Debra Disman

Artist

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Glittery materials

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

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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,  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

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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,  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!

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!