ALLEGRA BURKE

The October NORBAG meeting will feature the multitalented artist, Allegra Burke. She will be presenting a retrospective of her 25-year journey in the art world. The presentation will feature a diverse range of artistic expressions, including rug hooking, embroidery, shibori, gourds, sculpture, and pieces incorporating plastic. A plethora of handmade books will also be included. The retrospective will be followed by a question and answer period.

The following photographs are an introduction to Allegra's work.

When:   Saturday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PDT

Where:  On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:    YES! To Dolores Guffey by Oct. 6 to receive the password

Workshop Questions:  Allegra Burke aburke459@gmail.com

Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact information is in the newsletter

PLAYING THE ACCORDION & HUMBOLDT KIOSK

At our September workshop we played with an accordion structure from Keith Smith's book, Non-Adhesive Binding Vol. 1. Many thanks to our instructor, Becky Luening, who also showed us some variations of other accordion spines. The plan was to make two different books, but the time went by too quickly so we only finished book A. Becky introduced us to the book B structure that added a spine guard, and she demonstrated a great way to finish the covers that can just slip onto the edges of the spine. Thank you again Becky for a great workshop.

Kiosk Photographs

The Humboldt County Library in Eureka, California has a kiosk near the check-out desk that they have allowed NORBAG to use for many years. Sometimes there is a theme for the display of books and sometimes it features books by one of our artists. This month the books are by Donna Gephart. 

Thank you Donna for showing us your lovely books and Kenzie Mullen for arranging the display.

Happy Birthday & Playing the accordion with Becky

* HAPPY BIRTHDAY NORBAG! * 

It doesn't seem possible that 30 years have gone by since NORBAG was founded in September 1995. Shereen LaPlantz gathered together 14 fellow book enthusiasts to form a guild. Book arts was a relatively new medium at that time. Just prior to the founding of the guild, Shereen's book, Cover to Cover (1995), was published, followed in 2001 by The Art and Craft of Handmade Books. Shereen also founded Tabellae Ansatae (1995) which, due to her illness, was sold to John Neal in 2002. He renamed it Bound and Lettered in 2004. Although Shereen was a member of NORBAG for less than a year, without her we would not have North Redwoods Book Art Guild. Sadly, Shereen passed away in 2003.

By the end of our first year we had 48 members. Of the original 15 charter members, four are still members. Today we have approximately 165 members with 75% living outside Humboldt County, California. Our members live in 20 different states from Alaska to Maine, as well as Canada and England. In March 2020, the pandemic forced us to cancel in-person meetings and workshops. In June 2020 we found our way to Zoom, and have been "Zooming" every since. Here's to continuing our tradition of monthly workshops and get-togethers, both on Zoom and in person.

Happy Birthday NORBAG!!

September Workshop

 No, don't expect to be learning how to play a polka at our September workshop.😀 Instead, long-time member, Becky Luening, will begin with a visual review of some common uses of accordion spines. Then we will have a discussion about a menu based approach to book-making inspired by Keith Smith's classic Non-Adhesive Binding Vol. 1. On registration, you will be sent the list of materials for making two variations of an accordion book with signatures pamphlet-stitched onto the spine. Please prepare the components ahead of time. Book A features a soft cover that is an extension of the spine. Book B features an attached, wrapped hard cover.

When:    Saturday, September 13 at 10 a.m. PDT

Where:   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:    Dolores Guffey by September 8 to receive the password and supplies

Workshop Questions:  Becky Luening - becky.pdx@gmail.com

Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact Information is in the newsletter

*Members* 

Remember to send in 1-3 exchange theme suggestions for 2026!  no.redwoods.bag@gmail.com

WORKSHOP REVIEW

Our August workshop was an introduction to Linda Powell and her book art. It was quite inspirational to see how she combines found objects into her books. Sometimes she challenges herself to feature just one item, like a leaf, throughout a book or use just one color. Her favorite book art tools are her sewing machine, typewriter, Big Shot, and gelli printing supplies. Her collages often feature pockets where she can tuck-in little items. Linda also showed how sometimes a mistake can turn into something special with a bit of a make-over or just featuring a part of it in a peak-a-boo pocket. All in all it was a lovely visit with Linda and we thank her very much for sharing her book art with us.

Exchange Book Themes

It's time to start thinking about the themes you would like to see for 2026. All of our members are welcome to participate in the monthly exchanges. The only requirement is that your book needs to be received prior to the meeting date. If you submit a book, you will receive another one in exchange. The theme can be a structure, a color, or a "thing". Really, the sky is the limit...in fact it could be the sky. :) It's a wonderful way to add to your book collection and see the work of another artist. Lately, the number of members participating in the exchanges has dropped, often with only 6-8 in the mix. We would love to see more members participating. If you are a new member or even an older member who has not participated previously, don't be intimidated. We all started out as beginners and we welcome the work of newcomers. 

Please think about the themes you would like to work with next year. We do have a few that we always use: Valentines in February, Compendium or Project Page in May, Second Chance in September, and the Holiday Cards in December, but we still need eight themes for the other months. Members are asked to send one to three suggestions to no.redwoods.bag@gmail.com . We will combine all the suggestions and print them in the October newsletter for members to vote on their favorites.

SHOW & TELL with LINDA POWERS

Our August workshop will be a Show & Tell introduction to member Linda Powers' creative process behind her Objet Trouvé books. These are intuitive collections of  found papers, scraps, and odd bits assembled into spontaneous works of art. Inspired by her Black and White Mostly mini book, these simple pamphlet-stitched books are made from discarded prints, rust-dyed experiments, decorated papers, and everyday flotsam.

Each page is a reflection of Linda's creative spirit. She knows a book is finished when it feels like her--and earns a name.

Examples of Linda's books

When:   Saturday August 9 @ 10 a.m. PDT

Where:  On your computer, tablet, or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:    Dolores Guffey by August 4 to receive the password

Workshop Questions:  Linda Powers lindapowers.007@gmail.com

Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact information is in the newsletter

 

DRUM LEAF & BIMA

 The July workshop taught by Judy Detrick was instruction on how to make a book using a break-away Drum Leaf binding. Although we didn't quite make it all the way through finishing the binding, Judy was very thorough in her demonstrations and told us how to find more instructions on the binding. Sherrill Story shared the following photos of her finished book.

Back to Nature at BIMA

If you happen to be in the area of Bainbridge Island, Washington be sure to visit the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) to see the current exhibit titled Back to Nature. Here is a sample of some of the beautiful books on display upstairs in the Sherry Grover Gallery. This exhibit will be up through September 21.

Anthology of Sky by Susan Collard

Unwinding Through Time - Bark Beetle Book Vol XX
by Suze Woolf

Butterfly Books No. 1,2,3,& 4
by Roberto Benavidez

Book of Bones by Velma Bolyard

Birdsong: Boreal Chickadee
by Andie Thrams

Spring Spells by Hazel Monte

Stitching the Forest Together
by Lucia Harrison and Deborah Greenwood

Ethereal Vines by Islam Aly

Old Growth: Beneath the Forest Floor II
by Lucia Harrison

amendment by Elizabeth Banfield

Backcountry Series: Quiet Wild
by Andie Thrams

Backcountry Series: Just Like Us
by Andie Thrams

DRUM LEAF BINDING

Our July workshop will be a demonstration by Judy Detrick on how to make a book with a Drum Leaf Binding. According to AI, "Drum Leaf Binding is a bookbinding technique where single sheets of paper, folded in half to create folios, are glued together along the spine and fore-edge to create a flat opening book. This method, popularized by Timothy Ely, allows for uninterrupted full page spreads, making it ideal for artists' books, photo albums, and visual narratives according to CCAD Packard Library." For the cover, Judy will be teaching the Break-Away Spine as recommended by Tim Ely. Judy says that we can either follow along as she demonstrates, take notes, or watch the recorded video. She says this is a fun project and a great way to ease into a text block and a hard cover. If you have questions before the workshop, please feel free to email her at jdetrick@mcn.org.

Break-Away Spine

Book open

Book closed

Tool & Materials List:

• Pencil

• Scissors

• Metal Ruler

• Emery board (yes, the kind you file your nails with)

• Bone or Teflon folder

• Cutting mat 22" x 17"

• Olfa silver cutter (snap blade) or box knife

• PVA or Yes! paste

• Kindergarten round brush

• Kindergarten flat brush

• Waste sheets (used printer paper is good)

• Waxed paper

• Two (2) waxed paper covered bricks

• One (1) manila file folder or similar

• Cover paper or cloth

• Piece of strong long-fiber Japanese paper or any sturdy paper grain long

• Any number of photos or other artwork printed on good paper *

• * Trim them all to the same size; they will be folded into folios

• Two (2) end papers trimmed to the same size as the folios, grain parallel to fold; (save the scraps)

• Two (2) thin boards (1 mm thick) trimmed to the same size as the folios, grain parallel to fold

• Two (2) thick glossy magazines or phone books or paperbacks larger than the folios

July Meeting: 

When:   Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. PDT

Where:  On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:    Dolores Guffey by July 7 to receive the password

Workshop Questions:  Judy Detrick  jdetrick@mcn.org

Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes
Contact Information is in the newsletter