MINIATURES



Star Light, Star Bright

 We are approaching the end of summer and fall is just around the corner.  The nice thing is the warm weather has continued.  The rain has turned everything back to green from burnt brown. 

I have had a number of text blocks made up and ready to be made into books.  They kept getting pushed aside while I worked on my Show of Hands exhibit.  I have finished all but one of the exhibit books, which will take a longer time to complete.  I will be photographing them this weekend for the promotional materials. 

I have now put my hand to turning the text blocks into completed books.  All the books are miniatures - 3 to 3.5 inches.  Some are coptic bound and some long stitch which I have woven with other coloured threads.  This creates a nice finished spine with exposed stitching.  I have used a mixture of papers and leather to create these little treasures.  

Star Light and Star Bright are two little Coptic bound, hard covered books with silk ribbon ties.  One has 50 pages and the other has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  They measure 2.25 in X 2.5 in.

I joined two pieces of leather for this book, leaving the natrual edges on both.  I like to let the materials dictate the design sometimes.  The tie on this book is waxed cotton thread and finished with glass beads.  There are 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  It has one mini painting on the first page and measures 2.5 in X 2.75 in. 



Textured Touch

This little book has a stamped leather cover and the binding is woven with waxed cotton threads, which are the same as the braided tie.  It is lined with hand made paste paper and contains 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper with a decorative die cut on the edge of each page.  It measures 3.25 in X 2.125 in.

I have always wanted to try making a clam shell box for books.  This is usually done by conservationists who want to protect special books.  This is my version of a clam shell box.  The first caption shows the closed book inside the box and the second caption shows the open book.  The box measures 4.25 in X 4 in X 1.25 in.  The internal box is lined with suede leather and the book and box are covered with a green and silver hand made paper with a granite effect.  The book measures 2.5 in X 2.25 in and has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper. 

I combined mulberry coloured Lokta paper, lined with the green and silver granite patterned paper and created the tab from a piece of ox blood coloured leather and green suede leather for the loop.  The Coptic bound, hard covered book is covered with a decorative Japanese paper.  Mini acrylic paintings decorate some of the pages.  There are 50 pages of Fabriano sketch paper and the book measures 2.5 in X 2.75 in. 

This is the inside of the book.  This is one of my new designs.  I create the coptic bound, hard covered book and then attach it to the outer cover.  The effect is very stunning. 

This is another Lokta covered book with a leather closure.  It has mini acrylic paintings on some of the 60 pages and measures 2.25 in X 2.25 in.

I had a small piece of this beautiful yellow stamped leather.  Working with the original shape of the leather edge, I created a wrap around cover which is lined.  The book is tacket bound and has a yellow braided, waxed cotton thread tie.  It has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper and a heart die cut on the edge of each page.  It measures 2.25 in X 2.5 in.

This combination is a sleeve made from Lokta paper and leather and lined with the green and silver granite patterned paper.  The book is covered with Japanese decorative paper and the book has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper with mini acrylic paintings on some of the pages.  The overall measurement is 2.75 in X 2.5 in and the book measures 2.25 in  X 2.5 in. 

This book is a little larger.  I used the same design of the coptic bound, hard cover book attached to an outer cover.  The heavy leather cover is lined with a purple Lokta paper which is the same as the book cover.  The outer cover has a bone button and braided, waxed cotton thread tie.  There are 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper, decorated with mini acrylic paintings on some of the pages.  It measures 3 in X 3.5 in. 

BUTTERFLY LANDSCAPES

This little creation came about as a result of playing with some small pieces of paper I had on my table.  Soon they became one longer piece of paper joined with butterflies and then mini acrylic paintings representing landscapes were added.  The box is decorated with mini butterflies, peacock feathers and wooden beads for feet.  The box measures 2.25" X 1.75" X 1" and the book measures 1.75" X 1" X 27".  It was great fun to make. 

 

 

CREATIVE BOOKBINDING CLASSES - Ottawa School of Art

Bookbinding classes will start again in September.  I'll be teaching at the Ottawa School of Art George Street campus on Tuesday evenings, starting September 18, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm and on Wednesday evenings at the Orléans campus, located in the Shenkman Arts Centre, starting September 26, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

BOOKBINDING WORKSHOPS - Ottawa School of Art

I will also be teaching one-day workshops, on Saturdays, this fall:

George Street Campus

October 13, 2012 : Japanese Stab Stitch Book: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

November 10, 2012: Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book with Sleeve: 9:00 - 4:00 pm

Orléans Campus - Shenkman Arts Centre

September 29, 2012: Japanese Stab Stitch Book, 10 am to 4:00 pm

October 27, 2012: Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book with Sleeve: 10: 00 am to 4:00 pm

Registration is through the Ottawa School of Art at: www.artottawa.ca - General Interest Courses. 

That's about all for now.  Looking forward to a full fall and winter with teaching, preparing for exhibits, craft shows and book fairs. 


If you would like more information about the books, I would be happy to hear from you.  

Wishing you all a great fall. 

Mary

bbinder999@gmail.com

http://youtu.be/k8w13ewrOqg





GOOD NEWS DAY

This has been a great month for good news about exhibiting my work.  

EXHIBITS   

I will have my books in two instructor's exhibits at the Ottawa School of Art, in August:

OTTAWA SCHOOL OF ART ORLEANS

When:  August 2 to September 2, 2012

Where: Ottawa School of Art at the Shenkman, 245 Centrum Blvd., Ottawa

Vernissage: August 2, 2012

Time:  6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

OTTAWA SCHOOL OF ART BYTOWN

When:  August 16 to September 23, 2012

Where:  Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street, Ottawa

Vernissage: August 16, 2012

Time:  5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

GRANT AWARDED

I was awarded an ARTicipate Project Grant to exhibit my "Show of Hands" books.  The exhibit will take place in early 2013 at the Shenkman Arts Centre.  The grant is made possible through the ARTicipate Endowment Fund which is funded through gifts from private donors, local businesses, foundations and the Province of Ontario. 

The creation of the books for this exhibit is progressing beautifully.  I will post the date of the exhibit once it has been set. 

INVITATION TO EXHIBIT

CONTEMPORARY BOOK ARTS IN EASTERN ONTARIO

I have been invited to participate in a Book Arts group exhibit which will be shown at the W.D. Jordan Special Collections and Music and Art Library at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.  Book artists from Kingston, Peterborough and Ottawa will be included in the exhibit. 

Date of the exhibit:  March 1 to May 31, 2013. 

I'll post more information about the exhibit as it becomes available. 

A great month for good news.  I hope you can make it to one of the exhibits.  Have a great August. 

Mary 

SUMMER and BOOKS and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

SUMMER and BOOKS and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Summer is upon us, we have heat, humidity, rain, fog and sunshine.  Weather wise, it has been an interesting move into summer.  Today the horizon is touching the overcast sky and the air is hanging heavy over the city.  It has rained overnight and the green looks clean, newly washed. 

NEW BOOKS

I have ventured into the land of creativity and have been working mostly in leather this last little while and I thoroughly enjoy it.  One of the latest creations is a book within a book.  It is covered with grey, stamped leather and the binding includes a green leather toggle and agate.  The text block in the inner book is made from black sketch paper and has words related to bookbinding and pictures of books I have created.  The outer book has polymer decorations on the pages and a written poem:   

I AM A BOOK

I am a book!

I exist to share my contents,

Words to entertain and educate

Images to stir

the imagination.

Textured papers to engage

the reader 

Drawing one into

my depths.

The fragrance of ink on

glossy paper.

Transporting one into the

print shop.

I am a book!

I am a book!

I love to be held.

Feel the warmth of hands on

my cover.

Gentle breath wafting over

my pages.

Eyes forever scanning

my passages.

I am a book!

I have lived for centuries.

I have been made from

many materials.

I exist!

I will continue to exist!

I am a book!

 

LITTLE LEATHER TREASURES

These little treasures were so much fun to make.  I enjoy working with the natural cut of the leather , leaving the edges in their natural shape.  At other times I like to keep the edges uniform. 

I call this one, Little Friar 

These are some of the little leather treasures that I have created over the last couple of weeks.  The ties are braided, waxed cotton threads.  On the little brown book at the upper right hand corner, a goldstone bead is part of the closure and on the little book at the bottom left hand corner, an agate is part of the closure.

JOURNALS FOR EXPLORERS

I have wanted to make this book for a long time.  It was such a pleasure to see the finished product.  The cover is stamped leather and lined with a burgundy coloured Lokta paper from Nepal.  There are 46 pages - 3 embossed with a tree design - of Fabriano sketch paper.  The closure is a green leather toggle, and black leather cord finished off with a horse hair adornment.  The journal is tacket bound with a deep rose coloured cotton thread.

HUNTER GREEN LEATHER

I found this hunter green leather among my fabrics.  The covers were made with the suede side out, making the feel of the journal very pleasant and inviting. 

I alternated a brown leather with the green leather in the making of the closure and the tabs. 

This is another journal made from the same Hunter green leather. 

NEW PROJECTS

I have been busy working on two projects: 

Nuit Blanche, September 22, 2012 will be an exciting night of interactive art in the Byward Market.  I am creating The Endearment Tree which will be located in the Ottawa School of Art in the Bytown Market.  

Book Exhibit:  I am working on a book exhibit for 2013, called A Show of Hands.  The books will be in the shape of hands and made from paper, wood, acrylic, embroidered fabric and clay.  Creating this exhibit is giving me so much joy.  More to come as the exhibit takes shape. 

FINISHED PROJECTS

I wrote a book for my granddaughters, called My Birthday Suit.  This week I finished it. Once it is printed, I'll bind it and send it off to them.  Great fun.

 

Watson’s Mill Pioneer Days in Manotick took place on June 6^th.  I was invited to demonstrate bookbinding.  It was a cold, rainy day, however, it didn’t deter the exhibitors and the attendees.  It was a busy day and 20 children and 1 adult turned their hand at making a single signature book.  I enjoyed helping them with their creations.  All in all it was a very satisfying day. 

This was my display of the different books I make.  Due to the wet weather, they were left in their plastic wrappers. 

Gary was one of the exhibitors.  He was deomonstrating different types of farm machines, such as a corn grinder and milk separator. 

These ladies were demonstrating the art of hand made lace.  Very beautiful.

Kevin Burke, a folk artist was demonstrating his wood carving.

Rick St. John, another wood carver, was demonstrating his wood carving techniques.  Here  he is working on a sculpture of Chief Dan George. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ottawa Small Press Book Fair

When not working on these two projects, I have been busy making books for this upcoming fair on Saturday, June 30, 2012 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane, room 203.  Come out and have a look.

The fair was founded in 1994 by Rob McLennan & James Spyker. Now it is run by Rob McLennan and occurs twice a year.  It contains exhibitors with poetry books, novels, cookbooks, posters, t-shirts, graphic novels, comic books, magazines, gum-ball machines with poems, 2x4s with text, Bywords, Dusty Owl, Chaudiere Books, above/ground press. 

 

Adult Summer Academy - Creative Bookbinding Classes

I will be teaching week long creative bookbinding classes this summer at the Ottawa School of Art, Bytown Campus, 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON.  

Fall and Winter Creative Bookbinding Classes will be offered at the Ottawa School of Art, Bytown Campus and Orléans Campus in the Shenkman Centre.  I will also be offering a number of one-day workshops throughout the fall and winter at both these venues. 

Immerse yourself in the creative art of bookbinding.  Learn traditional and non-traditional techniques to create artistic books with hand made paste paper, decorative paper, leather and book board.  Create new books every day using stitching techniques from all corners of the world dated as far back as the second century.  You will create accordion and puzzle books, a Japanese Stab Stitch book, hard cover Coptic bound book, and protective sleeves for these books.  Paste paper will be used to create covers and fly leafs for the books.  Leather will be used to bind a number of small books. 

July 16 – 20, 2012 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm    Code: S12DAAC2

August 13 – 17, 2012 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

 

To register:  call: 613-241-7471 or online @ info@artottawa.ca, http://www.artottawa.ca/ – General Interest Courses.

ARTstravaganza is coming to West Carleton, to be held in the village of Carp!

The West Carleton Arts Society is pleased to announce its first summer art show and festival!

On Saturday August 18, 2012, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, you will find artists and fine crafts people set up in the big field of the Carp Agricultural Society at 3790 Carp Road, Carp, Ontario. As you make your way from booth to booth you and your family will enjoy the eclectic sounds and sensations from the buskers, musicians and clowns who will be invited to participate.

If you’re an artist or fine craftsperson who would like to participate in this exciting summer art show and festival as a vendor, entertainer or plein air painter please contact Kate Ryckman at katemryckman@gmail.com

If you’re a serious art collector or you just want something fun to do with the family come on out to our ARTstravaganza, a Show and Festival! Admission to the show is FREE. And while you’re here, why not stop by the farmers’ market right next door for locally grown, fresh produce.

SUMMER FUN

This past weekend I enjoyed the Italian Days Festival in Little Italy.  Saturday was Ferrari day.  With camera in hand I ventured down to take some pictures.  They will be great for making photo collages for the books. 

Such beautiful design lines. 

A Maserati was among these beautiful machines.

Fiat was well represented at the event. 



After 40 laps, Fast Red and I stopped to cool down and participate in a photo shoot.  The real story, I was allowed to sit by this beautiful racing machine, but not allowed to TOUCH it.  :>))

Looking forward to a great summer.

Mary

SPRINGING FORWARD

Hello!  It has been over a month since my last blog.  Sometimes I wonder where the time goes.  That being said, I haven't been sitting on my thumbs.  New books for an upcoming book fair in June are hot off the table.  The bookbinding class finished in early April and Creative Bookbinding at the Summer Academy for Adults will be in July and August at the Ottawa School of Art.  New classes for the fall and winter have been accepted at the Ottawa School of Art, Orleans campus at the Shenkman Centre. 

NEW BOOKS

Endearment Books

This Endearment Book is in a box, and the box is on a leather covered base with jewelled feet mounted on another base.  The book is coptic bound and contains 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  This would be a great first anniversary gift for that special someone. 



The triangle book with case came about when I started playing with a piece of paper.  It just wasn't big enough to make a square or rectangular book.  At one point I joined one corner to another and the triangle book was born!  I used a beautiful Japanese paper for the sleeve and hand woven silk from an Obi to cover the book.  Blue agate circles were used for the feet and to decorate the top of the sleeve.  The book is coptic bound and has 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper.  

This triangle Endearment Book was made from a beautiful Japanese paper.  I painted the interior of the sleeve with copper acrylic paint and used red wooden beads for the feet.  The book is coptic bound with 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper. 

This book sleeve was made with Lokta paper.  It is a Nepalese handmade paper made from the inner bark of wild shrubs (Daphne Papyracea)  found in the Himalyan mountains at an elevation of 2,000 to 2,700 meters.  It is strong and insect resistant.  The Lokta shrubs regenerate every 6 to 8 years, thus preserving the fragile ecology of Nepal.  The flap is lined with leather and the closure is a brass button with Hermes embossed on it and leather thongs. 

The book cover is made from another Nepalese handmade paper with gold decoration and the fly leaf is an animal printed tissue.  The book is coptic bound with 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper. 

PHOTOGRAPHY

This weekend has been so sunny and warm, the grass is a bright green and the dandelions have burst forth, competing with the tulips.  Winter puts a real damper on my photography, so yesterday, camera and tripod in hand, I ventured into the downtown core.  We have so many beautiful glass buildings downtown and on a sunny day the reflections are eye candy, so I am sharing some of the images I captured.  I love using pictures of windows and doors to make collages for my books. 

Walking along Bank Street, there are some beautifully designed bike stands.  When the sun shines through them, they leave these artistic images on the sidewalk.

This one had the bike lock still attached to it, but the bike was gone.

REFLECTIONS

This building is on Sparks Street.  It houses the Currency Museum.  I really like the effect of the oxidization on the metal columns.  The reflection of the neighbouring building in its windows creates an abstract futuristic look. 

I really like the warped lines of the building being reflected in these windows.  I wonder if such images inspired Gaudi's architectural designs. 

This reflection shows the construction of the building across the street and to the right, part of the Parliament buildings. 

The Parliament buildings have been greatly distorted in this picture.  I found it very interesting when I was taking this picture that if I took a couple of steps to the right or the left, the strength of the image was lost. 

This is a good example of how an image changes when taking a couple of steps to the left or right. 

VOLUNTEERING

I had the opportunity to volunteer my creative talents this spring by decorating two chairs for charities.  The first was the decoration of a Muskoka chair for Cottage Dreams.  A fundraiser for cancer recovery.  The second was the deocration of another chair for the Kaila Beauty and Art Soiree, in memory of Kaila Apple Wong. 

Cottage Dreams Fundraiser

I painted the chair lavendar and then drew the design on the back and arms of the chair. 

I painted the design with copper and midnight blue acrylic paint.  The leaves were green and the vines copper.  I then painted a gold wash over the back of the chair and sealed it with a Soluvar varnish.  The chairs were on view and open for bids at the Cottage and Backyard Show last month. 

Kaila's Beauty and Art Soiree will be held on May 15th from 6:30 - 10:30 at the Michael Gennis Gallery at 416 Richmond Road in Ottawa.  This soiree is being held to raise funds for the volunteer organization called Candlelighters, who provide cancer support programs to children.  Information about tickets is available at: www.candlelighters.net under Events and Activties. 

This rocking chair was donated to me.  It had seen a lot of rocking and at one point had probably spent time on a porch.  

After a couple of base coats of white, the chair gets its first coat of copper. 

After a couple of coats of copper, I applied some words and the poem Invictus on the seat of the chair. 

 

The final touches involved adding five journals to the chair.  Four journals hung from the arms in leather pouches.  Four of the journals were coptic bound and two had handmade paste paper covers.  One large journal, encased in a handmade paper cover, was held onto the back of the chair with leather straps. 

PUBLICITY

Last month I discovered a new paper publication in town called, Ottawa Woman.  A paper celebrating the achievements of women.  If you happen across one you'll find me on page 18 as one of the Women on the Move. 

TERRASKIN - A NEW KIND OF PAPER

I recently attended a demonstration on Terraskin at Wallacks Art Shop on Bank Street.  It is a new type of paper constructed from minerals and resin.  It has an interesting texture and when I used felt pens on it, it had the appearance of vellum.  The paper is quite sturdy and will be great for making unique book covers. 

UPCOMING CLASSES - SUMMER ACADEMY ADULTS - CREATIVE BOOKBINDING

I will be offering two one-week  creative bookbinding courses in the Summer Academy for Adults at the Ottawa School of Art on George Street.  The first week is:

• July 16 - 20, 2012 -  9:00 to 4:00 - Course #: S12DAAC2 -  $260
1. Registration is now open: online registration at: http://www.artottawa.ca/ - General Interest, Summer Academy Adults or in person at 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON.
• August 13 - 17, 2012 - 9:00 to 4:00 - Course information TBA.

SPECIAL THANK YOU

A special thank you to Dr. Janice Clarkson, Managing Editor of Ottawa Woman, for including me in the Women on the Move section of her publication.   

A special thank you to Leah Cohen at the Library and Archives on Wellington Street for taking the time to show and explain books and their contents , from the Jacob Lowy Collection,  to me.  Jacob Lowy, an Ottawa businessman, donated his world class library of rare and old Hebraica and Judaica books.  I viewed an incunabula that was printed in 1470 which was amazing.  I also saw beautiful illumination, calligraphy and modern interpretations.  It was a very fulfilling visit. If you have a chance to visit the collection, I highly recommend it.  The collection is open Wednesdays for viewing.  Make sure to make an appointment before attending.  Leah Cohen may be contacted at: 613-997-7549 or at leah.cohen@bac-lac.gc.ca.

I'm off to visit the Library and Archives book preservation lab next week.  Looking forward to seeing it. 

Have a great week

Mary