Handmade Books

Getting Ready for the Holidays at the Canoga Branch Library!

November 24, 2023 By Debra Disman

Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching bookmaking workshops (or leading “programs” in library parlance!)

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

On November 18th community participants gathered to create a recipe book for the holidays and beyond. They learned how to sew a single signature (gathering of folded pages) together using the three hole pamphlet stitch, then had the option of adding envelopes to hold treasured recipes! Decorative papers, fabric trims, stickers, markers, postcards and more were also available to use as embellishment and development of their book works.

Participants across generations created beautiful and fun books, with encouragement to keep working on them over time, and adding more recipes!

“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do”, Revisited

November 24, 2023 By Debra Disman

Gene Ogami photographs

Flag Bookmaking at ArtShare LA!

November 13, 2023 By Debra Disman

Join us and learn to create the fun and fabulous “flag book” with artist Debra Disman while being inspired by the “Paper Route” exhibition at ArtShare LA. Learn the accordion fold, add book covers and alternating flag pages, and play with “found writing” to create a kinetic book that can be opened and used in multiple ways.

Please sign up with Eventbrite!

Debra Disman is a Los Angeles-based artist known for her work inspired by the book, both as a solo practitioner and in the public sphere of community engagement. As a maker and teaching artist she creates work and projects which push the body and boundaries of the book into new media and materials, inviting altered ways of viewing the world and how we inhabit it.

Halloween Tunnel Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library

November 2, 2023 By Debra Disman

Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching all manner of how-to bookmaking workshops, or “programs” in library parlance!

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the three-dimensional Tunnel Book structure, creating their own Halloween scenes and more, combining theater, books, stories and celebration into their movable dramas!

Getting Organized with Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

August 20, 2023 By Debra Disman

We held our second “We Write the Book” artist residency program at the Canoga Park Branch Library on August 19, 2023.

The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included

In the spirit of getting organized for the new academic year, I taught participants ranging from small children to seniors how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets, add covers, then sew in “signatures” (gatherings of folded pages), to make their books super organizing tools, with places to store notes, make notes, and take notes!

The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own. A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!

Children’s Librarian Luz and teen volunteer Scott supported participants while creating their own books!

Scott cuts lengths of beautiful striped and glittering paper cord for participants to use in sewing their signatures into the folds of their accordion structures.

Library volunteer Carmen and participant Laura move through the process.

Stellar participant Gina helps fellow student.

We were joined by an energetic family of five, helmed by this intrepid Mom!

Playing with color, textures, design and form are the nuts and bolts of the process. Participants made creative decisions and learned about themselves in the process, while gaining skills in folding, cutting, sewing and gluing.