Sewn Books

Keep Precious Memories Stored in a Journal Session 1

February 10, 2020 By Debra Disman

Join us to create your own journal using single signature binding techniques.

Learn how to create a book with a spine, covers and pages in which to to store your precious memories, doodle, dream, draw and write!

“Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman will teach patrons how to use sewing techniques to bind together their own journal. This program is possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.”

This program series is part of my artist residency through the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs in bookmaking!

The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories by Hand Exhibition and Culminating Event

February 3, 2020 By Debra Disman

Join Us at Craft Contemporary (Formerly know as the Craft and Folk Art Museum)
Saturday, March 28 | 2 – 4 PM | Free

Artist Debra Disman and participants of our older adults’ workshop will host an outdoor exhibition reception, featuring the artists’ books they created over the course of the series, and facilitate a bookmaking activity for attendees. This program is generously sponsored by Aroha Philanthropies.

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!

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.

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!

Take Another Look: Making Photo Albums at the Granada Hills Library

October 23, 2019 By Debra Disman

To kick off my 2019-20 Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Public Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, I led a bookmaking program in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, where participants learned to make their own photo album.

Participants bound together a single signature (gathering of folded pages) into a binding composed of a tag board sheet folded both horizontally (to create a pocket on either side) and vertically (to create the body of the cover structure and hold the signature), then added stiffer more durable boards on either side to strengthen the covers. They sewed the components together using the pamphlet stitch and ribbon, using enough ribbon so that the ends would be long enough to tie the book closed if they wished.