| 2-Day Design in the Details: Page Adaptations & Variations - Online

Create a collection of inventive page structures suitable for use in a variety of bindings.

NOTE: This class will be held in a live, online format using the Zoom Platform.
Class meets Saturday & Sunday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm ET

Create a collection of inventive page structures suitable for use in a variety of bindings.  Making a book by hand allows opportunities for creativity in the design and material choices of the book. And it’s the details of these choices that can elevate your book from the commonplace to set apart from the crowd.

Binder-artists often have ideas that challenge the successful execution of traditional binding forms, because of unusual materials or unconventional alterations of these structures. This workshop offers some approaches to designing pages that go beyond the regular printed page, but are easily bound into traditional forms.

We’ll cover a range of techniques, with many based on historic structures, including how to incorporate photos or prints, oversized pages, loose material, as well as pockets, foldouts, envelopes, mounting options, and other display possibilities. We’ll also discuss the relationship between the reader-viewer and the design of the physical book as we work through these variations.

Each participant will make a simple but useful book model to hold their page examples for future reference like the one pictured here. Previous bookmaking experience is helpful.

Tools and materials:

Supplied by MMW+C in Kits – Mailed the week before class

(1) 3 x 5 ½” horizontal postcard, print, drawing or photo

(1) 3 ½”x 5 ½” horizontal postcard, print, drawing, or photo

(2) 3” x 3” postcards, prints, drawings or photos

6’ bookbinding thread, linen 18/3, button and carpet thread, perle cotton #5 (or similar)

2 pieces of Mylar, 5” x 7” or something similar (acetate, rigid plastic from a report cover, etc.)

2 Brads or paper fasteners, ¾”-1” long post and top diameter about 3/8” wide (or a bit larger okay)

(2) 8.5 x 11 Translucent paper: tracing paper, thin Denril, glassine, etc.

(16) sheets of 11 x 17 textweight paper, like Mohawk Superfine 80 Text, drawing, copy or equivalent

(1) map 14 x 15 on textweight or light drawing paper (You can draw your own map if you wish!)

Scrap 4-ply mat or binder’s board: 8 x 10 piece is enough. Cut into (1) 3”x3” piece and (1) 6” x 1.5” piece.

Scrap papers: 20 strips 5” x 1.25” cut from these scraps.

Materials you will need to supply:

(2) Binder Clips

Double-sided tape, ¼” wide and with a backing if possible (like 3M #415), need about 2 feet

Glue stick

Paper:

A list of specific cutting instructions for the paper used for pages will be sent prior to the class, so students can cut those pages before the first session. The papers needed are listed below. Some extra is accounted for in case of mistakes in cutting and/or folding. Cutting can be done with a straight edge and an X-Acto knife or with a papercutter.

 For the cover:

• 1 or 2 sheets of a heavier weight art or printmaking paper that folds well without cracking, at least 15 x 15 inches in size. Some 140 lb/300gsm papers might work for this OR you can use some of the Canson MiTientes from the interior pages. We will cut this in class. 

For pages:

(6) sheets 19 x 25 Canson MiTientes (98 lb/160gsm) A few (3) harmonious colors, or use all the same.

Ruler, 12 and 18”-24” metal

X-Acto knife

Cutting mat

Bone folder

¼” hole punch

Awl or piercing tool

Bookbinding sewing needle, of the size to fit thread (eye shouldn’t be too big, just a little bit larger than the shaft of the needle)

Pencil and scrap paper

Right triangle

Compass