• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Debra Disman

Artist

  • Work
  • About
    • CV
    • Media
  • News
  • Contact
  • Blog

Books with Spines

“WE Write the Book”: Making Flower Fold Gift Books-in-a-Box at the Northridge Branch Library!

December 8, 2025 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

It was a joy to teach the “flower fold” book structure that participants could place in small boxes they embellished, and offer to to others or to themselves for the holidays!

Makers had access to beautiful origami papers direct from Japan!

Participants including family groups, seniors and others learned how to make the flower fold book structure using a myriad of beautiful origami papers, and then how to attach multiple flower folds together to create a longer book that folds up into a square.

Needless to say, magnificent works were created!


Makers’ Hands!

       
Making use of materials in a different way!

This Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

JOIN US for MORE BOOKMKAING FUN and LEARNING!
All programs free and open to the Public, All materials provided!

Join us for our next workshop on December 10, 2025!

And for our CULMINATION Event on December 20th!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, LIBRARIES, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist, TEXTILE/FIBER, Textiles/Fiber/Cloth, Venues, Work Tagged With: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Artist Residency, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artists, Book, Book as Art, book in box, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books, Books made by Hand, Books with Spines, Codex, Codex binding, Codex Books, Community, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, drama, Families Making Books, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Family arts workshops, Family Bookmaking, Flower Fold, Flower Fold Book, gift box, gift box books, Handmade Books, Holiday, holiday gift giving, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, libraries, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, Media, mixed media books, NEAR, NEAR Residency, Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency, Northridge, Northridge Branch Library, PAMPHLET STITCH, Paper Engineering, San Fernando Valley, Story, Storymaking, Student Work, Teaching Artist, TEXTILE/FIBER, Textiles/Fiber/Cloth, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, Venues

“WE Write the Book”: Making CODEX Books with Spines at the Northridge Branch Library!

November 26, 2025 By Debra Disman


I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

On November 22, 2025, participants learned how to create a sewn “codex” book with a spine, and how to add a single  signature. Signatures are two or more sheets of paper stacked and folded as a group, or a gathering of folded pages, using the pamphlet stitch.


Using all sorts of materials, participants transformed paper scraps into intricate scenes and designs,


used material found in nature,

employed drawing tools, using markers, paint pens and pencils,

added maps and more,

and supported each other while having fun and learning new things!

We have three more programs in December, including a grand CULMINATION event on December 20th.
JOIN US!

This Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

JOIN US for MORE BOOKMKAING FUN and LEARNING!
All programs free and open to the Public, All materials provided!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, LIBRARIES, Student Work, Teaching Artist, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Artist Residency, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artists, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books, Books made by Hand, Books with Spines, Codex, Codex binding, Codex Books, Community, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, drama, Families Making Books, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Family arts workshops, Family Bookmaking, Flag Book, Flag pages, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, libraries, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, Media, mixed media books, NEAR, NEAR Residency, Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency, Northridge, Northridge Branch Library, PAMPHLET STITCH, Paper Engineering, San Fernando Valley, Sewing books, Sewn Books, Signatures, SIngle Signature bookbinding, Story, Storymaking, Student Work, Teaching Artist, TEXTILE/FIBER, Textiles/Fiber/Cloth, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, Venues

”We Write the Book” FLOWER FOLD BOOK IN A BOX Bookmaking at the Northridge Public Library! 11:30AM -1:30PM (NOT 5:00 PM!!!)

November 24, 2025 By Debra Disman

Join Us Saturday December 6th!
11:30AM – 1:30PM!

Learn the “flower fold” and make a book of repeated folded forms that folds into a square, and can fit into a 3 x 3 x 3″ gift box for the Holidays and Beyond!


JOIN US FOR ALL OUR DECEMBER BOOKMAKING WORKSHOPS AND CULMINATING EVENT!
FREE!
ALL MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES IINCLUDED!

Tagged With: art-making workshops for families, Artist Residency, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Books with Pockets, Books with Spines, Community, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, double flowe book, Double Flower Fold Book, Double signature bookmaking, Effect of bookmaking onbrain, Families Making Books, Family Bookmaking, Flower Fold Book, Folded and glued Books, Folded Books, Handmade Books, Holiday, Holiday bookmaking, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Make a book!, Making Books Together, mixed media books, NEAR Residency, Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency, Northridge, Northridge Branch Library, one cut pop-up, Origami Paper, Pages, repeated flowerfold book, repeating forms, Self-expression, Signatures, Single Signature Books, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

We Write the Book” “Single Signature BOOKMAKING at the Northridge Public Library!

November 18, 2025 By Debra Disman

Join Us THIS coming Saturday November 22!
10AM – NOON

Learn to make a single signature book with a spine, and use it for a diary, sketchbook, journal, gift or something altogether new!

Tagged With: art-making workshops for families, Artist Residency, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Books with Pockets, Books with Spines, Community, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Double signature bookmaking, Effect of bookmaking onbrain, Families Making Books, Family Bookmaking, Folded and glued Books, folded and sewn books, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Make a book!, Making Books Together, mixed media books, NEAR Residency, Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency, Northridge, Northridge Branch Library, one cut pop-up, Origami Paper, Pages, Self-expression, Signatures, Single Signature Books, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

Primary Sidebar

Recent Blog Posts