Fall 2017 Classes at Two Hands Paperie

Here's a brand new class I'm really excited about.

Ingredients include cool, clear, lasercut acrylic and stunning color and pattern combinations of your choosing. If you enjoy alternative materials paired with traditional techniques - this class is for you!

http://twohandspaperie.com/acrylic-book-class-new-oct-7/

In related news, the "Japanese Stab Binding - Four Ways" class sold out in record time again! I will continue to give what the people want, so keep and eye out for a repeat of this one in the future...

The entire amazing lineup of classes can be found at: 

http://twohandspaperie.com/classes/

Bookarts - Writing & Calligraphy - Drawing & Printing - Encaustic Painting

Mixed Media - Paper Arts - and Visual Journaling awaits YOU!!!!

Action!

Shot this little video whilst tearing down a sheet of Mohawk Superfine paper.

More like Mohawk SUPERFAST! 😆

Spring Class Recaps

Just thought I'd break radio silence and add a few photos from last spring's classes. The fall schedule is aaalmost ready to post - so check back soon. Hint: there is something brand NEW to look forward to!.. 

Class time and student work from the "Lap Link Binding" class offered at Two Hands Paperie last February.

The inaugural "Japanese Stab Binding - 4 Ways" - student work and work in progress at Two Hands last March. Excited to repeat this one in the fall!

Back Again! Lap Link Binding Class - Feb 18, 2017

Back by popular demand, my Lap Link Binding Class is being offered again at
Two Hands Paperie on February 18th! 

This class features exposed-spine stitching over ribbon support tapes - strength and beauty all in one!

Perhaps you'd like to spend one of your long-weekend days learning something new?

Get more info on this class, and register here:

http://twohandspaperie.com/lap-link-binding-class-feb-18/

Two Hands' entire Spring lineup here: http://twohandspaperie.com/classes/

SOLD OUT! Japanese Stab Binding - 4 Ways

This class sold out before I even had a chance to post about it, WOW! I thought I'd share some photos of the sample books, and behind-the-scenes development.

Designing these stitch patterns is a stretch for my brain, and I really enjoyed coming up with 4 botanical theme bindings for this class.

I am sure this class will be offered again in the future, so stay tuned!

Fall 2016 Classes at Two Hands Paperie

As usual, Two Hands Paperie currently has a stellar class lineup. I'm teaching two classes this round. 

Light It Up! Paper Fireflies, September 11, 12:30-4:30 

Sewable electronics combine with paper collage in this beautiful and nostalgic project.

Here's a few pics from the last class:

And here's a video of the fireflies in action:

Lap Link Binding, September 25, 11-4:30

This type of book structure is so satisfying to complete - the stitch pattern is utilitarian AND good-looking! I break the technique down into digestible sections using sewing templates for practice, and pre-cut materials for ease of learning. One of my favorite classes to teach, for sure!

Check out the complete Two Hands Paperie Class Schedule - classes where you can learn:

Paper Making, Book Arts, Drawing, Letterpress, Zentangle, Paper Flowers, Encaustic Painting, Mixed Media, Calligraphy, Woodblock Printing, Paper Arts, Art Technique, Visual Journaling, and Image Transfer Technique

...to name a few!

Exposed Spine Stitching

Digging how this promo shot turned out. I love teaching these exposed spine bindings and hope to offer classes featuring this technique for as long as there is interest.

Woodland Creatures Pajaki

I was keen to make another nursery pajaki, and my friend's baby shower was right in the line of fire! She decided on a gender-neutral woodland theme including turquoise, orange, and gray. I used little green leaf sequins in addition to dresden trim stars from Two Hands Paperie and paper leaves I hand cut. I found some cross-cut discs from branches, and involved lots of paper punched circles and stars. The real feature was the super-cute bottlebrush animals I assembled from two import shops on Amazon. To get the animals to hang on the same level, I needed to compare their height. Mini woodland creature lineup for the measurements! Squirrel was tall, mouse was small. Skunk, rabbit, and fox fell in between. Love all the woodsy details in this one.

Light It Up! Shadowbox Class - Feb 20, 2016

This class was a really neat iteration of the Light It Up! series I've been teaching at Two Hands Paperie.  The project combined a simple image transfer technique on transparency, with sewable electronic LED lights from SparkFun. We used a pre-made stretched painter's canvases as a base, stitched the electrical components to the canvas, and overlaid the transparencies and other collage material. This class offered a lot of opportunity for creative variance, and I was impressed with the unique qualities in everyone's projects. This class was extra-fun, I hope to offer it again sometime!

Memory Books

Two projects in a row - both memory books. Memory books surely are my most poignant commission work. I so deeply appreciate the connection I get to make to the person bring remembered, in addition to connecting with their loved ones (for whom the book is really for). I never would have guessed that a simple act like bookbinding could impart this level of emotional involvement but creating memory books continues to truly be my honor. Every time. 

I never fail to be amazed by the breadth of diversity among commission work. These two memory books are shining examples of such.

 The first book shown here features pages which were given out to loved ones to fill with content. Friends and family decorated the pages with writing, drawing, and photos. The completed pages were bound together with ribbon. Bright and cheerful colors pay homage to a young man who died at 22. I poured love for a stranger into the binding of this book for his parents. 

The other memory book was in honor of a loving father and outstanding husband. He finally succumbed to ALS after a long campaign. His wife told me all about the celebrations his life-long friends were able to have in his name - gatherings all over the country, including a magical outdoor festival with music and fireflies. He was an accomplished woodworker and his wife was really hoping to incorporate some aspect of wood into the book. I had been saving some special wood veneer for just the right project, and was enthused to put it to use in this extra large album. She asked that I bind the blank book in time for her trip to visit her daughter and son. They were going to spend their time together filling the album with content they had been gathering in his memory. I've obscured the nameplate in this photo for privacy, but the plate read his name and dates of life. The emotional involvement I had with this one really inspired the execution of using unconventional materials with the extra large format. His widow really wanted this book to be special, and I am so pleased and honored that it turned out beautifully. Sometimes, I really do feel like books make themselves - this definitely was the case with this one.