tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44327805543674277062024-02-02T12:25:03.044-05:00Patently CraftyProjects and art/craft class reviews from a full-time patent attorney who also runs a part-time stationery business.Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-36346712182347049742014-06-09T11:15:00.000-04:002014-06-09T11:15:56.634-04:00Bookbinding Part II: Complex Books
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Financial Investment (scale of $ - $$$$): $$ for French flat
back & modified cases; $$$ for rounded back English case</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time Commitment (scale of <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">T</span> - TTTT): TT for French flat
back & modified cases; TTT for rounded back English case</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Space Requirement (scale of O - OOOO): OO for French flat
back & modified cases; OOO for rounded back English case</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Skills Required: Sewing skills are helpful, but not
necessary</div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m picking up from my last review post, which was the first
installment of the Bookbinding I class I took at The Center for Book Arts (read
my review of CBA <a href="http://www.patentlycrafty.blogspot.com/2011/09/center-for-book-arts.html">here</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part I focused
on simple accordion and pamphlet books (refresh your memory <a href="http://www.patentlycrafty.blogspot.com/2011/10/bookbinding-part-i-simple-accordion-and.html">here</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Part II, I cover the French flat back
case, modified case, and rounded back English case bookbinding methods that we
learned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the accordion
and pamphlet books could easily be made during one 3-hour class each, each of
these books took multiple classes to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I provide a description of each here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">French Flat Back
Cases<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The French flat back case is what you typically see on
traditional, bound journals, photo albums, and scrapbooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we made a photo album during
the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To start, we made the text
block, or bound pages, by folding and sewing together acid-free folio
paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paper was folded to
create a 1-inch tab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tab provided
the fold needed for the spine, as well as spacing between pages to allow room
to add photos without adding thickness to the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, after the photos are added, the book will
maintain its shape instead of having its covers splayed apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We added decorative paper before
the first page and after the last page to create end sheets (more on this
later) for the text block.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next, we created the cover using 3 pieces of binder board or
book board (think chipboard but much stronger and denser): 2 pieces the size of
the text block and 1 piece the size of the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially, the 3 pieces were glued down to book cloth in
the proper order (front cover, spine, back cover) with about ¼-inch space in
between each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we wrapped book
cloth around the binder board and glued it down to cover the edges of the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran a bone folder along either side
of the spine to create grooves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally,
we placed the text block on top and glued the outermost end sheets to the
binder board, thereby completing the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our last class was an “open day” to use as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to create a new, hardback
cover for an old paperback version of George Orwell’s “1984.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before gluing the book cloth to the binder
board for the front cover, I cut out a few layers of the binder board material
to fit the title from the paperback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After covering the book, I glued the old title text on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below are pictures of the books I made with the French flat
back case.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrgAHa2JGCl7pjGHreohHGXcmVCqdmvVgDkuCvPR6lF5mtcpBMu3jsm9k434-aC9GAqhWNryqrBV_TyMy70dJDV3P1hIYcX7bsCm5BxUCggWhYmtmc11KBMEqP6QU4tuPVUxyTGzxmgM/s1600/French+flat+back+groove+(recovered+paperback+&+photo+album).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrgAHa2JGCl7pjGHreohHGXcmVCqdmvVgDkuCvPR6lF5mtcpBMu3jsm9k434-aC9GAqhWNryqrBV_TyMy70dJDV3P1hIYcX7bsCm5BxUCggWhYmtmc11KBMEqP6QU4tuPVUxyTGzxmgM/s1600/French+flat+back+groove+(recovered+paperback+&+photo+album).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(L) New
hardback cover for an old paperback; (R) Photo album.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMTd3YQzNgqkAgRXOBQu_CLd-CatR1D6wPWZjUMt9UmDNkVJK-42zNfmCtBJg1A9bO9MhODVCBL8lmUMwdTrx1-nyema-8ns0uD-j-uYBDkQ3kLcWTyTsLxqTz7TcT-qVieb8eOP75ro/s1600/French+flat+back+groove+(inside+recovered+paperback+&+photo+album).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMTd3YQzNgqkAgRXOBQu_CLd-CatR1D6wPWZjUMt9UmDNkVJK-42zNfmCtBJg1A9bO9MhODVCBL8lmUMwdTrx1-nyema-8ns0uD-j-uYBDkQ3kLcWTyTsLxqTz7TcT-qVieb8eOP75ro/s1600/French+flat+back+groove+(inside+recovered+paperback+&+photo+album).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Close-up of French flat back cases.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Modified Case<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other type of book we made had a modified case binding,
which means that the spine and the covers are made as separate pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, the text block was created
the same way as in the French flat back case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we did not add end sheets, and after sewing the
text block, we covered the spine with a layer of glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the glue dried, we added a
decorative liner to the front and back of the text block by simply gluing about
1/3-inch of the folded edge of the liner to the text block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next step was to create a rounded
spine, which we did by hammering the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After rounding the spine, we glued a headband (decorative
piece that also provides additional support when the book is being pulled off
of a shelf) to the top and bottom and mull (gauze) over the entire spine. Oak
tag (similar to cardstock) was cut to the size of the spine and covered in
bookcloth such that about 1½-inch of book cloth extended beyond the oak tag on
either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then made the cover
by cutting binder board to the size of the text block, sanding down about ¼-inch
of the inside down to about ½ of the thickness of the binder board on the edge
that abuts the spine, covering it with book cloth, and gluing it to the
bookcloth “tabs” on either side of the oak tag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we glued the outer sheets of liner from the text
block to the binder board on the inside of the cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rounded Back English
Case<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last book we made in the Bookbinding I class had a
rounded back English case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
time we sewed the text block, which included end sheets, together using a
sewing frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the sewing
frame to make the text block was a complicated, multi-step process, which incorporated
cloth tape to help strengthen the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We covered the spine in glue as in the modified case, but this time we
rounded the spine with the text block in a clamp. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spine mushroomed over the edge of the clamp as the spine
was being hammered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took more
time and effort to round the spine to ensure that an even and smooth spine was
achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this book, we also
hand-sewed a headband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some
sewing skills, but this was a painstaking process even for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the headband was complete, we
reinforced the spine <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by gluing on Japanese
tissue paper and then text-weight paper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The English case has a “two-toned” covering: one for the
spine that overlaps onto a portion of the cover and one for the remainder of
the cover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, we cut oak tag for
the spine and binder board for the covers to the desired height (extending
beyond the headbands) and width.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Second, we cut the book cloth for the spine to overlap about ¼ the width
of the cover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then glued the binder
boards to the book cloth and glued the oak tag in between the two boards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, we covered the remaining ¾ of
the front and back covers with decorative paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below are pictures of the books I made with the modified
case and rounded back English case bookbinding methods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeKtddL9sMdQXiQ_yjBB_GlpDBHa9sEhOgu6vZ5PRDx9cqhyMEcqWkPkFmkp7hHqfq5TcoDuT00kOZNxc6t9l8AYR912sZRDWqz-UPrQ-55mHmFtP2b_utYAE1nCzQA7OkqJeHkXL9BY/s1600/Modified+case+binding+&+Rounded+back+English+case.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeKtddL9sMdQXiQ_yjBB_GlpDBHa9sEhOgu6vZ5PRDx9cqhyMEcqWkPkFmkp7hHqfq5TcoDuT00kOZNxc6t9l8AYR912sZRDWqz-UPrQ-55mHmFtP2b_utYAE1nCzQA7OkqJeHkXL9BY/s1600/Modified+case+binding+&+Rounded+back+English+case.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(L) Modified case binding; (R) Rounded back English case.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRBIfo_Adi8HK5fZhGIGH_hkyYfHAmw6r6J7rdk3qrTFRzTiA-6h3p67cAcyBPLlNgjynzJEUiCIs4TwwxTshfCCOy5jbkY8RXeMnYN0FMqnQt8PhyKu1zJn6DJhgLFsQ6e4X5Qkq3Zw/s1600/Premade+v+hand-sewn+headbands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRBIfo_Adi8HK5fZhGIGH_hkyYfHAmw6r6J7rdk3qrTFRzTiA-6h3p67cAcyBPLlNgjynzJEUiCIs4TwwxTshfCCOy5jbkY8RXeMnYN0FMqnQt8PhyKu1zJn6DJhgLFsQ6e4X5Qkq3Zw/s1600/Premade+v+hand-sewn+headbands.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(L) Close-up of modified case binding (with premade
headband); </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(R) Rounded back English case (with hand-sewn headband).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comparing the Three
Bookbinding Methods<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rounded back English case requires more time and
equipment, which means more space and financial investment, than the French
flat back and modified cases. We completed both the French flat back case and
modified case bookbinding methods in two 3-hour classes, while the rounded back
English case took three 3-hour classes to complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the time to make the English case could have been
cut down by using a premade headband, but it is still more labor intensive and
has room for many mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
the English case required more equipment, such as the sewing frame and
clamps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clamps we used were
very large so that they could hold the entire book (so as not to dent the
covers) and withstand the hammering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While all of the books required some special equipment, some
workarounds may be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, we put the finished books in large presses to ensure that the cover
did not warp while the glue dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I believe that the press could easily have been replaced with a
large stack of heavy books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
other space/equipment challenge is obtaining access to a board shear. Binder
board is very dense material that is usually sold in large sheets and has to be
cut down to size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used a board
shear that was about 3 feet by 3 feet and had a very large, counter-weighted
blade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A board shear is not the
type of thing you want in your house even if you could afford it and had the
room. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To avoid the need for such equipment,
one could look for places that either 1) sell binder board in smaller sizes, 2)
are willing to cut it down to size for you, or 3) will allow you to use or rent
time to use their board shear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
idea of trying to cut it yourself with a utility blade would be dangerous, not
to mention that you most likely would not end up with a smooth, straight edge
that you would want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Instructor<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last but not least, I should mention the instructor, Shanna
Yarbrough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shanna was a very
easy-going instructor who knew her subject well and easily assisted those
struggling with various parts of the class. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept the class upbeat despite the various difficulties
students encountered along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the end of the 10-week course, I think everyone was ready to sign-up
for Shanna’s Bookbinding II class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know I did!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-44387153853533931122014-05-05T23:30:00.000-04:002014-05-05T23:30:24.649-04:00Patently Crafty 2.0I'm rebooting my by blog with an exciting announcement: I have officially started a stationery business! With the launch of this business, I'm now including posts about the projects that I am working on, along with my usual reviews of arts & craft classes.<br />
<br />
My new business is made possible by the fact that we underwent a major renovation of our apartment, which resulted in a beautiful craft room. Overall, the renovation was the largest arts & crafts project I have ever undertaken. For over two years, my spare time was largely consumed with architectural designs and picking out flooring, tile, paint, light fixtures, etc., etc., etc. Now that the renovations are complete, I can spend my free time crafting and blogging. <br />
<br />
Even before the craft room was complete, however, I was eager to start my first project. Therefore, I started thinking about making invitations for our housewarming party. My husband's favorite holiday is Halloween, so we made a push to finish the renovations in time for a Halloween-themed housewarming party. And we (barely) made it!<br />
<br />
Below are pictures of the invites. I created a trick or treat bag using brown lunch bags and made "candy" with the party details on the back with some very calculated printing and a Cricut Expression® electronic cutting machine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaKQqoso1DpSF0zNWION9NL7uE4QtXXSaZqVZf7eck428_roBYFo-hNmzmdjkv0g2S4O2apfM7sO_NOnR3ibhC4NE7Sz8vGsrHy-Z-zmZI7PjKGFUaMBOMnvnYvqOa_iodbnLVWWlI2A/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaKQqoso1DpSF0zNWION9NL7uE4QtXXSaZqVZf7eck428_roBYFo-hNmzmdjkv0g2S4O2apfM7sO_NOnR3ibhC4NE7Sz8vGsrHy-Z-zmZI7PjKGFUaMBOMnvnYvqOa_iodbnLVWWlI2A/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Trick or Treat" bags with haunted house on the front & witch on the back.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvzi7uoSj3jlyUhl3K5qxtJfwyXjpnSQb2smXsSzDPyf89IywE8a8rmfLe1JccP6TkS_vuGqK_CSQ90CuIdxHiA7qcPCFl1IbnuI3JwQegjjsdx425CHwbn2KpLdCcZRH5Alg-JQDtQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvzi7uoSj3jlyUhl3K5qxtJfwyXjpnSQb2smXsSzDPyf89IywE8a8rmfLe1JccP6TkS_vuGqK_CSQ90CuIdxHiA7qcPCFl1IbnuI3JwQegjjsdx425CHwbn2KpLdCcZRH5Alg-JQDtQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A better view of the "candy" with different details about the party on the back of each piece.</div>
<br />
I'll pick up with my reviews until I'm able to post invitations and decorations I'm creating for a 1st birthday party for my first client.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Invitations include copyright material of Provo Craft and Novelty, Inc.</span></div>
Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-75096576666824751292011-10-27T00:15:00.000-04:002011-10-27T00:15:48.456-04:00Bookbinding Part I: Simple Accordion and Pamphlet Books<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Financial Investment: $-$$</div><div class="MsoNormal">Time Commitment: T-TT</div><div class="MsoNormal">Space Requirement: 0</div><div class="MsoNormal">Skills Required: none</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After learning how to <a href="http://patentlycrafty.blogspot.com/2011/10/letterpress-printing.html">letterpress</a> text or artwork that I might want to bind in a book, the next step was to learn how to make a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I signed up for the Bookbinding I class with Shanna Yarbrough at The Center for Book Arts (read my review of CBA <a href="http://patentlycrafty.blogspot.com/2011/09/center-for-book-arts.html">here</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I took a series of 10 classes held on Tuesday nights from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. The class taught how to make several types of books, including accordion, pamphlet, modified case, French flat back case, and English rounded back case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because each type of book is very different and has varying levels of complexity, I’ve broken up the review for bookbinding into two parts: one for the simpler accordion and pamphlet books and one for the more complex “case” books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This entry will discuss accordion and pamphlet books.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list-ins: "John Molenda" 20111026T2253; mso-list: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first class taught accordion books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ever made a paper fan, you can make an accordion book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because this type of book is relatively easy to make, much of our class time focused on understanding the different types of paper, grain direction of paper, proper methods for folding and cutting, and appropriate adhesives to use. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most important lessons we learned was that no matter what type of paper you use, make sure the covering, binder board (think chip board if you do any scrapbooking or paper crafts), and text block (pages of the book) are in the same grain direction to prevent bowed or misshapen books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After learning the key techniques, we made an accordion text block with paper-covered backing boards. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During the second class, we learned about different types of pamphlet books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pamphlets, as you might imagine, are the simple books made from stacking a few sheets of paper and folding them in half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The folded edge serves as the spine, which is sewn to keep the pages together (trust me, anyone could do this minimal amount of sewing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What distinguishes one pamphlet from the next is the way the cover for the pamphlet is made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can skip the adhesives by simply making a paper cover that is long enough on both ends to wrap around the first and last pages of the text block, and sew it on when you sew the pages together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or you can make the paper cover longer on the back cover side, trim it to look like an envelope flap, wrap it around the closed book, and tuck it into a slit cut on the front cover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We covered our pamphlets with backing boards, i.e., made it a hardback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used one big piece of bookcloth and glued two pieces of binder board on with enough space in between for the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we lined the inside of the covers with decorative paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Below are pictures of both the pamphlet (left) and accordion (right) books that I made:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc32ZTaMxENAiQSmPEBiwNmeKdgknF3No8w9PG6Qv4wYvar4f5yjywnF6h4tgSItuaedNoU_mvDVY5I5qJm6AL7F2leG3L0l6YCyzNAFab16l3QoomS9PBuyZ8c0ZwfTU7rPaz1J2bMug/s1600/Pamplet+w_backing+boards+%2526+Accordian+%2528outside%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc32ZTaMxENAiQSmPEBiwNmeKdgknF3No8w9PG6Qv4wYvar4f5yjywnF6h4tgSItuaedNoU_mvDVY5I5qJm6AL7F2leG3L0l6YCyzNAFab16l3QoomS9PBuyZ8c0ZwfTU7rPaz1J2bMug/s320/Pamplet+w_backing+boards+%2526+Accordian+%2528outside%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHMYNASTsLp7hzZHp9W42Pz4hCmwiP6dHKErRuP0Tp6xsrj6_NBHOTXjZoVbO0g3HhkEbU4tjeejgrRAzdO9qpO87OXsNwdhlmzquJfluF2FjiiRTk5rCApZMLABu3cujzH8yRHyHJVo/s1600/Pamplet+w_backing+boards+%2526+Accordian+%2528inside%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHMYNASTsLp7hzZHp9W42Pz4hCmwiP6dHKErRuP0Tp6xsrj6_NBHOTXjZoVbO0g3HhkEbU4tjeejgrRAzdO9qpO87OXsNwdhlmzquJfluF2FjiiRTk5rCApZMLABu3cujzH8yRHyHJVo/s320/Pamplet+w_backing+boards+%2526+Accordian+%2528inside%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As you can see, accordions and pamphlets are relatively simple to make and don’t require a lot of materials, time, or space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike some crafts where you are required to use special materials, the cost of materials depends completely on the types of materials that you select. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to buy many special tools, and you can use inexpensive materials for a simple book or use more expensive materials to make an elaborate book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also have considerable control over the amount of time you want to invest in the project. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if you are pressed for time, you can make a paper cover instead of a hard cover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These projects are great for busy people because there are easy stopping points, allowing you to work for short increments of time, such as 30 minutes to an hour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, I made each book during one 3-hour class, which also included a lot of instructing time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the amount of space required for making these books, the size of your average kitchen table is sufficient.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After learning how to make a pamphlet book, I used my newly acquired skills to make invitations to a party I threw for my husband to celebrate his birthday and election to the partnership of his law firm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of my busy schedule, I couldn’t make all 75 of the invitations I needed at one time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was, however, able to assemble the unique, personalized invitation in stages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was all done on the “island” in our kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are pictures of the invitation:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49Qr4n2meqkhbjZ90yXIHevGYc4S1dMijxT00DQZ0EajqxC0nx0a2NLSIVXgELbDkgpXTdcW61oCVtyAt2DzZHxoFnusFwLGPa4LVJd7jSO4cIEF2E2zoE2AMKsDQc6ontKJQy_dB04A/s1600/Invitation+%2528outside%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49Qr4n2meqkhbjZ90yXIHevGYc4S1dMijxT00DQZ0EajqxC0nx0a2NLSIVXgELbDkgpXTdcW61oCVtyAt2DzZHxoFnusFwLGPa4LVJd7jSO4cIEF2E2zoE2AMKsDQc6ontKJQy_dB04A/s320/Invitation+%2528outside%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f5CseiE4AeDFXU5N2OMw3pVyBjh1ruFDMhr8r7NVMZH9KyRuNRtlCHAgbVhKHYGuhyphenhyphency4fFWmr_pBwt-tlfiTiHOhbGs9P6a3FGeJRnw8h25xBnLei43bAD8a-koMIFpxF9Gf7M3Yc0/s1600/Invitation+%2528inside%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f5CseiE4AeDFXU5N2OMw3pVyBjh1ruFDMhr8r7NVMZH9KyRuNRtlCHAgbVhKHYGuhyphenhyphency4fFWmr_pBwt-tlfiTiHOhbGs9P6a3FGeJRnw8h25xBnLei43bAD8a-koMIFpxF9Gf7M3Yc0/s320/Invitation+%2528inside%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stay tuned . . . my next review will cover the more complex bookbinding techniques.</div><!--EndFragment-->Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-74800648176982965912011-10-11T00:23:00.000-04:002011-10-11T00:23:13.392-04:00Letterpress Printing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Financial Investment: $$$$</div><div class="MsoNormal">Time Commitment: TTTT</div><div class="MsoNormal">Space Requirement: OOOO</div><div class="MsoNormal">Skills Required: if you want to do anything other than text, some graphic design or drawing ability (i.e., you have to be able to create what you want to print)</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Letterpress printing is an old style of printing that was used mainly from the mid-15th century until the 19th century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, it is mainly used in high-end stationery, such as invitations and business cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would recognize it for the distinct impression made in the paper by the image or text, which is created by protruding text or images that are inked and then pressed into the paper with pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Printing is done with the help of large presses, such as a Vandercook, which is a cylinder proof press, or treadle platen presses, though tabletop platen presses are available. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I took the Letterpress I – Contemporary Letterpress Weekend Workshop with Amber McMillan at The Center for Book Arts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know me, you won’t be surprised to hear that the first art I chose to learn seemed to be the most complicated and most expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class lasted 6 hours each Saturday and Sunday for three consecutive weekends and cost $540 for members and $565 for non-members. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class taught how to use both the Vandercook and platen presses, hand set type, prepare a digital image to be sent out for polymer plate processing, process a plate by hand, and of course, print. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hand setting type is the painstaking process of laying out each letter (known as “type”) and every space of your project by hand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you determine what text you want to print and how you want to lay it out, you have to pick each of the letters of type and place them in something called a composing stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be quite tricky, as the letters get placed upside down and backwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One time I mistakenly placed a “u” in the place of an “n.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After printing it, I had to undo my setup, fix the letter, and redo the setup. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Below is an excerpt from “The Fountainhead” that I printed using metal type:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubp-g2CC2eUY7vL9_hjvS4hHOdr81342k00447ATf89sqJl5l3kW6uLym3LshPvkprhuHjIEKhC9k36YSWftlN8Tes3cR854nGv5elVL7UucHbYbnQpMWSGYnbOx626P0Z3laUbaZsuE/s1600/Ayn+Rand+quote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubp-g2CC2eUY7vL9_hjvS4hHOdr81342k00447ATf89sqJl5l3kW6uLym3LshPvkprhuHjIEKhC9k36YSWftlN8Tes3cR854nGv5elVL7UucHbYbnQpMWSGYnbOx626P0Z3laUbaZsuE/s320/Ayn+Rand+quote.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a contrast, below is a date I printed using large wood type:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPRlXcp1izZ6M8uZ8ekK3bNPqaU35f_0EkvMDf6knu2xZEZ8sKDFfDhOJqQ4n1CGeQCxzBkvc3b19A7ycyTc6seWDcjHHvAgcL55kpj88LWv4xnf-mt31gRgEr75K62h1hYWaQ8lT7bw/s1600/Wedding+date.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPRlXcp1izZ6M8uZ8ekK3bNPqaU35f_0EkvMDf6knu2xZEZ8sKDFfDhOJqQ4n1CGeQCxzBkvc3b19A7ycyTc6seWDcjHHvAgcL55kpj88LWv4xnf-mt31gRgEr75K62h1hYWaQ8lT7bw/s320/Wedding+date.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We were also given the opportunity to create a modern polymer plate to print our own design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, since I had no drawing, graphic design, or other “artistic” background, I simply made a business card for my sister to learn the process and compare it to hand-setting type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a nutshell, we had to create a digital image, such as a PDF, to submit to a company that would produce the polymer plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is a picture of the polymer plate and the text of the business card that was printed using the plate (I purposely blurred personal info here):</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8bpw5wQ3dYL4_4LEKwIhwnu1hvRO-_QvfYEFtC7eY87Ptl7GUDODteHlkOo-zcnHBJwfnTOb8fQmP4wx518nWvfj0KYPnHpl32pbhBXCGskFdncB2Ka9qNts0s_RcWf0VN5F12vRVds/s1600/Monica+Gardner+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8bpw5wQ3dYL4_4LEKwIhwnu1hvRO-_QvfYEFtC7eY87Ptl7GUDODteHlkOo-zcnHBJwfnTOb8fQmP4wx518nWvfj0KYPnHpl32pbhBXCGskFdncB2Ka9qNts0s_RcWf0VN5F12vRVds/s320/Monica+Gardner+card.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Next, we created our own printing plate by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do this, we took digital images (I used a picture taken at my wedding, but some scanned drawings they had created), changed them to black and white images if a color image was used, increased the contrast, inversed the color, and printed them on a transparency film using an ordinary office laser printer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The films were then used to expose the polymer plate in a light box so that the parts corresponding to the black portions of the film could be washed away, while the white (clear on the transparency) portions would remain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The polymer that remained was inked on the press and produced a print of the original black and white image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Below are the original picture, the high contrast black and white inverse image, and a side-by-side of the print and the plate:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuiNUoNH7PZdSyrnEs6vB7cf8fruo2RZsaLrlZV1y2gOElIqt_1q0v2skcptmJwKV5Q6ij_uOpwfh53U58eGt_upRvmnjTIHk8PBQYoxnV7Y7iWmRxtIFFNj-uzJ7YnHWeQZh4ujPgo8/s1600/Wedding+kiss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuiNUoNH7PZdSyrnEs6vB7cf8fruo2RZsaLrlZV1y2gOElIqt_1q0v2skcptmJwKV5Q6ij_uOpwfh53U58eGt_upRvmnjTIHk8PBQYoxnV7Y7iWmRxtIFFNj-uzJ7YnHWeQZh4ujPgo8/s320/Wedding+kiss.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd_6IXh-em17reM-PEkL70yL1Irm_NaQ-ARcKmypR4AZ8-iZ7QW3Oxy0Dqi1gwV47qyIcQihepBkNfbZebDeHKw4n7psjEHAPe2AFNsjrifoioPiQdeSz4xn7p1ReuBvbsLrsKxJ51xI/s1600/Wedding+kiss+inverted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd_6IXh-em17reM-PEkL70yL1Irm_NaQ-ARcKmypR4AZ8-iZ7QW3Oxy0Dqi1gwV47qyIcQihepBkNfbZebDeHKw4n7psjEHAPe2AFNsjrifoioPiQdeSz4xn7p1ReuBvbsLrsKxJ51xI/s320/Wedding+kiss+inverted.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EfdE9JoaN6rxQR6d4sPKylZ85oR-eRoX1n5zOdGAhdwkrkYsFu7sbPdk4ti-HRXmteDJFe9mIMK1mUIUG_m-Y1VRezFYiIga6Ge4HSdl0Fc6tEsBstSp-usmfXcThxT3PPYLPsd0VRs/s1600/Wedding+kiss+print.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EfdE9JoaN6rxQR6d4sPKylZ85oR-eRoX1n5zOdGAhdwkrkYsFu7sbPdk4ti-HRXmteDJFe9mIMK1mUIUG_m-Y1VRezFYiIga6Ge4HSdl0Fc6tEsBstSp-usmfXcThxT3PPYLPsd0VRs/s320/Wedding+kiss+print.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the class, but as you can see, letterpress printing is not for the faint of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It requires numerous steps, which means a lot of places where things can go wrong, expensive materials and equipment, and huge time commitment (set-up and cleaning alone can take over one hour).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the class may seem pricey, I believe it is well worth the 36 hours of class time, use of the equipment, and the materials, which included polymer plates, paper, and ink.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On a final note, I really liked Amber as a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s very mild-mannered and clearly knows her art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we were all new to letterpress printing, she stressed the importance of quality results and perfecting the printed image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has her own letterpress and design business (<a href="http://www.posteditions.com/">Post Editions</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure that her clients are happy with her attention to detail.<span style="color: #c0504d;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-9665811960148817592011-09-25T20:21:00.000-04:002011-09-25T20:21:46.137-04:00The Center For Book Arts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">When it came time for me to decide what class to start with first, I couldn’t help but think of when my husband and I planned our wedding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With help from my sister (check out her craft blog at <a href="http://gardnersbasket.blogspot.com/">Gardner’s Basket</a>), we put a lot of time and effort in designing all the details, including creating our own stationery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had printed our invitations on regular laser printers, so I thought about being able to learn the skills to make invitations that you find at high-end stationery stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After spending quite some time on the internet learning about the different types of stationery, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to learn about letterpress printing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After another round of searches, I came upon <a href="http://centerforbookarts.org/">The Center For Book Arts</a> (CBA).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">CBA is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to – you guessed it – the book arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book arts include everything related to bookmaking: bookbinding, letterpress printing, papermaking, and other associated arts such as calligraphy and box making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CBA is a great facility – it’s an art gallery, bindery, printshop, education facility, and book arts community center. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really a resource for anyone (artist, novice, or admirer) interested in the book arts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel lucky to have it in my neighborhood, and I never even knew it existed before my internet search!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Since my day (and sometimes night and weekend) job is being a lawyer, I needed flexibility on when classes are offered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, CBA has weekday, weeknight, and weekend classes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The price for classes starts at $150 for a one-day (6-hour) weekend class and go up from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members ($50 for annual membership) receive discounts on classes and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All materials are included except for basic hand tools (like scalpels and bone folders).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For convenience, CBA offers a kit containing all the basic bookbinding tools for $38.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you think you may be interested in the book arts but don’t want to pay a lot for a class, CBA offers several events for a suggested admission fee of $10 for non-members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is the Book Arts Lounge, which is a hands-on workshop held the first Friday evening of the month and features some of the arts that are taught as full-length classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second event is the Professional Development Workshop, which offers advice for artists on topics such as finances and tax preparation, portfolio consultations, and social networking/advertising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other events include Artist Talks, Center Broadsides Reading Series (usually poetry), and last, but certainly not least, the annual Holiday Fair and Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never left the Fair empty-handed and have bought several gifts others have enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The bottom line: CBA has something for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you don’t want to take a class or attend the special events, I recommend dropping by to take in the current exhibit in the gallery (free admission).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may change your mind!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Center For Book Arts</div><div class="MsoNormal">28 West 27<sup>th</sup> Street, 3<sup>rd</sup> Floor</div><div class="MsoNormal">New York, NY 10001</div><div class="MsoNormal">(212) 481-0295</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.centerforbookarts.org/">www.centerforbookarts.org</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pros: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wide variety of classes and events for all levels of interest and availability</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cons:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>full-length classes are a little pricey due to the time and equipment required</div><!--EndFragment-->Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432780554367427706.post-58362864672038418102011-09-13T20:46:00.000-04:002011-09-13T20:46:28.887-04:00Welcome to Patently Crafty!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I grew up in a very “crafty” environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my early tween years, I spent my weekends helping my stepmother with her craft business and attending various craft shows on the Eastern Shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the summers, my sister and I would visit my aunt and uncle in Virginia, where we would inevitably take a trip to the local craft store to pick out a “20 minute project” that ended up taking the whole week to complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I got older, I even ventured to make my own jewelry to sell in my stepmother’s booth at the craft fairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I went away to college, moved to DC to be a microbiologist at NIH, and attended law school to become a patent attorney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was little time for crafting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a patent attorney now living in New York, I work with scientists every day to learn about their new pharmaceutical inventions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I missed having an outlet for my creativity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband, therefore, encouraged me to take advantage of all the artistic opportunities that the city has to offer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I ventured out into The City That Never Sleeps to rekindle my former crafting life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It immediately became clear that the options for arts and crafts classes were limitless, and I started taking a variety of them at different venues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, with so many options, it occurred to me that busy people like myself might want to do something creative but would not know what they would enjoy or where to go to learn how to do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be great to have one source where people could go to read about the options and quickly determine whether it would be something that they would want to try. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This blog will review both the art/craft and the teaching venue to become a source for those wanting to explore a new art or craft hobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To review the art/craft, I’ll consider the financial investment (scale of $ - $$$$), the time commitment (scale of <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">T</span> - TTTT), the space requirements (scale of O - OOOO), and any special skills that are required. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I will be expanding my craft repertoire, I will be providing most reviews from an introductory perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the venue, I’ll describe the atmosphere, instruction method, costs, other interesting points, and a summary of the pros and cons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although most of the venues will be in New York City, I will try to take classes in some of the national craft stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope you come back to learn about all that the arts and crafts world has to offer and decide to take a class or two. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be amazed at the satisfaction that you will feel when you complete your first project and the pride that you will have when you receive your first compliment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do try one of the arts or crafts discussed in this blog and/or know of a place in your area that you would recommend for lessons, please feel free to share in the comments.</div><!--EndFragment-->Patently Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03633303585851187413noreply@blogger.com2