Jacob’s Ladder I: The Book
- Saturday, June 14; 12-4pm
- All skill levels welcome
- Minnesota Center for Book Arts
The Jacob’s Ladder is one of the most ancient of toys: Legend has it that it was found in King Tut’s tomb, which means that the structure could be over 3000 years old. The toy can be turned into a wonderful book structure that will spark all sorts of new ideas for the book maker. Hold one end and flip it over, and the rest of the “pages” come tumbling down. Flip it the other way, and they tumble all over again. In this workshop we’ll begin with a 2-page version, also called the “magic wallet” and then assemble a 4-page book to amaze and delight your friends.
Register here for this class.
Jacob’s Ladder II: The Box
- Sunday, June 15; 12-3 pm
- All skill levels welcome
- Minnesota Center for Book Arts
The same double-hinge that is used for a Jacob’s Ladder book can also be used on a simple box that opens two ways to reveal different compartments of the same box. We’ll begin by building a basic box, using a model that can be used for future box-making projects. Finally, the hinges will be added so that your box lid will flip from front or back.
Register here for this class.
The Outer Layer
Saturday, August 9, 12:30-5 pm- All skill levels welcome
- Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Opening a book should be like opening a present -- it’s fun to have layers. The first layer should give a hint as to what’s inside and invite the curious to go further. We’ll create three simple wraps or cases for your books: a simple and elegant wrap created by Hedi Kyle; a slipcase; and a variation slipcase with an ingenious wrap. Each uses very little adhesive and can adapt to almost any book or collection of prints or papers.
Register here for this class.
I’m also available to teach the following workshops:
Introduction to Box-making
We’ll begin by building a basic box and using it as a model that can be referred to throughout class and in the future. Depending on time, the class can include a matchbox-type box, a jacob’s ladder box, or a half-clam shell box in addition to a simple box with cover.
Secret Belgian binding
The “Secret Belgian” binding was rediscovered by Hedi Kyle in her conservation work. The “secret” in this binding is how the hard cover of this book is attached to the text block: the result is a sturdy book that opens flat with a simple and decorative stitch on the cover.
Jacob’s Ladder and Box
The Jacob’s Ladder is one of the most ancient of toys: legend has it that it was found in King Tut’s tomb, which means that it could be over 3000 years old. The toy can be turned into a wonderful book structure that will spark all sorts of new ideas for the book maker. Hold one end and flip it over, and the rest of the “pages” come tumbling down. Flip it the other way, and they tumble all over again. The same double-hinge that is used for the book structure can also be used on a simple box that opens two ways to reveal different parts of the same box.
Hedi Kyle’s* Blizzard Book and Crown variation
Hedi Kyle’s Blizzard Book is a marvel of invention…one long sheet folded into a self-bound book with pockets and pages. We’ll learn the basics of this book and create an additional book based on a variation of the structure. A simple content exercise will ensure that our books have substance as well as form.
Accordion Storage Book
Using the strength and flexibility of the accordion fold, you can create a book to hold, well, almost anything you’d like! It will support mylar windows, fold-outs and pull-downs. Originally conceived by Hedi Kyle, the final book has a Tyvek spine and pages that are as imaginative as you are.
*Hedi Kyle is co-founder of the Paper and Book Intensive (PBI) and, until recently, Head Conservator at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. She continues to teach workshops in bookbinding in the U.S. and Europe and has been a major influence on many book artists and binders. She is internationally renown for her inventive structures and artist’s books.