Students will prepare decorative cover paper and print a broadside which will be cut, folded, and sewn into a small book the second half.  Covers will be folded and created with the decorative paper we created on the first day of the workshop. No experience is required, but do bring a sense of creativity and collaboration!

Konnyaku is made from a root vegetable in Asia that has been used culinarily since the 6th century CE. It can also be used as a paper sizing and strengthening agent; the paper is often crumpled and kneaded to make a strong, flexible, and durable product. The result is known as momigami.

We invite participants to experiment with konnyaku paste on various papers. We will provide lokta (a sturdy colorful paper from Nepal that is versatile for many art projects) and brown, paper grocery bags, both of which make lovely momigami.

Participants are welcome to bring papers that they would like to try with momigami. Ideally, the paper would be fairly heavy - similar to a brown paper bag - and not sized.

We will provide the  prepared konnyaku paste which we will brush onto papers and allow to dry, We will also experiment with painting ink onto the paper before applying the paste.  The crumpling and working of the paper multiple times results in a sturdy and super flexible material akin to cloth fabric.

While our momigami dries, we will begin to design and create the content for the broadside that will be printed. We will print fourteen pages of content on an oversize sheet of Arches Text Wove paper. The oversize paper will then be cut and folded using an intricate combination of meander accordion folding and pamphlet stitch binding to make a multi-page book. 

Collectively the participants will choose two ink colors and a theme for the book. Each participant will get to select cuts (images) for a page or two and set a few lines of appropriate text. Collectively we will write a colophon and print the momigami cover sheets with the colophon and a title.

No experience required.

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

For more information about Boulder Arts League please visit https://www.bookartsleague.org/

Will be available to register on Friday, December 13th at 8:00am. 

Bring your favorite cassette tape and learn to use it to make a distinctive book cover. Brenda Gallagher will show you how to sew a coptic stitch book with your cassette tape as the cover. You can use a second cassette tape for the back cover or use artwork from the cassette case  to make the back cover of the book as well!

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Visit https://www.bookartsleague.org/ to learn more! 

(kids 12+ must be accompanied by an adult)

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, February 3 at 8:00 am.

We will print a saying of your choice over the wonderful textures and colors of old maps using the Vandercook letterpress. “Get Your Kicks on Route 66!”, “Life’s a Journey”, “Those who wander are not lost” - or any short quote you might think of. Make a special gift for travel-partners or mark a special place with “x-marks-the-spot”. 

Bring your own maps - which we will trim to size - or take from our vast supply. Everyone will take home five 9”x14” broadsides. 

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Visit https://www.bookartsleague.org/ to learn more! 

(kids 12+ must be accompanied by an adult)

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Wednesday, February 5 at 8:00 am.

Learn to create simple boxes to fit your favorite book or set of cards. We'll begin by cutting bookboard to size and constructing a simple box. Next, students will learn how to cover the box with paper or bookcloth. Finally, students will create a case to enclose the box which will safely store the book or cards with a ribbon tie closure. Brenda Gallagher will lead the class and display several variations to this simple box.

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Visit https://www.bookartsleague.org/ to learn more! 

Will be available to register on Friday, February 7 at 8:00 am. 

Bind your very own miniature sketchbook with leather covers. This little gem holds your mini colored pencils and fits in your pocket! To begin, students will punch and sew suede leather covers to make slots for the mini pencils. Next we’ll fold signatures of sketchbook paper and sew into the suede spine. Perfect as a gift for the budding artist in your life!

We'll break for lunch.

16+

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

Visit https://www.bookartsleague.org/ to learn more! 

Will be available to register on Wednesday, February 5 at 8:00 am.