Debra Disman

Artist

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Bookmaking

Making Books Together: Creating Folded Fan Books at the Platt Library

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A glorious time was had as families gathered at the Platt Branch Library to create folded fan books together!

The program was designed for children, and families turned out en mass!

Grandparents got into the act!

Working on unique projects, together.

One of the things I love in conducting these programs is the opportunity for parents to have the opportunity to work with their hands alongside their children.

It is amazing how often makers choose colors that they are wearing to put into their work. Was this little fellow influenced by his Superman tee?!

Contemplative siblings focus in on their projects.

All that glitters,

is good!

Working together, but always working. A parent’s job is never done.

This beautiful family with twin daughters hunkered down and created with great joy and gusto.

Encouragement….

Layers of color, texture, pattern and materials created ravishing results.

The “pièce de résistance“….a masterwork of creativity by this proud young maker. Using foam beads he built onto his cover, creating another level of dimensionality, fun, and…intrigue?

Of course!

Making Accordion Fold Books with Pockets at the Sunland-Tujunga Library

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Learn to create an accordion fold book with pockets that can be used to hold your treasures: photographs, notes, poems, recipes, and more! Start off the New Year with creativity and new skills, and make something fun, beautiful and useful!

This program is part of my Artist Residency at the Sunland-Tujunga Public Library and is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department Cultural Affairs.

All ages welcome. Bring the family and create together!

All materials provided.

Make A Calendar at the Granada Hills Public Library!

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Welcome in 2020 by creating your own calendar and personalize it for you!

Join us for this two-session hands-on bookmaking program, where you will bind together your own 2020 calendar and embellish it to give it your own personal touch. Highlight special dates and events, add birthdays, and put your best foot forward into the New Year!

This program is part of my Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Public Library and is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department Cultural Affairs.

Program runs from 2:30PM – 4:30PM Tuesday and Thursday January 7 and 9, 2020

All ages welcome. Bring the family and create together!

All materials provided.

Books and Cookies

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I am honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

In celebration of the holiday spirit, I taught participants to create the fun and useful “envelope book”, which can indeed be sent through the mail! The envelope book can be used as a book and/or a card, and is an engaging project for the whole family.

The wonderful Children’s librarian Kirsten Xavier laid out cookies, making the whole experience that much sweeter, and adding to the festive atmosphere.


Mother and son work side by side, creating their envelope covers, and adding their folded accordion pages.


Cookies, a butterfly hole puncher and golden swirls, what could be better?! A green marker?!


Families worked together and devoted parents got a chance to create in tandem with their children.

Now that’s the holiday spirit!

All that Glitters….

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As part of my Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Branch Library supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,  I led a “gift bookmaking” program for the community.

As we found out, all that glitters may not be gold, but shiny stuff can be really fun to work with and inspire us to add a jewel-like quality to our handmade books.

Adults and children and teens/tweens alike enjoyed cutting out shapes from shiny, glittery adhesive-backed sheets!

The primary colors of red, yellow and blue never get old, especially when there is a glittery twist!

A very talented young maker created a “jewel”-studded book!

And he is a radiant Jewel himself…look at that 1000 watt smile!

A young reader tried  his hand a t bookmaking, cheered on my his Mom.

 

Here are his younger brother’s very seasonal works.

The fruits of their labor.

 

Participants made their way through the inevitable tangle of colorful ribbon to choose and use pieces to enhance their works.

Ribbon of wonders, just like the participants and their bookish creations!

 

Making Books Together with CREST Enrichment 2

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Working with children ages 5-10 in the CREST Enrichment Program, teaching them how to create books!

After school, in the Santa Monica Public Schools, children are enriched with sports, homework help, science, technology, language study, and the arts of course!

Here Kindergarten through fifth grade students at John Muir / SMASH Elementary Schools in Santa Monica share and celebrate the accordion and folded fan books they have created with their peers.

      

So. Much. Fun.

And A lot of Learning Too!