Yesterday I attended a workshop with Chad Alice Hagen at SAFF; Chad's topic was Make a Handbound Book with your own Handmade Felt. Now I've never made any handmade felt, but I wanted to meet Chad and maybe learn a few new bookmaking techniques. Chad made her own felt available for purchase for those who didn't have any of their own to bring. Lucky me!
Chad's a wonderful teacher. I think I learned more about teaching than about bookmaking, or at least it was a close call. She's funny, empowering, persistent, and very well organized.
Here she is demonstrating folding signatures:
…and sewing the longstitch spine:
The examples she brought of her own books were inspiring:
Isn't this the most beautiful spine?
She did a hilarious demo of how to whittle a stick closure (amazingly, there was no blood shed in this class!).
I made a small book using Chad's resist-dyed felt as my cover. She showed us how to use matte medium to strengthen the felt before cutting it to shape. My book at first had a button, but when I got home I removed the button and just left the leather wrapping cord. The felt really needs no further embellishment.
While I was at the workshop, Bruce spent the day strolling through the fair, camera in hand. All of the following pictures are his. Thanks, Bruce!
I'll bet some of you know who this guy is. Here's a hint: he makes beautiful chairs and weavers' benches.
