Paloma's Nest

Today Caroline of Paloma's Nest has sent me a picture of her packaging with the use of cotton ribbon closure. I admire her delicate and clean design in her beautiful ceramic and I'm happy to be somehow part of her work. In her own words, here is Paloma's Nest:
Paloma's Nest is dedicated to creating pieces for the home and for the heart.
Each piece is designed and hand-crafted in my home studio in Austin, Texas, by me, with care, pride, and passion. I use only all natural materials including wood, pure fabrics, paper, and fine clay.
My inspiration lies in the purity of the materials that I use, and the idea that something so simple can be so bold. By adding text, I give written ideas, feelings, and daydreams a place to rest.

Cotton ribbons for book arts suppliers

In the last week I have been working on two large orders of cotton ribbons, for some paper and book arts suppliers I would like to mention. Beyond wholesaling the ribbons to their store, I'm also one of their loyal customers for the beautiful selection of Japanese paper at Hiromi Paper International in California and traditional marbling and bookbinding supplies at Colophon Book Art Supply. Hiromi is one of the largest and specialized Japanese paper supplier in the US. They also carry Japanese bookbinding tools and other hand-made paper from around the world. Also, very interesting to read is the link on the history of washi. And Colophon is one of the first supplier in the US selling tools and materials for professional marblers. Hand-marbled paper with oil colors is something I used to do full time, years ago. Below some pictures of Hiromi paper international and some of my sheets of marbled paper.

New workshop at Albertine Press

Another great workshop over the past weekend, taught in collaboration with Shelley. Students learned how to hand-set wood and lead type for printing their own edition on the Vandercook. On the second day we made two books, based on the Pamphlet stitch sewing, one of which, collected the pages printed the previous day. I think the result was beautiful and having an enthusiastic group of students always makes teaching more creative and inspiring.
Below some details of the day and the final two books, soft and hard-cover pamphlet stich. For more pictures and informations, see Shelley's blog.

B'zaar

An announcement from my dearest bari.
The Department of Merriment is open year round.
Find us on-line 24/7 and in the studio 11:ish to 7:ish, Monday-Friday
and sometimes on Saturday.
Please call in advance of your arrival: 773.294.7766
2119 West Roscoe, Chicago.
Start your journey by clicking onto the B'Zaar for a luscious array of correspondence accessories, hand-bound books, & other objects made from paper.
Photos by Michelle Litvin.

DeCordova Museum School Gallery

Yesterday, the faculty exhibition opening at DeCordova Museum was beautiful. Here below some photos of the space before it become too crowded. In one of the case, it is visible one of our limited edition book, The Insectionery/Insectionary along with other work from the museum's school faculty. The show is in conjunction with Presumed Innocence: Photographic Perspectives of Children, in the main museum building, which was very well attended and beautiful to see. It started to snow close to sunset and the Sculptures park it became magical.

Portfolio of prints

During my last trip to Italy I brought back a few copies of the limited edition Portfolio of prints, by Edizioni Almenodue and British illustrator Julia Binfield. I have talked more extensivly about this collaboration during one of my first posts last June, and only recently I was be able to list the hand-made Portfolio on the Etsy shop. The Portfolio of three letterpress printed illustrations and collages, is a limited edition of 50 copies, designed and hand-bound exclusively for the exhibition "Carte Sparse" of Edizioni Almenodue and Julia Binfield, at Fabriano Boutique in Milan, Italy, during spring/summer 2007.

DeCordova Museum School Classes

Yesterday, I taught my first class at DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA. To arrive there I pass through amazing woods and isolated places, outside the Boston metropolitan area. The sculptures park of the museum is a very peaceful place. What a beautiful location!
Students made three book structures mostly based on folded paper, some sewing and little gluing: an hard-cover pocket book, a concertina and an origami folding book. I had a great and interesting group of students and here included are some pictures of the sculptures park as was yesterday morning, hands working with paper and the three final books. One of them is on sale on my Etsy shop.
An upcoming event at the DeCordova Museum School Gallery is the opening of the Faculty Exhibition next Saturday, February 9th, from 3-5 p.m. I will be there and everybody is invited!