We went to the Austin Book Workers’ Book Arts Fair today and although we didn’t stay for very long I enjoyed looking at some of the activities that were going on like paper marbling and rubber stamping. I saw some cool book sculptures:
Actually, I found out that Recycled Reads hosts an Upcycle This workshop every first Thursday of the month. They take old books and give them a new life through sculptures, jewelry, etc. I have to go check that out one day.
But back to the book fair… There were books on display to showcase various bookbinding techniques, like stab binding, pamphlet stitch, etc. And, they also had a lot of books on bookbinding. I saw some titles I wouldn’t mind having for my own.
And, they also had someone showing how a printing press works. I still want to learn to do this one day!
I’ve missed attending the Book Workers’ meetings but unfortunately I just haven’t been able to make time for them. Maybe in the Fall. Anyway, I’m just so excited that this group exists to promote the love of bookmaking and that events like these take place. Hurrah for book arts!
Sounds like you really enjoyed the book fair. I would love to learn the printing press as well. 🙂
What a fun and inspiring event to attend!
Sounds like fun. I took a book arts press class years ago when I was in school at the university and made a book by hand–hand set type and all–it was so cool–wish I could learn more, too!
Christine – Wouldn’t that be cool? I need to be a woman of leisure so I can take up some classes 🙂
Stefanie – I loved seeing people of all ages too. Gives me hope that bookish things still attract an audience!
Danielle – Oh what fun you got a chance to do that! I took a class once on learning how to number pages so you can print and then bind them. I wouldn’t remember how to do that at all now. It was complicated but I felt very accomplished so I can only imagine how cool your class must have been!