Making Foldable Books

 The workshop we attended (previous post)

was called "It's a Foldable World", (how cute is that)  

& was taught by artist Cynthia Ahlstrin. 

She taught us "Faux Japanese Wrap Books." 

Right at the start she emphasized 

"Handmade, not Perfect" 

 & we all relaxed.

"We're not stressing today," 

she would remind us from time to time. 

The model book I made in the class is the bottom photo. 

Above is my follow up book, made at home,

using little painted elements 

that have been hanging around,

just waiting for this!

 The interior is an accordion fold.

Don't use anything lighter than 70 pound paper.

(She gave lots of tips like this.)

These springy little gems come alive in your hands.

And they hold together without glue! 

And you can make them be cards with fewer pages

if you want!

Foldable Magic!

Say hello to my 3rd book. I'm going to be filling these

with French vocabulary, quotes & expressions

for my new series/project. 

More are already in the works.

 My very first book, done in class.

She brought such nice papers for us to work with.

Cynthia was prepared, methodical & yet spritied.

With her method, you couldn't fail! 

And she made me laugh with expressions like 

"It's about quicko-chango-form today, not about content.
Does everyone know what content means?" 
(Filling the pages was to be done on our own time.)

Thanks Cynthia & thanks to my friends for taking me there

and sharing the fun!