A few days ago I had one of the best days in a long time...
One of the artists from our recent book collaboration, Ollie Bath, was the tutor for a Coptic Book Binding workshop, organised by Biloela Area Visual Artists - affectionately known as BAVA in these parts.
Ollie demonstrated how to cover the grey board to create the book covers...
and how to fold a delicious assortment of papers into 'folios' and 'signatures', mark, poke holes and - miraculously - hand stitch all the board and paper together to create a beautiful book.
Ollie, Judy & Liz surveying our days work...
Eight of us created these beautiful books with an assortment of handmade papers, scrap booking and specialty papers, tissue and mulberry papers, even sketch block papers torn out of the block and with the little holes from the spiral binding left on the edge (which, I have to tell you, is too cool for words when you flick through the book!)
Holding one of these in your hands imparts a kind of quiet contentment that is truly rare...It's hard to explain just what it is about these books, it's an intangible feeling. The weight of the book in your hand; the array of textures and colours...they have a special beauty I am clearly struggling to define!
I pick my new baby up at least three times a day...just to hold it and look at it. Soon I will decide what use to put it to - I think it is destined to be an art journal, but till then, I'll enjoy fondling it at every opportunity!
Thanks to Ollie and BAVA for a truly enjoyable day!
7 comments:
It was truly cool. I agree whole heartedly with you Tracey. It was fun, relaxing and not that hard (due to the excellent tutor) to do. The number of times I picked it up and looked through it. Hmmmm!!! Showed a few others who also thought it cool. I was showing Michelle on Tuesday morning and you wouldn't believe it. That missing page turned up. The number of times that I had looked before asking and then after making it, flipping through the papers admiring them all and poof it drops out in Michelle's hand. 'Oh!' she said 'a page has fallen out'. No I said that's is my missing page. lol. Great day, great ladies. Hmmmmm could do with a few more like that.
Hi Tracey & Gail, I'm so glad you had a nice day. I had fun teaching my very first workshop. Enjoy your books & I hope you make some more. Love Olley.
Gail...the mystery of the missing paper solved...how peculiar! And I am in agreement - more days like that please!
Olley, I was in Rocky stocking up on greyboard yesterday...I hope to make another one or two- before I forget how! We'd never have known that was your first teaching gig...you were wonderful! Thanks for a beautiful day.xx
Tracey-Is there anything more sumptuous than the feel of handmade paper? It sounds like the act of stitching together the folios created not only the books, but also friendship and community. Lovely. I look forward to seeing your art journal unfold:)
Hannah, you're absolutely right! We did stitch together friendhips and community...beautifully put!
These look really interesting.. the mind wanders..
Samuel...the mind wanders alright! I had to head to my paper haunts and stock up the next chance I got!
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