paper works by paper nerds

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:japanese book binding workshop:july 20:

What you will learn:
You will learn how to construct a Japanese sewn book. Pouch books are so called because their pages, folded at the fore edge and sewn at the back edge, form pouches, but their Japanese name translates simply as 'for hole'.

All materials necessary to create the basic book structure will be provided, as well as instructions and notes to take home. Paper Nerds will provide a variety of decorative papers and materials to decorate to book, but you are welcome to bring your own!

The Japanese sewn binding  workshop will be on July 20, from 1:00-4:30. The cost for the workshop (including materials) is $55.00. The number of participants is limited to 6. Priority will be given to those who register early. Please email us to register and to receive more information.

You will fold paper for your text block, cut decorative paper for the cover, make koyori for the inner binding, punch holes with an awl, sew, and viola! a paper cloud applique' was sewn with a blanket stitch to cover...sweet!

Sewn corner...

A detail of a cloud that i painted on the back cover. Visit this website for more information about the tradition of Japanese bookbinding.

super handiwork...

we had a wonderful group of participants in the jacobs ladder workshop this past sunday. the creative output was really inspiring.

paper nerds...

lydia's colorful creation...

jackie's lovely papers made with wax...

cutting and pasting...

jacob's ladder workshop this sunday

What you will learn:
The basic construction technique of this super fun structure. It's a toy, it's a book, it's a Jacob's ladder! This 2,000 year old Chinese toy has many wonderful applications for crafty folks, artists, and bookmakers. The book can be read straight through like any accordion book, or hold one end and flip the ladder sections to reveal the hidden scenes. Construction and operation of the Jacob's ladder will be fully explained. Multiple panels are connected using strips of a variety of materials and when the top panel is tipped they all flip to reveal their other sides. Participants will assemble a model of the structure and insert their own drawings, photographs, rubber stamp designs, collages, paper scraps, etc.

All materials necessary to create the basic book structure will be provided, as well as instructions and notes to take home. Paper Nerds will provide a variety of materials to decorate to book, but you are welcome to bring your own! You'll need a total of 12 images/designs for the book. There will be bags of neat paper scraps available for a small price if participants would like to use them during assembly of the structure.

pretty ribbon + pretty papers = fun!!!

cyanotype workshop + creative folks = sweet

the workshop was a blast. thanks to all of our very talented and creative participants!

this was made by placing a crochet hankie on sensitized paper.

printed on marbled paper.

longhorn on muslin...

making botanical prints...

drying a large print in the shower...

would on wood...

transparencies and cyanotypes...

tish experimented with our ink jet printer and transparency film purchased at an office supply store. she googled images of owl woodcuts and printed them with back ink onto the film. the film was then used as a negative to create these cute cyanotypes. transparency film may be used to create large negatives...wow, so fun!

the evolution of britney spears jacob's ladder book...

this is shem's jacob's ladder...the evolution of britney spears...

gold glitter, pink highlighter, and lace...sweet!

paper nerds and more cyanotypes...

i used a fly swatter and neat letter stencils to make this cyanotype...

this was made with a simple paper cut-out...

this fuzzy image was made with a lantern slide...

this pretty grass is printed on white cotton denim...

more images and information to come soon!

silouhettes

christy made silouhette cyanotypes. so pretty...

i am going to be a copy-cat and work on some silouhettes for the next work shop...

tish and i have been experimenting with fabric. we will post more images very soon!

botanical prints and more...

today tish and i made some cyanotype botanical prints. we mixed the chemicals and coated a variety of papers. then we took a walk around the block and picked flowers and grasses while the coated papers dried. after the papers dried we placed our botanical specimens on the sensitized paper and weighted it with a sheet of glass. the shot above was taken while we exposed the papers to sunlight on our patio.

these prints are being washed to stop development...notice the contrast created with the pretty orange paper in the center.

tish washing more prints...

this is a detail of a wet print on the drying rack...

this was printed on a page from an old book...

this was printed on a flyleaf from an old book...

lace...

more to come...