LOVE is in the air

Dear Everyone ~

February 14 will be the first Valentines Day of the prolonged shelter season. The upcoming holiday has inspired me to walk around the shop musing, perusing & choosing an array of LOVEly notebooks, pencils, pens, inks, greeting cards & other epistolary supplies to encourage theme-y & dreamy communiqués. Then, like an arrow shot by you-know-who, an idea struck me to put together a “quick kit” of DIY Valentine supplies, including an assortment of LOVE stamps. This paragon of Valentinear versatility can become a romantic sweet nothing or a note of appreciation or admiration to someone you’re thankful to have in your life.

If you aren’t inclined to use the stamps on postcards or envelopes: They are splendid for sealing packages (instead of tape), excellent for embellishing anything, and heavenly for hiding somewhere unexpected. The USPS has issued many LOVE stamps over the years. Our sampler includes a selection of some favourites from years past.

You could use everything on one over-the-top Valentine missive, or use one envelope & notesheet each for two recipients. For this limited edition, I have “dedicated” my lone large pad of Rose Rivoli notesheets to make two different enclosure folds. Delicious details in the shop listing. Here, I’ll just say that the Rose Rivoli shade of pink gives fresh meaning to la vie en rose.

If you are giving any Valentine gifts, consider tying a pink or red writing accessory onto your box or bag. It’s a look I love, whether with a notebook or a sweet nosh. And, of course, a bouquet of pens or coloured pencils is a long-lasting treat.

Duo-it-yourself Valentines

Lovely, Bari

A New Season of Serizawas

Dear Everyone ~

During the summer shelter season of 2020, a dear friend offered me a stash, a veritable trove, of Serizawa calendar pages from 1962. Graced with several complete calendars, I was inspired to make a softcover Coptic-stitch binding using two pages from a given month, one for the front cover and one for the back. I was over the moon smitten with the results. And decided to offer a “Year of Serizawa” softcover Coptic-stitch private workshops via Zoom, one for each month.

During each workshop, I make the same month as my student. Double happiness! The softcover Coptic-stitch using Serizawa calendar pages has become one of my favourite binding styles to make & to teach. I love how the covers (which are “underpinned” with thick cover stock) feel in my hand: soft yet sturdy. These workshops have been more popular than I could have imagined—only June and August are still available.

As I folded, scored & trimmed the covers the first time I made one of these books, it was a little revelation to see how large and linear (as opposed to tiny & triangular) my scraps were, compared to the buttonhole-stitch slivers. I decided to photograph the scraps from each month’s book in various configurations. After each workshop, I have filed my scraps by month in a glassine envelope, tucked into a vintage desktop drawer to keep them in order. These scraps also make for excellent bookmarks, and I include a “month match” bookmark with each book purchased from my shop. As of today, eight months of books are available; September and April will be available shortly. (And June and August are still available to be made.)

* * * * *

Over the years, I have shared with my friend and card artist Janet Bouldin numerous bookbinding scraps. And 2020 was the Year of Tiny Serizawa Triangle Scraps. Janet recently sent me a collage postcard she’d made: a whimsical Serizawa teapot. Oh, my heart sang! I decided presto-pronto that all remaining triangular pieces needed to become Bouldin teapots in various forms. Janet’s nimble fingers and tactile tea-type sensibilities have brewed up a series of fabulous foldover cards, which we have named Bouldini Scrappini Cartoline. The cards also feature bits of Japanese decorative papers, both new and vintage, especially for droplets.

Each card is an original artwork (not a print), on 100% cotton Carta Pura vanilla cover stock, with a matching envelope. You can mail it as a note, prop it on a pillow, tuck it in a parcel...or frame it!

Bouldini Scrappini Cartoline
Series of Serizawa softcover Coptic-stitch Blank Books

Abubble with Serizawa Serendipity, Bari

All’s Creative on the Midwestern Front

Dear Everyone ~

Last week was my first week back in the studio after a restful post-holiday holiday. Cutting down all the papers for the Bookful of Accordion Art kits has been a lovely way to begin the New Year. It continues to be a thrill for me that Zoom enables simultaneous participation from enthusiasts in multiple timezones! For Bookful of Accordion Art, half a dozen students are in Canada and one adventurous student is in Westbury (close to Bath and Bristol!) in the U.K.

The accordion binding style is beyond versatile. Once you’ve mastered the steps, you can make your accordion as long as you’d like, thanks to a multitude of hinging options, including washi and decorative papers. You can make your books any size you’d like, any proportion you’d like, with a minimum of bookbinding arithmetic. I once made an accordion wedding album for a couple, using 2-inch wide gauzy golden ribbon for the spine hinges.

It’s always so meditative to see everything trimmed to size: stacks of Stonehenge, stacks of colourful Fabriano Tiiziano in the five palettes. A veritable buffet of assembling, wrapping, and packing to ship. Zak, recovered from his marathon yeoman performance manning the wrap ’n’ pack desk for the studio sale, happily helped trim all the accordion kit papers to size. I tissue-wrapped everything, and then Zak packed all the boxes, which I’ll be personally delivering to my preferred Post Office later today.

If you haven’t yet signed up for Bookful of Accordion Art, you are not too late. If you register by this Friday, January 15, there’s a high likelihood you will receive your kit before Workshop #1 on Saturday, January 23. All five palettes are still available: Venetian Lagoon (the most popular!), Albuquerque (in second place!), Wine Country, Bleu-ciel-rouge, and Promenade.

All four workshop sessions will be pre-recorded, and the recordings made available to students immediately after each session. This is an exciting innovation for Cat Bennett and me. We will still have our private Facebook group so that students can ask questions and receive our responses between sessions.

If you haven’t taken a Zoom bookbinding workshop previously, I think you might be pleasantly surprised, not only at the clarity of instruction but also at the real sense of camaraderie that develops and deepens over the four sessions.

Bookful of Accordion Art

Bookfully, Bari

“Wow! That was a lot of year.”

Happy 2021, Everyone!

For my first post of the year, I want to look back on 2020, before looking ahead. I’ve had time during my post-holiday holiday to reflect & revel in the “firsts” of last year for Bari Zaki Studio. And there were several. I’d like to start by thanking everyone for Real Mail, and email, and texts, and the occasional voicemail. Your thoughts and kind words really have sustained me… through this prolonged period of uncertainty.

Most recently, the responses to my “Apple a Day” post on December 31 were heartwarming in the extreme. Yes, they were emotional for me, and they also gave me such a feeling of community. It’s an incredible sense of connection to everyone—individually, but also collectively. (If you missed that post, or would like to read it again, you’ll find it immediately below this one.)

I’ve asked people who e’d me about Merrill Smith’s fundraising project whether I might share their comments, and here they are, starting with Merrill’s:

“ Thank you again for sharing my story. Your followers have responded with alacrity. Remarkably my cupboards are almost bare, very hard to believe after years of creating, thinking about this, working through the various iterations for so long. The website just went up three weeks ago, and the apples have dropped from 109 to 24. Head-spinning, M. ”

“ What a lovely way to remember a dear friend and leave a legacy to be treasured for a long time. Thank you, Bari, for writing about your friend and reminding us all that it’s about love and relationships ❤️ All the Best, Jocelyn [in Pennsylvania] ”

*

“ Thank you. Just thank you for such an encouraging start to this New Year. PS I saved my box from you, of my studio sale purchases, to open at Christmas. I am such a thoughtful gifter. :-) Blessings, Rachel [in California] ”

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“ This beautiful email moved me greatly. Today, the first day of the year, is a day of remembrance for me: Adrian. There will be four more this month for my immediate family. I am glad to say that my sister Kathleen is three years a survivor from ovarian and two years from breast cancer! My “Apple a Day” is the dark gray/black shiny on a white stone. It speaks to me of my understanding of how life and death are held simultaneously. Purchasing it links me universally to the community of shared experience. The moment of Adrian’s death, I was at work examining a newborn baby. Then, as now, I choose life. As I did on January 1st, I will both light a candle and eat an apple on each remembrance. With love and gratitude, Janice ”

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“ Bari, please keep gracing us with your artistic insights and talents, your positivity and creativity, and your gorgeous selection of book and paper art supplies and projects. Wishing you a very healthy new year! Susan ”

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“ What a lovely year-end gift this email is, Bari! Thank you for sharing this story and images. Cheers to you and Merrill for this project and the loving friendship of Merrill and Amy. All my best, Barbara ”

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“ Thank you for sharing this touching story. I ordered an apple/box and each time I look at it I will think of my friend Debi, who succumbed to ovarian cancer. She was a teacher and an artist. We spent many hours creating together. She would have utterly delighted in your store. Your work with Merrill is collaboration in its purest form. And the ripple effect .... unknowable. Best wishes for 2021. Chris [in Iowa] ”

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“ Thank you for this post. A friend of mine died of ovarian cancer this year. I just purchased an apple in her memory, and Merrill delivered the apple in its box yesterday. What a beautiful piece of art. I hope Merrill finds peace in this project. It is a beautiful way to remember Amy Rosenthal. Good health and beautiful art to you and your family in 2021! Barb L. [in Chicago] ”

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“ Thank you, Bari, for sharing....the gift of you (and this story and all the stories you share). You are light, always, especially in these dark days. My best to you and your family, Nina [in Chicago] ”

In November, my first-ever online studio sale was a mesmerizing merchandising marvel for me. When the Studio Sale 2020 page went live at 8:00 pm CST on November 20, I literally held my breath for a moment, wondering what would happen…. and it didn’t take long to find out! Thank you to everyone who shopped, and apologies to those of you who had your potential purchases mysteriously vanish from your cart when another customer beat you to check-out. The sale was a great success, except for the disappointment of not seeing people in person and having a chance to chat. On the bright side, it was lovely that so many customers were able to shop this year from other states and even Canada.

Zak, as always, managed the wrapping of purchases...and this year, he handled all the “parcelizing,” which was no small task. We had a wonderful washi moment, as I began to prep a long row of washi snippets (along the edge of the table) to have at the ready for wrapping—at which point Zak observed that I was only using one pattern of washi. He requested that I use multiple patterns so it wouldn’t get boring, perhaps for himself, but definitely for the recipients. I love his attention to decorative detail!

* * * * * *

Zooming back to the sheltering summer, I finally cannonballed into the deep end of teaching online. I won’t say that I took to it like a duck to water, but I have loved being able to teach students around the globe. Certainly, a highlight of the fall was co-teaching Bookful of Art with Cat Bennett. We had 40-plus students, gathered virtually for four Saturday mornings. Cat and I were so chuffed by the enthusiasm & camaraderie of the group, and we are eagerly anticipating our second four-part workshop, Bookful of Accordion Art, starting later this month.

* * * * * *

Zooming even further back, to March 17, the beginning of the shelter season, when I debuted Bundles of Stationery Joy, to encourage the joy that comes from sending mail. The bundles were greeted with such enthusiasm, that they inspired Deluxe Bundles, and then Booster Bundles, and then Autumnal Bundles. The Booster Bundles were my favourite, as I had hoped to raise $500 to contribute to MoveOn’s #SaveThePostOffice campaign… My total rose to $699, which it was my thrill to round up to $700. Thank you one more time to everyone who contributed!

* * * * *

I know how fortunate I have been in expanding my online presence to creatively bring the studio and workshops to a larger audience than ever. I feel like I’m forging new paper-love frontiers! I am excited for the year ahead, and hope to have the long-awaited pleasure of reconnecting with you in person. Until then, I wish you health, creativity & heartwarming connections.

Brimming, Bari

“Wow! That’s a lot of work.”

Dear Everyone ~

My last post of 2020 is a tribute to the creativity and joie de vivre of two women, one of whom I know and admire, and one of whom, sadly, I will never meet.

Merrill Smith conceived her Apple a Day project in 2019, to honor the memory of her friend, Amy Krouse Rosenthal. A foundation has been established in Amy’s memory, dedicated to raising awareness of ovarian cancer. Merrill wanted a creative way to assuage her own grief and to raise money for the foundation.

My part in Merrill’s project involves her presentation boxes. She wanted to make them herself, to hold the ceramic apples she was making to sell. When Merrill first came to me and requested my private tutorial, I was thrilled about helping her realize her creative vision for such a personal project. Merrill’s generosity of spirit stayed top of mind for me as I focused on designing and constructing the presentation box, including the best way to cover it. Because I am visually oriented, at each step, as the box and materials moved from the conceptual to the tactile, my 3-D delight increased!

Merrill had planned a weekend studio sale back in November, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that. So, Merrill put up a website...and, as of the night before Christmas, she has sold 194, some with boxes and some without.

I became equally curious about Merrill’s Apple a Day project and her friendship with Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Merrill was incredibly generous with her responses, starting with reminiscing about the first time she had met Amy, fourteen years ago.

“ I was giving a dinner party, and a friend asked if she could bring Amy and her husband, Jason. I’ve said, more than once, that Amy was the best hostess gift anyone has ever given me. That evening was the beginning of the most lovely friendship. I have felt Amy’s presence so often during this project, in the people I’ve come across who have reminded me of her kindness and generosity of spirit. ”

Merrill had her Apple a Day inspiration when Amy was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 

“ Apples with all their storied associations represent health to me. So many of us were fervently trying to cast good intentions out into the universe during that time, anything to try and bargain with the fates to improve those slim survival percentages to move in Amy’s favor. And so, creating these became my meditation and hope. ”

Merrill shared her apple idea with Amy who, typically, had some ideas.

“ Amy and I talked about different ways I might distribute them—at the time there were nowhere near 365. That idea came after. One idea we kicked around was to hand them out to school teachers in appreciation for all they do, just kind of randomly plopping them on a desk with a little note. Given where we are currently, and what we are expecting of teachers, that still seems like a lovely idea and I do hope that some find their way to those deserving souls. ”

Merrill had seen mugs being sold in lovely boxes, and decided she’d love to offer her apples boxed.

“ When a friend introduced me to your studio, I was so drawn to the detail, to the curated scene full of possibilities that I signed up for one of your boxmaking workshops. I remember thinking ‘Wow! That’s a lot of work.’ But the idea of being able to present an apple, that iconic shape, in something special, something that enhanced the unique nature of each of the pieces, really took hold. After our private tutorial, I left thinking again, ‘Wow! That’s a lot of work.’ I let the idea stew for a bit before committing to it. ”

Merrill has made more than 365 apples, many of which were presented in boxes she had made and covered in assorted papers. When she sent me a photo of all the boxes stacked up on her fireplace mantel, I was in complete awe. I understand, personally and professionally, the time and labour it took to make all of these boxes! I had to just sit and take it in. Merrill’s photo will remain one of my beloved images. Also, in that moment, Merrill’s project became tangible for me, overwhelming me to the point of goosebumps. 
I’ve looked at the photo almost countless times and the emotion hasn’t worn off.

I end this post, and this year of posts, wishing you all peace, creativity & cautious optimism for 2021!

Gratefully, Bari

A Very Mary Christmas

Dear Everyone ~

In earlyish December, I finished a commission for Mary, who began acquiring my hand-bound books shortly after I opened Bari Zaki Studio in 2015. I asked her permission to showcase what I made for her recently, and she replied, “Yes, you can show off your lovely handiwork that has made me a popular gift-giver.” Blush of gratitude.

Mary took her inspiration for the three new custom books from one she had bought last summer, that I made during a soft-cover Coptic-stitch workshop. I had used a pair of Takeshi Nishijima calendar pages for January, one for the front cover and one for the back. I was thrilled with how the book turned out, and delighted that someone that I knew would appreciate it so much had acquired it. When Mary asked if she could commission three books made the same way, I was ecstatic. I curated my Nishijima reserves, as I needed to be sure I had TWO calendar pages for the same month of a given year. Mary selected one November pair and two August pairs.

We mused about the interior pages, and Mary liked my vision of having signatures of alternating colours. For the two August books, I used Stonehenge in natural white and pale blue. For the November book, I used Hahnemuhle Bugra in blue and gray.

Mary and I had both been aware of Serizawa calendars for many years, purchasing them almost ritually from Aiko’s on Clark Street in Chicago. She reminisces:

“ You introduced me to the Takeshi calendars. I love the differences between the two mingei artists—Serizawa being more abstract and colourful, and Takeshi, with his scenic celebration of nature and folk craft artisans. ”

Mary has commissioned my books for family members as well as dear friends. She comments:

“ Most of my book gifts are based on birthdays, but some on interests. I bought one of your garden-floral covered journals for a friend who gardens, another for someone who loves marbled paper. I have never really asked how my friends use their books, but I know that the person who received the garden book uses hers to keep notes on her garden, and another records memorable moments in her life and quotations she enjoys. ” 

Mary has a creative plan for one of her new August books...and when she fulfills her vision, I will hope to have the pleasure of showcasing it on my blog.

In bookbinding bliss, Bari

Artist showcase: New cards by people I know

Dear Everyone ~

I’m delighted to announce the arrival of two sets of cards made by two cherished members of my creative community. This is a rare treat for me, as most of the items in my shop come from enterprises abroad, made by people I will probably never get to meet.

Janet Bouldin, who lives not far from Chicago, is a customer and student who has become a dear friend. She didn’t really begin her art practice until her retirement (from teaching English). Now, she is an avid sketcher and watercolourist. She took her first workshops at Bari Zaki Studio shortly after I opened in 2015. Most recently, she has taken Bookful of Art, which Cat Bennett and I co-taught.

I have noodged Janet to “go public and tactile” with her art for quite some time. She had an exhibition scheduled in Marblehead, Mass. back in July, but it had to be postponed indefinitely. Now, I am thrilled to be the first purveyor of Janet’s Tableaux cards, and to share her thoughts:

“ Capturing what’s right in front of me—painting a favorite coffee mug for example—allows me to preserve a fleeting moment. It’s a way of journaling for me, of keeping track of where I’ve been, where I am, and sometimes pointing a path forward. ”

“ Drawing and painting are calming for me, keeping me in touch with myself. It’s a way to tell bits of my own story as it unfolds… When I go too long without doing it, I start to feel a void. If someone buys or receives one of my cards, I hope it reminds them to pay closer attention to the small moments of visual pleasure in their own lives. ”

Janet’s images are printed as postcards on matte gloss stock (on the image side, and uncoated on the message side). I am pairing them with Rivoli envelopes, two Vanilla and two Rose, with beautiful pointy flaps.

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Cat Bennett is a career artist and illustrator. She is also my co-instructor on Zoom, and has taught workshops in person at Bari Zaki Studio in the “good old days.” Cat has written three books to encourage people to develop their own art practices, and she is lyrically articulate in sharing her reflections on this:

“ Drawing is a beautiful meditation and helps us look more closely too. Last fall, I took to drawing the fading plants in a neighbor’s garden to calm my nerves in these uncertain times. ”

“ As I drew, I began to find real beauty in these dry, broken plants and to notice that they held life in them too. In spring their seeds or roots will sprout into lush new plants. I felt nature was speaking to me and telling me that all the beauty of life will soon return. I hope the cards remind us of that. ”

Cat’s cards are letterpress printed at Fat Chick Press in Boston, on Mohawk Superfine, in our favourite finish (Eggshell!). The companion A-7 envelope is also Superfine.

Elf advisory:
If you are able to come curbside, you can pick up some of Janet and Cat’s cards on Tuesday and Wednesday (noon–6:00) and on Thursday (11:00–2:00). Otherwise, if you place an order by Tuesday, we will ship before closing for the Holiday.

Tableaux postcards
Botanical silhouettes

Living in the moment, Bari

Customers’ capers with Cambridge papers

Dear Everyone ~

It is so lovely to receive photos from customers sharing what they’ve done with materials from Bari Zaki Studio. The Cambridge Imprints papers are racking up new loyalists, and I’m delighted to share with you glimpses from three customers who have been creative and dexterous with their recent projects.

Zoe is a new-ish customer who has taken a couple of workshops, including Bookful of Art back in September. She also took my online buttonhole-stitch class through Sonheim Creative, and this inspired her to make a truly swoonable baby gift for a friend. What she did was to stitch a series of sleeves (in other words, envelopes without seal flaps) she made herself from various Cambridge Imprint papers, into a buttonhole-stitch book she made and covered with Cambridge Imprint papers. Zoe credits my Art of the Handmade Envelope Kit with her design and success on her sleeves.

But wait, there’s absolutely more: Zoe made a drop-spine box to protect the book, likewise covered in you-now-know-what. Inside the sleeves are postcards (from you-know-where), that her friend will write on, to describe The New Baby’s memorable moments. I have had the great pleasure of seeing & touching Zoe’s masterful finished book. It is sweet, a superb permanent keepsake, and a testimonial to Zoe’s great affection for her friend.

*  *  *  *  *

Robb is a creative wrapper, with a revolving collection of vintage boxes of all sizes and vintage papers from many lands. Recently, Robb was inspired to “mount” a Cambridge origami butterfly he’d folded...between a pair of plastic hands he’d just bought, on a package he’d wrapped in vintage Florentine paper. (He has now watched the Cambridge butterfly-folding video tutorial enough times that he comments he can fold on the fly.)

Robb also wrapped a little Japanese jewelry box in which he was presenting a thumbdrive (an anthology of episodes of “This American Life”) in a scrap of vintage Japanese paper (which looks somewhat related to the Cambridge origami sheets). He made a little slit in the grosgrain ribbon, threaded the opposite end through, chevroned the ends, et voilà. Not a knot in sight!

*  *  *  *  *

Merrill stopped into the shop back in 2019, with a vision she wanted to share with me. She was making a large number of small ceramic apples as a fundraiser for the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation, honoring the memory of Merrill's friend Amy. She wanted each apple to be ensconced in a little cube that would “present” the apple without its needing to be removed from the box. So, the box would become an integral part of the experience.

Merrill asked if I would teach her to construct and cover the box. What a great “training commission!” Once I figured out the construction, fabric (for the hinges) and paper components, we had a private workshop on how to build the 3 x 3 x 3 box. I also created a highly detailed set of instructions (beautifully illustrated by Emmy Kennett) that Merrill could refer to once at home making them on her own.

In the middle of shelter season, Merrill sent word that she was beginning to cover the boxes and would appreciate a refresher on certain details. We met on zoom for a few minutes to review the hand-out … and she was in business! When she sent me a photo of them all stacked up on her fireplace mantel, I melted! The timing coincided with my announcement of carrying the Cambridge Imprint papers… and I happened to spy several of her boxes covered with those papers! Now, she is delighted to have a local source.

Merrill had planned a weekend studio sale back in November, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that. Now she is developing a website to sell the apples, and when that is up and running, I plan to do a post about it and the Foundation. Helping Merrill fulfill her vision to honor her friend was a personal as well as professional accomplishment for me.

In deep swoon, Bari

Wrapping Supplies & Seasonal Refreshments

Dear Everyone ~

We have wrapping accessories to the rafters this morning, but, as recent experience has shown, the early bird will get the juiciest bits. Our suppliers in the U.K., Japan & Canada have come through with flying colours, from white (ink) to black (multimedia 100% cotton paper) and everything in beteal (washi with golden blooms).

* * * * *

Eleanor Percival wrapping paper is festive, floral, and fabulous to fold. It corresponds most charmingly to the artist’s Hedgerow Postcard Set (which I’ve just added to her notecard listing). Dress up the wrap with washi. Accessorize with Summer Fruit Stamps. Wish you had a crumpet.

Our reserves of Cambridge Imprint wraps have been replenished, and our next post will feature wonderful (and inspiring) things customers have made with their Cambridge Imprint patterns, including envelopes!

If you’d like to try creating a chalkboard-effect gift tag, address label, or holiday card, our new Japanese fine-tip white ink brush pen may be just the tool for you. The ink is opaque enough that even small print or script is highly readable. On black Saint-Armand, the look is rich and elegant, and the feel is almost velvety. (Our reserves of Saint-Armand multimedia and watercolour pads are close-to-fully replenished.)

Let’s queue up the Kew cards! We are delighted to have expanded our offering to include eight large cards and six smaller cards. In the larger format, Poinsettia Leaves and Nutmeg are particularly seasonal.

Almost last but not least, if you’d like a new roll of washi, check out Dandelight, designed by Mina Perhonen (who also did Well-dressed birds): a deep teal background with golden dandelions.

For the finale: We’ve just assembled a big batch of Bundlissimi, as we had completely run out, thanks to a lovely local order for 16 of them from a neighboring business (whose clients offered “amazing feedback” on their gifts).

Eleanor Percival Wrap
Cambridge Imprint Wrap
Fine-tip White Brush pen
Saint-Armand Multimedia Pads
Kew Cards for Notes
Dandelight washi tape
Bundlissimi

Festively, Bari

Bookful of Accordion Art: a new four-part workshop

Dear Everyone ~

Bookful of Accordion Art is the second co-teaching collaboration between Cat Bennett and Bari Zaki. This new four-Saturday workshop will start on January 23. We thought briefly about naming it “Accordion Trio,” because you will make three accordion books, but, in the end, we decided we had to have the word bookful in the workshop name, because we love it.

The success of our Bookful of Art this past autumn, for more than 40 students, inspired us to brew up a new structure, for you to fill the deep winter months with warmth and creativity. We will record the workshop lessons in advance, so that they will be available for you, with no interruptions or delay, immediately after each workshop. Between sessions, we will both answer any questions in our private Facebook group, where students are invited to share and be inspired by each other. (Even if you are not on Facebook, it’s easy to create an account simply for the class.)

In Workshop #1, you will fold the accordion pages for your three books and prepare their covers. In Workshops #2 & #3, Cat will lead the group in drawing and painting on your accordions. In Workshop #4, Cat will lead the group in drawing the faces of guests at an imaginary gathering of your favourite artists. For the finale, Bari will do a 30-minute demo of two alternate styles of hinging for your future accordion making. (So, you might want to bind one of your three books during the week, and wait to decide how to bind the other two.)

The style of accordion book you’ll be making is more than a bit sentimental to me. Many moons ago, when I first began making books, I discovered this binding style. I was so fascinated by all seamless folds and tucks. There was no glue needed, only paper folding. I have always thought of them as origami accordion books. I mostly made them in trios—selecting assorted palettes galore provided many moments of chromatic delirium. For this workshop, we’ve devised five different palettes, each featuring three Fabriano Tiziano colours.

The only tools you will need are a bonefolder, a glue stick, and a pair of sharp scissors. For your drawing & painting exercises, Cat is a big fan of using what you have on hand. That said, if you feel inspired to shop for new implements…. We hope you will join us to share in the creative camaraderie and shared love of paper, bookbinding, drawing, painting & nature. No previous bookbinding or art experience necessary—but you do need a reliable internet connection.

Bookful of Accordion Art

Accordion-ly, Bari