Books with Pockets

Express Yourself, Do YOU at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

July 25, 2022 By Debra Disman

I just started a new Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Working with families, I led a bookmaking workshop (called a “program” in Library parlance) for a group of 20 in which they created handmade accordion fold books with pockets, which fit perfectly into the LAPL Summer Reading theme of “Express Yourself”.

Makers focused on themes of identity, relationships and of course, self-expression!
The results were heart-warming and impressive, and a good time was had by all, as well as the learning of new skills, and a whole lot of self-expression!

Materials galore!

Creating together.

Families attended as a group.

Moms get into the act!

Dad gets into the act!

Library Children’s Librarian Sky, and teen volunteer.

An opportunity to express emotions.

Creativity abounds.

Pockets hold handmade treasures.

The beautiful results!
Proud bookmakers!

ZOOM In On Distance Learning 7

March 26, 2021 By Debra Disman

As everyone keeps saying, 2020 was a year like no other. Well, no-one had seen 2021 yet.

2021 it seems, may also prove to be a year like no other, finding us teaching online, in my case through Zoom, engaging in what is called, “distance learning”. Well, you can’t beat the commute and clean-up time, and I found there are indeed ways to connect significantly with students and colleagues, and even teach some things!

In March 2021, I led an scroll making program in honor of Women’s History Month focused on Celebrating Women Artists, at the Panorama City Branch Library, part of my artist residency in bookmaking there, through the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

We looked at images and information about three great women artists, Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe, and Branch Manager Roman shared some of Faith Ringgold‘s books from the Library!

Participants were invited to cut out the provided images of the artists, their work, and the information about them, and add them to sheets of brightly colored tag board paper, which they had attached to wooden sticks, or dowels at either end, to create unique scrolls.

Each maker created a different composition with the materials provided in our fun and informative supplies packets.

One young maker added painting to the surface, then his father added images honoring women artists to complete the scroll!

Scrolls could be horizontal or vertical, and rolled up at either end and then unfurled.

Ribbon was provided for participants to keep their rolled scrolls in place if they wished to.
Here Panorama City Branch Library Branch Manager Roman gets into the act!

An honoring of Women’s History Month, Women Artists, specific women artists, the Library, and especially, of human creativity, imagination and ingenuity!
SO needed, especially during this past year and into the current one.

Gratitudes!

ZOOM In On Distance Learning 6

February 26, 2021 By Debra Disman

As everyone keeps saying, 2020 was a year like no other. Well, no-one had seen 2021 yet.

In February 2021, I led an accordion book with pockets program at the Panorama City Branch Library, part of my artist residency in bookmaking there, through the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Using bright tag board and richly patterned origami papers,

participants learned the accordion/consertina fold,

how to create pockets in their books,

how to cover and embellish their covers,

and how to add hopes and wishes to their pockets!

Whole families, as well as Library staff, got into the act.

Pure Joy.

Gratitudes!

Feeding our Souls: Making Recipe Books at the Granada Hills Branch Library

March 15, 2020 By Debra Disman

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 “Recipe Book” workshop for the community, showing participants how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets to hold treasured recipes old and new.

Families and participants of various ages joined us, and make beautiful, whimsical and striking books

So much fun to see the makers show and share their creations!

Absolutely beautiful!

Wide Open Bookmaking

February 17, 2020 By Debra Disman

I have been 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.

It was great fun to lead a bookmaking workshop in early February for a group that meets at the Library called, “Wide Open Reading”. What a wonderful-sounding activity!

Participants came together to create single signature sewn books, with pockets created by an “inner cover” or casing, and glued on covers. A

A creative time was had by all!

Participants learned about signatures (a gathering of folded pages that comprise the text block of a traditional western style codex book structure),

and sewed signatures that had been prepared for them into an inner cover, with folded pockets.

They then had a blast using all kinds of materials to develop, embellish and adorn their inside and outside covers, and even a few pages!

Camaraderie and interaction among the group is a big part of the fun.

And, of course, pride in the final (or not so final) “product”.

Wide Open Reading deserves wide open bookmaking, and the makers certainly achieved this.

Bravo!

Accordions, Books and Stories at the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library

February 10, 2020 By Debra Disman

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.

To kick off the new year and decade, I taught an accordion fold book with pockets workshop, and engaged families and individuals in creating their own books to hold memories, hopes, dreams, wishes and other treasures.

Participants folded prepared pastel paper into accordion pages and pockets.