  It would not have been the same with out them!  THANK YOU Perla, Keisha and Cassandra!

More letter stickers, and a layering of color, texture and shapes creates an elegant cover.

This one’s for Mom…(George’s Mom…)

The books become sculptural when three-dimensional elements are added.

     Proud BOOKMAKERS share their completed masterworks…

Displaying an  impressive creativity, use of materials, and sense of design.

One appreciative patron took off on the idea of creating a book to commemorate  “her” library…

This one may be archived by the SMPL…it’s a keeper.

A keeper of memory, celebration, and possibility.

Like the Library!

Happy Birthday, SMPL!

MemoryMaking Books

MemoryMaking Books

In celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Santa Monica Public Library, I had the opportunity to lead a bookmaking program at the  Montana Avenue Library, my home branch of the SMPL

“Making Memory Books” was requested… a single signature style book, embellished with fabric.

Leather, denim, beads, as well as decorative papers and fabric scrap were some of the goodies laid out for participants to use.

The signatures were already prepared, with holes punched. Once bound with the three-hole pamphlet stitch, the first and last pages were glued to the inside of the front and back covers, and the book was formed.

Then, the fun could really begin!  let the embellishment commence!

Paper, “eco-fi” felt, cloth, lace and leather transformed the book structures into unique works of art.

Upon request, a square shape was used, instead of the more common vertical  rectangle.

A mother daughter duo enjoyed adorning their book covers with butterflies.

Is this a pink planet, surrounded by butteries?

The inspiration for the project was a series of fabric covered sewn book models,

with cloth pieces applied patchwork style.

The colors, patterns, shapes and tactile quality of cloth and textiles can evoke powerful memories.

The effect can be pleasing visually, as well as tracing remnants of life stories barely remembered but held in the body, memory and emotions through the sense of touch.

These books, that may hold memories barely discernible to the maker, can now become the repository of new memories, as scrapbooks, photo albums, journals, or sketchbooks.

What a beautiful gift.

Happy Holidays, and peace and blessings for the New Year.