Report on book workshop

Posted on June 22, 2010 by ruthek

This was a workshop to learn techniques and make product. All of our materials were provided, mostly cut to size with only a few adjustments necessary. We began on Monday making four small books, using folds and tabs with no adhesive necessary. Signatures were stitched into the book creating different patterns on each spine. This technique really interested me; it’s much better for me than using glue. I plan to explore further. In the afternoon we made a soft cover Japanese stab bound book. This is the method I’ve been using to bind my books, although I never use soft covers. The interesting part, for me, was making book cloth for the covers. At the end of the day we had five books. I normally work very slowly. Just had to finish the butterfly stitching and stitching on two of the.small books. I went home completely exhausted and crawled into bed by 8:30.

Tuesday we began with a book with a butterfly binding. Again this is a stitch that becomes a decorative statement on the outside of the spine. Boards for the spine and covers were precut for us. We had our choice of bookcloth, endpapers, and linen thread for the stitching. Text block papers were provided precut. We folded and punched holes. In the afternoon we did origamizo, folding and dying papers. It’s an interesting process, but you never know exactly what will result. I can’t say I was happy with anything I made; maybe in time I’ll feel differently about it. I wasn’t so tired Tuesday night and was able to work on my unfinished books at home.

Wednesday was build-a-box day. Pam provided precut, thick boards for top, bottom and sides. We had to make size adjustments on the sides, giving us the opportunity to cut the thick board. Then we chose 10 different papers to cover the box, inside and out, top and bottom. We also received instructions and materials for making a half-size box. This is one of the projects I will work on when I return from Chicago.

Thursday we created a bradel book: an old-style, fully bound book with a curved spine. The text block was made from watercolor paper, eight sheets cut from three full size sheets then folded and punched for stitching. The book has that fancy tape on the edges of the spine, heavy board covers and beautiful end papers. It’s obviously too precious to use. This was another wipe-out day; I was very tired all day and also had afib all day, making me feel really awful. I’m still trying to figure out what sets off the afib; maybe tired had something to do with it. I doubled the meds in the evening and have been OK since. Again, I don’t really know if this is a fix or maybe a placebo effect.

Friday we began with some single page, folded books. You can download and print some artist designed papers here. Using the same fold we made pages for a journal in a box. The box was made from a recycled cereal box. I have all the folded papers but didn’t finish cutting and gluing; another project for when I return. We finished the day folding a blizzard book and a crown book. I didn’t do a good job folding so I have to try again. Both books really interest me.

I was really sorry when the week ended. I loved the workshop and would happily do it again. I was hoping for a little more emphasis on technique; my craftsmanship leaves much to be desired. But I think there are no secrets; I just have to be more careful.

On the road

Posted on June 21, 2010 by ruthek

Sunday June 20

Another beautiful, sunny day. Yesterday was a nostalgia trip. Some of my visits in Chicago concern the here and now, but often they dip back into the fathomless past. I spent the night with Joan, Richard’s cousin. I’ve known her since I was 20, and even though I am no longer Richard’s wife, she remains my cousin. We deal with the here and now, but the past sits just behind an open door. We talked non-stop, all through dinner and on to a visit to Linda and Tom, who live in a house filled with art. Tom is an amazing, highly productive artist. I ache for him, that he does not get more recognition.

I am sitting in Joan’s kitchen watching the birds at the feeders, the squirrel under the feeders cleaning up seeds the birds dropped and a chipmunk that steals seeds and darts away.

We went to see more of Tom’s art: sculpture being installed on the Purdue campus;

Linda, Joan, Ed and Tom

a wonderful mosaic with 150,000 tiles at Andrean High School.

I am overwhelmed by this man.

More talk, then into Chicago with traffic as bad as I’ve ever seen it. If this happens on Sunday, what must Monday be? I made a quick, unsatisfying stop at Paper Source, then out to Arlington Heights to meet with Sandy and Jan over a wonderful dinner. We looked at the books from the workshop, which inspired Sandy to add more tools and materials to the supply we are carrying. Tomorrow morning, after quick stops at Trader Joe’s for snacks and Office Depot for more paper, we’re off to Door County.

Monday

The drive to Door County was largely uneventful–only about 10 minutes of heavy rain as we left Illinois. We arrived about 3, unpacked the car visited over lemonade and then another show and tell for Anita and Kathy. We are now suitably inspired and ready to go to work tomorrow.

End of a great week

Posted on June 19, 2010 by ruthek

The book workshop was terrific. I made 8 books, 2 boxes and have 2 more projects to do. I was worried about the nine to four routine, but I made it through the week without missing a minute of it. Also got to cardio rehab at 7am, three mornings. I'll report on the workshop, with pictures, later. In forty minutes I'm leaving for Chicago and Door County. Have to load the car.

Cardio update

Posted on June 10, 2010 by ruthek

Wearing the monitor, last Thursday, nothing happened until early Friday morning. Then I was back in afib for the day, but it was never as bad as Wednesday had been. I went back to rehab and exercised in spite of the flutter. When I woke up Saturday morning, still fluttering, or fibbing as they call it, I took the old dose of my meds. By noon I was feeling good and have been fine ever since, even though I immediately went back to the reduced dose. I tried to ask the doctor about it, but his staff just told me to do what he had said and wait to hear from them. (Remember, he has the personality of a drill sergeant.)

I've been waiting all week; in fact, I'd pretty much given up. Since I was feeling good, I didn't care. Today was the big day–they finally called, not with an answer, but an order to come in again, possibly on June 29. Obviously, this is not an emergency. I made the appointment for July 6. I have a busy three weeks coming up and I won't let them spoil it.

Next week I'm taking that book making workshop at the Society for Contemporary Craft. Then the next day, Saturday, I'm driving to Chicago then on to Door County for another art camp. Back to Chicago the next week to visit with friends and relatives and attend a nephew's wedding. I'll get back here July 5. But I promise I'll post again before that.

Cardio rehab

Posted on June 3, 2010 by ruthek

My second session of cardio rehab ended abruptly when the monitor showed I was in afib. This is a nasty problem I've been trying to ignore; yesterday's event made that impossible; also impossible for me to do anything useful all day.

I've been taking a beta blocker to control the afib, but beta blockers are also used for high blood pressure, not one of my problems. My pressure got too low and last week the Dr. told me to cut the dose in half. That may have been what caused my bad day. I'm going back to the doc this morning to get a Holter monitor. The rehab center sent him a printout, but he likes his own tests. I'll talk to him about the meds.

I'm much better today, although not entirely symptom free. I wear the monitor until tomorrow morning, return it and try cardio rehab again.

Tunnel books

Posted on May 30, 2010 by ruthek

I finally made a tunnel book from my pictures of the tunnel under the convention center. This is the second incarnation; the first was terrible.

Here it is from the top:

It's OK, but it doesn't convey the feeling of the tunnel, which is long, cool, dark, and a little eerie. I'll try again with more space between each of the pictures; maybe that will work better.

Here is the tunnel book I made in the workshop.

We were given the handmade paste papers, so we worked with what we had. In two weeks I am taking a week long book making workshop with Pam Sussman. I don't think it will be this kind of book, but I'm hoping to sharpen my skills.

Back to the books

Posted on May 19, 2010 by ruthek

I'm sitting too much–too many classes. Took a long walk before class today: very helpful. Today was Indian cinema, yes, Bollywood, Alice. We watched the last half of Dil Se (From the Heart), which we had begun last week. The hero, Shahnukh Kahn, was wonderful and sexy in a way that I don't feel about today's Hollywood heroes, so that was nice. But the film was very depressing, all about terrorists. Also, the class is three hours instead of the usual two, adding to my sittingitis.

On Sunday, I went to a book-making workshop where we made flag books and tunnel books. For a long time now, I've been thinking about making a tunnel book about the tunnel that goes under the convention center. Now I finally feel like I can do it. Here is the tunnel:

I need one more picture, which I'll try to get this weekend. Then I can make the book.

The flag book I made looks like this on the outside:

The teacher, Diane Maurer, brought all the papers so all of the basic books looked alike. Here is the inside of someone else's book. I didn't photograph mine.

I'm so turned on by the tunnel book I feel like I should skip all the classes and just make books. I'll make the tunnel book over the weekend, and I'm still working on the Japanese garden book. That may go on forever, especially since I'm thinking about going to see more gardens.

School, again

Posted on May 12, 2010 by ruthek

Classes started last week. This is the summer semester, although it doesn't feel like it this week–rain and cold. I'm taking a class about mystery books that meets in an independent mystery bookstore; looks like it will be fun. At the very least I'll find out about new authors I'd like to read. Today's class is about Indian films, another area to explore. I have to remember to bring a pillow with me to sit on; chairs are too uncomfortable for long time sitting. Yesterday was archaeology of ancient Israel. I'm learning all sorts of things I never knew before.

Also signed up for a writing workshop, another round of digital photography classes, something about south Asian religion, two classes about Chinese and Japanese gardens and a workshop about making books. And I'm supposed to begin cardio-rehab at the end of the month. Obviously something will have to go; I can't make it all.

“What does your husband think about it?”

Posted on May 7, 2010 by ruthek

That brought me to a grinding halt, and I poked at it all evening the way you keep running your tongue over a newly broken tooth. There were so many assumptions behind the question. Aside from the fact that I don't have a husband, and I had already said I had no one to discuss it with, the tacit assumptions behind it: that my husband would know what to do, would make more sense than I did; I could go on and on. It's not the problem I started with, but it made my feminist heart beat madly. And it was a woman who asked the question.

It all began with one of my students. Once, he told me he came here to be free. Two weeks ago he said we didn't have freedom here. I thought this was connected with his work situation and just said yes, having money gives you more freedom. He seems to have had a lot of problems lately, most of them connected with money. Last week we filled out forms for his daughters' school, and he expressed concern about them possibly not being ready to move to the next grade.

This week he wanted to fill out a form for a passport. He already had completed forms (someone else did them) for his wife and kids. Again we talked about money. I asked why he needed passports, and explained that you only need them if you want to leave the country. He gave me several different reasons for needing a passport, none of which really made sense to me. I helped him fill out the form.

This is when I decided I had to speak to someone and really didn't know where to turn. (Because I have no husband?) Was I being silly? overly suspicious? had I bought into the paranoia that seems to be gripping our country?

I have been working with him under a very loose arrangement with one of the groups that help refugees here in Pittsburgh. They introduced me and left; giving me no guidance. I never hear from them unless I initiate the conversation, which I did, and got that wonderful question to mull over and no practical answers.

Where do I go from here?

I promised pictures

Posted on May 4, 2010 by ruthek

I've taken more than 300 pictures with my new camera, the Canon S90. Don't worry, you'll never have to look at all 300. Here are a few that will also give you some clues about what I've been doing the last two weeks (good things, that is).

These are just to show how beautiful Pittsburgh is in spring. The flowering trees are just amazing.

I think this is azalea, but I'm not good about plant names; just good at appreciating.

This one was in the orchid room at the Phipps. The long, snaky thing just enchants me. Maybe some day I'll make a pattern from it.

Taken through glass inside the convention center. I was very pleased with the result.

I still don't know how to use all the features of the camera, but it does very well for itself on AUTO.

This one I shot on manual (you can tell I don't understand it. Shot another on aperture preferred and got this result with both sky and cars as I wanted them. Don't ask me what I did.

Above and below were shot at the old Pittsburgh Brewery where there was a show called Art All Night.

Went to the National Aviary for Breakfast with Birds sponsored by the fitness part of my Medicare Advantage plan. They want us to love them. Above was color-corrected in Photoshop; too blue originally.