recycled desk organizer

Pearl City Clay House is excited to announce a series of FREE community workshops at the Prendergast Library,  funded by the Murray L. Bob Educational Initiative.

The last of these workshops, The recycled desk organizer, will take place on November 15th

Join our resident paper artist, Deb, for this fun up-cycling project to create a vintage-inspired desk organizer – the ideal place to stash all those important notes and pieces of paper that wind up on your desk! Or use it to file business cards, or keep track of upcoming birthdays, or – we are sure you can think of many ways to use it!!

No prior art skills needed! All materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own ephemera, buttons, trinkets, paper etc. to personalize their project.

While the events are free, space is limited, and you must register by calling 716-484-7135, ext. 226 or by emailing programs@prendergastlibrary.org. Registration for this event is not yet open.

Jamestown Oaks coptic book workshop

We love trees and we love our city!

Join us to celebrate Arbor Day by making a unique commemorative book. Designed by our resident book and paper lover, Deb Eck, these books will feature tree cookies taken from the Third Street oak trees and some decorative papers made by Deb in her studio from plants collected on Jamestown’s Riverwalk.

Learn how to make a traditional, elegant Coptic sewn binding similar to ones used in the Copt Monasteries of Ethiopia around the 4th century while creating  a special tribute to the glorious cathedral oaks.

The class is suitable for complete beginners with no previous binding experience and will cover the basics of creating a book, including finding paper grain, folding papers accurately, selecting appropriate threads, marking and punching the holes for sewing, and assembling the book.

This is a VERY limited seating class.

Deb will donate $10 per student to Jamestown’s Urban Forestry Fund in honor of the trees.

 

 

Brown Bag Journal – part 2

Pearl City Clay House is excited to announce a series of FREE community workshops at the Prendergast Library,  funded by the Murray L. Bob Educational Initiative.

The first of these workshops, to create a hand-bound blank journal, will take place over two evenings in March – March 8 and March 22. In order to complete the project you must be available both nights.

Our resident book and paper artist, Deb Eck, will guide participants as they learn a long stitch binding. Longstitch is a versatile and attractive method of sewing multiple signature books that open easily and can be adapted in a variety of ways. This traditional style of binding originated in Germany, and was in use between 1375 and 1500.  We will use some contemporary recycled materials, including a brown paper lunch bag, to replicate this glue- free binding.

The workshop will cover basic bookbinding terminology and techniques, and students will make the structure along with the instructor. Students will fold, mark up and punch signatures, construct a paper case from a brown lunch bag,  and sew the long stitch structure. Students will gain the skills to continue making books on their own at home with minimal equipment.

While the events are free, space is limited, and you must register by calling 716-484-7135, ext. 226 or by emailing programs@prendergastlibrary.org. 

Brown Bag Journal – part 1

 

Pearl City Clay House is excited to announce a series of FREE community workshops at the Prendergast Library,  funded by the Murray L. Bob Educational Initiative.

The first of these workshops, to create a hand-bound blank journal, will take place over two evenings in March – March 8 and March 22. In order to complete the project you must be available both nights.

Our resident book and paper artist, Deb Eck, will guide participants as they learn a long stitch binding. Longstitch is a versatile and attractive method of sewing multiple signature books that open easily and can be adapted in a variety of ways. This traditional style of binding originated in Germany, and was in use between 1375 and 1500.  We will use some contemporary recycled materials, including a brown paper lunch bag, to replicate this glue- free binding.

The workshop will cover basic bookbinding terminology and techniques, and students will make the structure along with the instructor. Students will fold, mark up and punch signatures, construct a paper case from a brown lunch bag,  and sew the long stitch structure. Students will gain the skills to continue making books on their own at home with minimal equipment.

While the events are free, space is limited, and you must register by calling 716-484-7135, ext. 226 or by emailing programs@prendergastlibrary.org. 

Bibliomaniacs

A virtual meet up for book binders, paper lovers and mixed media artists.

If you love making books, experimenting with paper structures, or messing about with mixed media, this is the group for you! A place to share what you are working on, and pick the brains of other artists and crafters. Meet other artists and crafters, and share your love for all things papery! Deb Eck, our resident paper guru, will be on hand to lend her experience and play along.

BOOK YOUR SPOT!

Recycle a hardback book

Join our resident paper and book artist, Deb Eck, and learn how to turn an old hardback book into a fun and functional journal. In class Deb will cover how to reinforce and decorate your up-cycled cover, how to measure for new pages, and make sure the grain is correct so they lay flat and are nice to use. We’ll talk about other inclusions, and wrap it all up with a demonstration of three styles of sewing – pamphlet, Coptic and French link stitch – that can be used to put your unique journal together.

A full supply list will be sent upon registration.

Space is very limited so BOOK NOW!

Coptic Binding

 

Join book and paper artist Deb Eck and learn this traditional binding technique. Coptic binding was employed by early Christians in Egypt, the Copts, and used from as early as the 2nd century. It is a popular binding style because the finished book lies completely flat when opened making it perfect for writing or sketching.

THIS WORKSHOP REQUIRES A KIT, you can find it in the shop here.

*If you already have some bookbinding tools and materials, you can request a supply list in lieu of the kit.

Ribbon Journal

Learn this traditional sewn binding technique while creating a customized journal to keep or gift. Usually this binding would be sewn on tapes and then hidden under the spine of the book – but we are going to show it off by sewing over ribbons and leaving the spine exposed!

Order a kit for this workshop from the online shop – you can customize it by supplementing your own ribbons for the ones included in the kit.

*If you already have some bookbinding tools and materials, you can request a supply list in lieu of the kit.

Mixed Media Journal

This workshop will kick off a mini intensive, four book-binding workshops running on consecutive nights, take one or join us for them all, for an introduction to the art of books. In this workshop we will learn a simple pamphlet stitch binding, and then explore ways to use it to make more complex structures, including this fun mixed media journal from a recycled hardback book.  This structure requires very minimal tools and you will get a complete supply list when you register.

Long-Link Stitch Binding

Join our resident book and paper artist, Deb Eck, on night 3 of our mini book intensive, and learn a traditional style of binding which originated in Germany and was in use between 1375 and 1500.  We will use some contemporary recycled materials, including a brown paper lunch bag, to replicate this glue- free binding.

THIS CLASS REQUIRES A KIT – you can find it in our online shop here.

Or you can assemble your own materials and tools – email us for the list.

 

Class Guide

  • Root

    Beginner level classes suitable for everyone.

  • Shoot

    Ready for a little more of a challenge?

    These classes build on skills from root level classes – but may still be suitable for those with little experience. Not sure if the class is for you, just ask us.

  • Bloom

    Get ready to REALLY grow your skills!

    Classes for students with experience. Our teaching artists will identify what skills you should already have. If you are unsure if a class is for you, please ask, we’d be happy to help you!