Accordion Fold Book
Join us to create a beautiful and fun holiday book based on the closed spine accordion structure!
Getting Ready for the Holidays at the Canoga Branch Library!
Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching bookmaking workshops (or leading “programs” in library parlance!)
The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!
On November 18th community participants gathered to create a recipe book for the holidays and beyond. They learned how to sew a single signature (gathering of folded pages) together using the three hole pamphlet stitch, then had the option of adding envelopes to hold treasured recipes! Decorative papers, fabric trims, stickers, markers, postcards and more were also available to use as embellishment and development of their book works.
Participants across generations created beautiful and fun books, with encouragement to keep working on them over time, and adding more recipes!
Winter Holiday Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library
Join us to create a fun holiday book based on the closed spine accordion structure!
Create a card or gift for the holidays and learn folding and gluing techniques.
Customize your book to make it special and unique.
All materials provided!
This program is supported in part by the City
of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
Getting Organized with Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
We held our second “We Write the Book” artist residency program at the Canoga Park Branch Library on August 19, 2023.
The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included
In the spirit of getting organized for the new academic year, I taught participants ranging from small children to seniors how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets, add covers, then sew in “signatures” (gatherings of folded pages), to make their books super organizing tools, with places to store notes, make notes, and take notes!

The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!
Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own. A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!
Children’s Librarian Luz and teen volunteer Scott supported participants while creating their own books!
Scott cuts lengths of beautiful striped and glittering paper cord for participants to use in sewing their signatures into the folds of their accordion structures.
Library volunteer Carmen and participant Laura move through the process.
Stellar participant Gina helps fellow student.
We were joined by an energetic family of five, helmed by this intrepid Mom!
Playing with color, textures, design and form are the nuts and bolts of the process. Participants made creative decisions and learned about themselves in the process, while gaining skills in folding, cutting, sewing and gluing.
We hope to see everhone back next month, at 12:00 noon on Saturday September 23rd!
“We Write The Book” Artist Residency Begins at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
We “kicked off” our “We Write the Book” artist residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library on July 18, 2023 with an accordion-fold book workshop (“Program” in library parlance)!
The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!
Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own. A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!
Bookmaking at the Community Corporation of Santa Monica With 18th Street Arts Center!
I had the wonderful opportunity to lead a bookmaking workshop through 18th Street Arts Center for the Community Corporation of Santa Monica at one of their residential buildings.
Supported by the magical Leigh Ann Hahn and intern Ning Sun, I taught an engaging and creative group how to create the “Folded Fan Book” structure, and encouraged them to make their project their own through conceptual development and adornment, utilizing a marvelous array of decorative papers, stickers and leveraging their own imaginations!