by Noella Noelophile®
Royalty-free image by Darisuz Sankowski from Pixabay.
Who and what do you love? What would you like to give them–at Christmas or any other time?
What if you could make them something special–as a gift from your heart?
The International Printing Museum, in Carson, has some opportunities you might like to explore.
They’ve just scheduled a series of new hands-on “Book Arts” workshops, with the first one happening this Saturday, November 11th.
(Royalty-free image by Mari77 from Pixabay)
The International Printing Museum is a unique space in its celebration of the history of printing and books. With one of the world’s largest collections of antique printing machinery and graphic arts equipment, they’ve always taught small classes on working equipment. In early 2022, the Museum opened their 4600-square-foot Book Arts Institute teaching lab, in which printing-related workshops are offered on a regular basis.
Book arts and making
On the subject of printing, as it relates to the loves of your life…
If you have a small crafts business, for example, you might enjoy printing a custom poster about your creations. Or if you’re involved in a crafts group, performance troupe or other community organization, a one-of-a-kind notice about an upcoming special event might be fun.
For those, check out the “Wood Type Slam” workshop, this Saturday, November 11th from noon to 4 pm. Instructors Janet Kupchick and Lorna Turner will cover areas including some of the history of letterpress printing, how to select type for your chosen project, and how to lock up your design, ink and print it.
(Royalty-free image by Markuss Piske from Pixabay.)
Now, what if you have a special artist in your life? Maybe you’d like to surprise them with a hand-sewn sketchbook Or, you have no idea what to buy someone you love but could name twenty reasons why you love them?
Perhaps writing down those reasons they’re special to you, and presenting them in a handmade book, would amount to a gift they’ll treasure forever.
Those are just two possible projects you might like to consider if you take “Book Making” with Jennifer Graves, Saturday, November 18th from 9:30 am to 1 pm. Each student gets to make a series of simply sewn books, using various patterns and sewing techniques.
(Royalty-free image by Bruno from Pixabay.)
There will also be an “Intro to Screen Printing” workshop from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, December 9th. Beginners are welcome as instructor Glenn Laird takes students through the basics of screen printing on paper, including creating stencils! I’d probably be designing Christmas trees and holly leaves, but this is entirely up to you.
(Royalty-free image by Enjin Akyurt from Pixabay.)
And, would you like to create your own wrapping paper for Christmas–or for any other holiday?
Then you’ll have a great time at the “Letterpress Pressure Printing” workshop, Saturday, December 16th from noon to 4 pm! Participants of all levels of experience, including beginners, are invited to join Lorna Taylor and Janet Kupchick for an afternoon with a “Holiday Wrapping Paper” theme! Students will be experimenting with pressure printing giftwrap using lace, tape, fabric and other materials, and if the photograph on International Printing Museum’s website is any indication, the results will be striking. The class concludes with a print exchange, so everyone gets to share what they’ve made and take home a variety of colors and textures.
These are just four of the seven listings among International Printing Museum’s new “Book Arts Institute” classes. There are a couple also listed in January and February of next year–which might even be an opportunity to give an experience, rather than an item, to a special creative in your life for Christmas, 2023.