Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2023
Happy Heart Month Fellow Bookmakers!

I know last month I challenged you to think about how you might contribute to the guild in 2023. Some of you shared your thoughts at the January program meeting: make books for the book challenge, teach a class, participate in more guild activities, and take a class are a few of the ideas that were shared. I will be posting in the NBG studio a full list of the challenges we have set for ourselves. The Education Committee has developed a great schedule of activities for the first quarter. And, this month there are several opportunities for members to participate in guild activities to help you meet your goals plus just have fun. 

We have two workshops: The Defined Spine taught by Susan Campbell, Zhen Xian Bao or Chinese Thread Book taught by Laurel Herbeck & Corlis Taylor. We are trying something new this year: Play Dates! Play dates are an opportunity for low stress no-cost fun and a chance to gather with fellow bookmakers to work on an activity. Our February play date is titled "Adventures in Surface Design." Bring your paper, paints, stamps, stencils and other supplies on hand and we will create decorated paper to use in your future bookmaking projects. This date is hosted by Laurel and Corlis.

In addition to workshops and play dates we also have open studio on Wednesdays, an Art-O-Mat work session, and Hornbook project work sessions. Please check out the calendar at the end of the newsletter and sign up, show up or maybe bring a friend to learn about what we do. I hope to see you this month!

Corlis Taylor
NBG President
The Defined Spine Workshop
Saturday, February 11
12 - 3pm 
Instructor: Susan Campbell
Cost: $45
In-person workshop in the NBG Studio
3550 Airport Way, Suite 205, Fairbanks, AK 99709

CLASS FULL, WAIT LIST ONLY

Throughout 2023, a workshop will follow each NBG program meeting for those who would like to further explore how the pamphlet stitch can be applied with greater complexity. The Defined Spine is the first follow-up workshop in this year’s series. Using the simple pamphlet stitch and articulating the spine of the book in an innovative way, this structure creates an unusual spine that holds two signatures with mat board covers embellished with decorative paper.  

Open to 8 participants, we will meet in-person with masking protocols in place. All materials will be provided to create one book like those pictured in the photo. Participants will need to bring basic tools (X-acto knife, bone folder, scoring tool, scissors, two 2 inch wide rulers, and a set of metal edges). Students may pay by cash or check on the day of the class. Please click the button below to contact the instructor, Susan Campbell, with questions or to sign-up.
Zhen Xian Bao Workshop
(Chinese Sewing Book)

Saturday, February 25, 10am - 4pm
Sunday, February 26, 12 - 4pm

Instructors Laurel Herbeck and Corlis Taylor
In-person workshop in the NBG Studio
Members: $150, Guests: $175
Materials Fee $25

Class size limited to 8 participants
Make payment at the studio with cash or check

The Zhen Xian Bao was used by Chinese women to contain their sewing supplies such as needles and embroidery threads. This traditional container consists of a cover and inside folded compartments of varying sizes in several sections. In this class you will construct your own book using basic elements of construction that you learn such as twist fold pockets, collapsible boxes. Contemporary versions of these books can be used to hold many secrets and surprises.


Supplies and tools to bring to class:
Basic bookmaking Kit: cutting mat,
X-acto knife, bone folder, scoring tool,
measuring tools
Decorative paper for folding
Glue stick

Supplies provided by instructor:
Paper for models
Cover weight paper
Decorative paper
Double sided adhesive sheet
Waxed Linen Thread
NBG BOOK CHALLENGE
Announcing the 2023 NBG Challenge Themes!

January/February - Calendar
March/April - Fiber
May/June - Jewelry
July/August - Wood
September/October - Architecture
November/December - Winter

The NBG Challenge is an opportunity for guild members to find inspiration through interpretation of the theme in whatever way speaks to them. Once finished, email pictures of your artist book to Ashley to be added to the NBG website. Check out the 2022 entries on the website now!

*** A big congrats to Chris Greenfield-Pastro for being the first member to complete all 6
challenges in 2022!! Way to go, Chris!!***
Art-o-Mat Project Update

Thank you to those who voted on naming the NBG Art-o-Mat Machine! "Artie" is the winner and carries a light and fun feel to it, like the machine itself. If you have yet to have visited Artie in person, it will reside at the Folk School Fairbanks for the month of February.
Currently stocked are several gorgeous block prints, intriguing fossilized jewelry, unique glass hearts, watercolor paintings, and more! Check out the classes offered by the Folk School Fairbanks and visit Artie, or enjoy hard-to-resist BEIGNETS and CHICORY CAFÉ AU LAIT at their February 11th Mardi Gras Coffee Shop themed fundraiser.
The first NBG Art-o-Mat Work Session is scheduled for Sunday February 5th, 10am-3pm in the NBG Studio. We will assemble Jacob's Ladder boxes from colorful patterned Nepalese Lokta, Indian Shizen, and Italian Florentine and Carta Varese papers. We are excited to stock these beauties along side the other original art work in Artie soon!

Venues interested in hosting the machine in 2023 should email contact@nwbookarts.org for more information. Local artists are encouraged to submit their work to be sold nationwide through the network of Art-o-Mat machines. See https://artomat.org for more details!
Reversing Accordion Workshop
with Connie Stricks

Saturday, March 25 - 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Members $90, Guests $100
Materials fee: $25
Workshop limited to 8 participants

Make payment at the Studio with cash or by check to NBG.

Early enrollment is appreciated.

We will continue our exploration of the “Mighty Pamphlet Stitch,” combining it with the
accordion fold—both fundamental and versatile components of paper book structures. We will
make 2 hard cover accordion fold books with attached inner folios. Embellish the folios and
structure as you choose and attach birch twigs or wooden dowels to their spines. The
structure can be quite elaborate, even sculptural, and displayed from both front or back.
Though embellishing materials will be provided, you are free to bring some of your own. This is
a good time to use those small pieces of paper you may have and/or natural materials such as
pressed leaves and flowers.

INSTRUCTOR WILL SUPPLY:
Boards
Paper for structure and embellishing
Double sided adhesive sheet
Glue sticks
Needle
Waxed linen
Twigs/dowels
Piercing board
Emery boards

PLEASE BRING:
Bone or teflon folder
Bone scorer
Cutting mat 18x24 w/grid (or larger)
Cutting tool (utility knife or X-acto w/ extra blades)
Glue brush (small glue brush or 3/4” flat brush)
Small jar of PVA (mixed)
Pencil & eraser
Scissors
Rulers (one 1 x 12” two 2 x 18” plastic guilting rulers)
Optional: Steel rules, embellished papers, pressed leaves/flowers/thin bark

Note: Please email the instructor to indicate your preference regarding the wearing of
masks by class participants. If one person feels more comfortable with masks on, all will
wear masks. To allow plenty of personal space, this class is limited to 8 participants.
NBG Open Studio
12-2pm Every Wednesday

What is Open Studio?

Northwoods Book Arts Guild rents a studio space at Suite 205, 3550 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709. This studio is where we hold most classes, and where our Letterpress equipment is located. It is the home of Boreal Book Arts Showcase, a cooperative where you can purchase artist books and related materials created by our members. And it is the home of our supply depot, Paper Birches. This is where, if you are an NBG member, you can purchase book making papers, tools, instruction manuals, book cloth and thread. These items are purchased by the Guild and offered to you at the lowest possible prices. By purchasing in bulk, we are able to share reduced prices and delivery rates. This is all operated by volunteer members of the Guild.

Open Studio is your opportunity to come into the studio and pick up artist supplies and artist books. You can also use this time to visit with other members, consult with others on your project, or gather inspiration from the displays that line the studio walls. You can check out inspirational or instructional books from our Lending Library. With previous instruction, you can use the Letterpress equipment.

Open Studio is currently open every Wednesday from 12:00 to 2:00pm. If you would like to make a studio visit outside of these hours, you are welcome to contact any Board Member to set up an appointment. We look forward to seeing you at the studio!
NBG Help Wanted

NBG Wants YOU!

Northwoods Book Arts Guild is seeking fun-loving volunteers to join the Board in the following positions:

Secretary - This job takes a little time, but nothing you can’t handle! Attend bimonthly Zoom Board meetings and take notes on the proceedings. You can ask members to speed up, slow down, or clarify any point you wish. After the meeting, type up your notes and submit them as Minutes to all Board and Advisory Council members. Bingo, bango, done! Term is two years.

Development Committee Members - This job is perfect for the person who wants to work with a team to impact the NBG community in a big way! This committee’s tasks include promoting and fundraising for the guild, seek out grant writing opportunities to secure funding for special projects, organize events and outreach activities.

Compensation package includes camaraderie, a sense of accomplishment, and contribution to the general health of the Fairbanks arts community! Join us today!

Please contact any NBG Board Member or Mary Maisch to offer your services, at your earliest convenience.
Congratulations to Magdéleine Ferru, NBG Guild Member, on the opening of her January 2023 show at the Valdez Museum: “The Girl Made of Light and Dust”. The exhibit features her photographs and artist books, and as Magdéleine explained: "Taking pictures with instinct, finding inspiration in the natural world surrounding me; capturing a sudden fleeting, vanished emotion. The imprecise and the blurry come to the fore, changing the relationship to space and time. Assembled in artist book or installation, my photos create a dialogue between them. They make moments of simplicity or unconventional, beautiful or dreamlike.”
NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
CALENDAR

NBG Open Studio & Boreal Book Arts Showcase Hours
Meet, Make, Shop!
Wednesdays, 12-2pm

Horn Book Project
Consultation sessions at Open Studio
February 8 and 22, 12-2pm

Art-o-Mat Work Session
Sunday, February 5, 10am-3pm

NBG Workshop
The Defined Spine
Saturday, February 11, 12-3pm

NBG Play Date
Adventures in Surface Design
Saturday, February 18, 12-4pm

NBG Workshop
Zhen Xian Bao
Sat & Sun, February 25 & 26

NBG Program Meeting
Sunday, March 19, 1-3pm
On Zoom

NBG Workshop
Reversing Accordion
Saturday, March 25, 9:30am-4:30pm

Learn about and support Northwoods Book Arts Guild!