January was a busy month!

The first meeting of the Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative (CBAC) was held on January 16th. Twenty two people attended and made long-stitch books. Some were experienced bookmakers; others were trying the craft for the first time. This was a great turnout, and the next meeting on February 20th promises to be interesting, as well. Details about the upcoming CBAC meeting are found at: http://www.chattanoogabookarts.blogspot.com/

      

Thanks to writer Rebecca Miller, CBAC got great exposure with an article in the Community News section of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on January 26, 2011. The article is at http://community2.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jan/26/new-collaborative-covers-book-art/
Several more interested individuals have been in touch as a result of the article.



I worked on a couple commissions, one a journal for a friend who is traveling to Iona, the other a photo album in a clamshell box for an auction in Seattle.

 



And in late January, I was able to study with bookbinder Dea Sasso for three days in her bindery in Asheville NC. The experience was an amazing education about materials, equipment, book restoration, and clamshell box making. I expect that this will be the first of many visits to Dea’s bindery.