FAMILY ARTMAKING

Making Journals at the Granada Hills Branch Library

March 21, 2020 By Debra Disman

It was a pleasure to lead a “journal-making” workshop/program at the Granada Hills Branch Library as part of my Artist Residency there, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Who knew creating a journal, traditionally a place to record daily thoughts, ideas, activities, fears, concerns, dreams and wishes would be so salient?

Families joined together to learn how to fold a “signature” (gathering of folded pages),

glue cover and spine boards to white-prepped canvas to create the book structure and “house” the pages,

then sew the signature into the book through the spine using durable, earthy hemp cord.

Having exerted this labor to create their book structure, participants had the glorious pleasure of developing and embellishing their journals with decorative papers, washi tape, markers, beads, and other collage materials. The canvas book covering, functioning as a book cloth is a wonderful surface for painting, stamping, printmaking, stenciling and any other wet or dry media.

May journaling help all and any through this very difficult time we are in.
Journal on!

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!

Seeing 2020: Making a Calendar at the Granada Hills Library Part II

February 2, 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, we welcomed a new year and new decade with a calendar-making program!

Using an Asian-style side stab binding stitch, participants sewed their calendar pages between a front cover made of watercolor paper to allow it to bend, and thus open, and a back cover made of board, to keep the calendar pages from bending.

Once they had completed the labor of putting the pieces together, the proud makers proceeded to embellish their creations with zeal!

Teen Council members served as assistants, and participants! We were so lucky to have them.

In a digitized world, working with our hands becomes even more precious.

Mom looks on….

Mom participates!

Grandma gets into the act!

A family of sisters.

A family of makers.

Caring and devoted Children’s Librarian Stephanie encourages a happy family to proudly share their calendars with the camera.
2020 is off to a good start.
Happy New Decade!

Seeing 2020: Making a Calendar at the Granada Hills Library Part I

January 25, 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, we welcomed a new year and new decade with a calendar-making program!

Participants sewed together their calendar pages between front and back cover, and proceeded to embellish their creations with zeal!

Some ambitious participants covered their covers in decorative papers before binding!

inside and

outside cover designs.

We were blessed with a great group of teens that both assisted and participated in the making process.

Mother and Daughter work together creating their calendars step by step.

When the calendars were bound, participants were encouraged to add content to the reverse of each page and add highlight each month’s special dates.

Nothing could surpass the glorious adornment of the front covers (made of watercolor paper), a celebration of materials in a riot of color, pattern and texture.

Some of our wonderful and industrious teen helpers from the Library Teen Council took it upon themselves to sort through all the binding cords and arrange them by color. WOW. Not even I have ever had the patience to do that! Thank you!

The caring and devoted Children’s librarian Stephanie encourages a happy family to share their calendars with the camera and be proud!
So were we all.
Happy 2020!

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

December 23, 2019 By Debra Disman

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!

All that Glitters….

December 12, 2019 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 “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.