Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Those Piano Hinge Books

Well, I ain't quite got the hang of blogging back yet...can't figure out how to get the images and the text side by side...sigh...I WON'T be put off by small stuff! I continue:

I LOVE these books! I first saw a couple about 3 years ago, but didn't learn how to make them until this past spring. I took a class with Angela Finet at A Happy Stamper in Reston, VA, and instantly, I knew I had hit on a form that I wanted to repeat time and time again...so I instantly came home to the studio and made about 8 more! I made special books for my oldest daughter, Jessie's, birthday, for my extended family's 62nd anniversary (Congratulations Is and Lou Parker!) and so on...these I show are currently for sale in my Etsy store at : bessiebelleArt.etsy.com...I had a ball doing them.

I then, in June, went to Ohio to visit with my youngest daughter Caitlin, and met up with Diana Ryman (who, inexplicably, belongs to the same altered art group I do in NoVa) in Columbus at European Papers to learn how to make a quarter-bound medieval book of hours (wow! intense day!) This was a book that I also want and need to duplicate, but, as yet, haven't...I feel like I need our instructor, Lisa Ohmer, to stand over my shoulder and constantly remind me...anyway, we used traditional bookbinding technique and learned an exacting and exciting book. European Papers is a wonderful place to visit and learn...Lisa has created a very special world that is nourishing to the creative spirit, friendly in spirit and connection and full of very exciting products and projects. The gallery is an afternoon's inspiration...I digress...Diana and I took Lisa's class together and then went up to her town about 2 hours away and began an all-nighter teaching me to paint and dye silk...oh my! Diana does such incredibly beautiful work and is such a patient and talented teacher! Silk...another world to explore in a leisurely way! I have not duplicated our learning lesson as yet, but all is at the ready to do so when it all slows down a bit! Diana is also responsible for a great paper resource...Hollo's in Bruinswick, Ohio, where art papers, cardstock, envelopes, et al are sold for the absolutely best prices, bar none...by the pound!!! Perfect for bookmaking! Reason for a Road Trip! I will update to my adventures as a demo person and class instructor in my next installment. It's been quite the summer so far!

1 comment:

~*~Patty S said...

Welcome back to blogland Lanise!!! Your inchie ornaments look marvelous. AND it's wonderful to see your beautiful books again, especially your glove book. I remember holding it and enjoying the feel as much as the look of it! I am off to add you to my blogroll. Posting once a month, egad woman = surely that won't be enough times ;) Practice Practice Practice and it gets easier....I still have so much to learn!

Summer Sunday Art Musings

Mid-summer again, and I still am not an experienced blogger...but I am back to working in my studio and have too many ideas to fit them all into a working day format...how exciting is that!??? This week I have still been at the Piano Hinge Books (refreshing my mind about working with tree wrap for gypsy moth paper aided by Lumiere metallics (!)...intriguingly easy and so organic to the eye. I am working on a series of Buddha greeting cards (with a deadline). The weather here in the Blue Ridge has been a mixed bag of hot and humid and rain...great for indoor sports like studio time! I must get busy and download the photos from my camers so I can showcase a few of my week's endeavors...

Medieval Illuminated Manuscript Book

Medieval Illuminated Manuscript Book
Thank You Lisa at European Papers Columbus, Ohio

Abalone Button Piano Hinge Book

Abalone Button Piano Hinge Book
That Abalone Left Its' Shell 4 Art!

Bliss Girl

Bliss Girl
Transcendent Bliss Girl