I am happy to announce that my in-person studio workshops start again! My studio is small so enrollment will be limited - if you are interested, don't delay! Go to: https://www.susanpm.com/studio-workshops/
Welcome to Lesson One
I am very happy you are here, it's exciting to share my learning and creative experiences with you! Although this workshop has a lot of content and there is so much for you to try - please do it at your own pace - there is no such thing as "being behind"! Remember that you will always have access to these lessons.
You may find a couple of techniques that really "speak" to you and you want to run with those for a while - great! Not everything in this workshop will suit everyone but have fun with the ideas and suggestions.
If you are interested, please take advantage of our private Facebook Group, it is a great way of sharing with and getting to know other artists. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/563624898411090
Here are the instructions for downloading videos, keep in mind they are large files so I suggest storing them in your cloud account or on a memory stick/thumb drive. Its not essential that you download them as you'll always have access
Right below the video player and the video title is a "Download" button on the right hand side of your screen. After clicking download, you'll be presented with video quality options. Just click the Download button next to the video resolution of your choice and it will save right to your computer. It's that simple.
Just a couple points before we get started - remember to try out some of the folding and cutting patterns on scrap or copy paper first - experiment with different options. One suggestion is to mark one side of the paper so you know which one is uppermost or perhaps the focus/front of your book.
You might find my Pinterest Board useful - there are many cutting diagrams and tons of creative ideas!
Here is a cutting diagram that you can print out for reference:
I hope you are excited by all the possibilities that such simple accordion books can offer! Here's a few considerations:
- play with size - make the books smaller or larger
- play with scale - make them tall and skinny or shorter and fatter....
- play with different papers - glue pages together
- look for some YouTube videos on "making fabric paper" there are many ideas there!
- think about other papers that can be used
- old greeting cards
- "junk" mail
- receipts from shopping
- and so on.....
- gift wrap
- combine paper and fabric
- embed other items into the surface (we'll be covering stitch in another lesson)
- use different cutting tools such as scrapbooking scissors
- do you have a digital cutting machine such as a Cameo? How can you use it for these books?
- tear the papers for a rough edge
- weave strips of paper and fabric for interesting texture and pattern
Let's move on to the second part of this Lesson - where it gets really fun! You'll be cutting holes and creating windows and openings in your work - consider how much of the book structure you can cut away and have it still function and stand - does it fall apart? What remains to keep it all together? What kind of shapes can you cut out...perhaps the letters of your name or a "message"? Maybe a tree or flower? I'm partial to maps....maybe one side can be an "out of date" map or guide book?
That's the end of Lesson One - lots of ideas floating around? Have you been inspired and ready to create? Have fun and we'll see you in Lesson 2!
