They were incredibly fast learners.  My job was as easy as cherry pie.

And look how wonderfully their books turned out!

P.S. No need to be thrown off by the foot on the book thing you see above.  It’s just what a person has to do when there aren’t enough weights to go around.  It’s a creative way to keep your danged book in place so it doesn’t leap off the table while you pull on it in the process of making a twine closure.  One of the many sacrifices you make for the sake of bookarts right? Right!

Come to the Loire Valley (in France!!!) this July and make books and mini-prints with yours truly and Laurie Corral of Asheville Bookworks. This heavenly 9-day workshop will be given at the Chateau du Pin, a half hour drive from Anger, and includes everything from creative guidance, sleeping in a castle, lovely five course meals every evening and ample quiet time for contemplation and daily walks.  What more could you ask for!

(Laurie and I are soooo excited!! Thanks for having us Peg and David!)

PRINTMAKING AND BOOKARTS with Laurie Corral and Annie Fain Liden
July 23-31, 2010 | $2,500 9 day workshop (includes lodging, breakfast and dinner)

In this workshop, we’ll be explorers of Le Pin, using the gardens, woodlands, vineyards and castle as inspiration for miniature prints and hand made books. Students will climb through the centuries; photographing gargoyles, recording textures, sketching and abstracting ideas for images suitable for printing. Mini prints can be created as individual works and/or integrated into hand made books with a distinctive point of view. Studio investigations will also include stitching, working with collage and paint, antique french papers and fabrics and various book bindings. Come explore the extraordinary and exotic! All levels welcome. College credit available.

To register or for more information contact Peg Gignoux/David Summer at mjgignoux.

Here are a few images of the book I made for Eco Books:

I took two hand embroidered pieces I had found in a thrift store (I had to peel them away from the backing that held them in their tacky wooden frames) and hand-stitched with black thread around the bunches of lemons and oranges to make the images “pop” more.  Then I made  book board for my covers by laminating layers of recycled cereal boxes that I then encased with my altered, vintage fabrics.

I decided to make the book a dos-a-dos (two books that share the same back cover) because I had two fabric pieces.  I used 100% recycled Classic Laid text paper, stained the edges with walnut dye I made myself and bound the book with multi-needle Coptic Binding.

I made twine (with two contrasting colors so that it would look striped) to be wrapped around a vintage button each to create closures for the front and back of the book.

Check it out at your local independent bookstore (that would be good ol’  Malaprops here in Asheville).

Ever heard for the  mini-book society?

An Alphabet Book by Nancy Chandler Edwards

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Mini-Books are soooo fun to make. I’m a little bit addicted.  Here are a few:

Checkout Lost Button Studio’s easy to follow directions and templates to make your own.

Segment #1: BOOK ARTS
Segment #2:VISUAL JOURNALING
Segment #3: LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE

Happy Reading (or just looking at pictures)!

Penland Book of Handmade Books by Lark Books

500 Handmade Books by Lark Books

A Degree of Mastery: A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship by Annie Wilcox

Making Memory Books and Journals By Hand by Kristina Feliciano, Jo Lethaby, and Jason Thompson

Bookworks by Sue Doggett

Books, Boxes and Wraps by Webberly and Forsyth

Cover to Cover by LaPlantz

Any books by Keith Smith

For you bookmakers out there; I took the already printed address book text blocks (from Paper Source), attached decorative paper end pages with a chain stitch along the spine, made mini-covers and assembled all the pieces.  Then because it would be both cute and functional I added simple button and wrap around closures.

Check ‘em out: www.afainbooks.etsy.com

A big part of running your own small business is experimenting with different venues and modes for marketing your product.  For artists and crafters there are many options: craft shows, galleries, teaching, online etsy shops etc.  I started this year with one of my bigger experiments; to solidify my line of wedding books and to participate in Asheville’s Wedding Festivals Expo.

I walked through the expo last January and was well aware that, not only were there no other book makers, but that the only other “hand-craft” based business in the entire expo (besides photographers, caterers and cake makers of course) specialized in hand-built, rustic arches under which you could say your vows.

“Hmm…,”I thought, “this could be a good thing or a bad thing.”  On one hand, if you are one of many artsy vendors at an event like the Big Crafty customers expect handmade work and are able to compare you with others who do similar work.  On the other hand, if you are offering one of the only hand-crafted items in a sea of Mary Cay, Interior Design and wedding DJ booths your work will stand out that much more.  Being always open to learning along the way and despite the large expense to a small producer like myself, I decided to go for it.

The theme was LOOOOVE (of course) so my mother, who was assisting me for the day, and I dressed in red hand-sewn dresses with red tights, pink cheeks, lots of smiles and an abundance of hearts cut from snazzy decorative paper.

The day came and went.  We talked with hundreds of brides and interested mothers, sisters and friends of brides.  Many people had questions and took my printed pamphlets of wedding book information and  business cards.  Surprisingly enough, my most immediate customer response came from photographers and wedding planners who were also showing at the expo.  All of the sudden I had to think about wholesale prices for my wedding line which is somewhat new to me.  I’ve spent the last five years doing custom work directly with customers and my retail sales are consignment agreements.

So, in conclusion, only time will tell whether the Expo was a successful business move on my part.  In the end, it’s up to me to respond to interested customers quickly, be clear about the ordering process, send out mailings to the registered bride list, make high quality work and to follow through with a pricing structure that is supportive of the bride’s budget as well as my own. Though it takes alot of time, followup marketing is where it’s at.

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A.Fain Books Custom Wedding Book Options:
*12×12 Large Photo Album
*8×8 Medium Photo Album
*6×8 Accordion Fold Album
*Guest Book/Memory Album
*Dos-a-Dos Love Journal
*Vow Brainstorming Journal Set
*Mini Origami Star Book

“Annie Fain’s approach to book making is unusual in that she involves her customers in the design process.  She wants to ensure that your album and guest book set is truly “yours.”  Together you’ll discuss the style or theme of your wedding and your color palette, to develop a wedding package that reflects both you and your special day.”

For Wedding Book Examples go to: Wedding Books .

Here are a few projects from the past year:

Dea teaches all over the place and juggles life both in Massachusetts and Western North Carolina.  The most dependable place to find her classes in marbling, book binding, restoration and leather work is the John C. Campbell Folkschool:

Dea Sasso is a professional hand bookbinder, sole proprietor of Light of Day Bindery since 1988, and custom leather designer since 1970. She works on private collections; repairs and restores old books; and designs and creates new books, editions and miniatures. Dea has been teaching in art institutes and privately since 1991. She has an MSPH and has studied and worked for numerous nationally-known hand binders and conservators. Many of her students have gone on to start binderies of their own. She is the Folk School’s Resident Artist in Book & Paper Art, Printmaking, Marbling, & Calligraphy.

As you might expect I felt a little shy about diving into my first tv experience, but it was actually lots of fun (luckily my performer within kicked in and left my shy self in the dust). Ursula is herself a painter and very involved in the rich artist community here in Asheville. Her goal is to create a show that is sensitive to artists and produced in a down-to-earth style that’s meant to be engaging and informative. The result was just that.

To checkout the 8 minute “bookbinder” portion of the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVUjRp61kWM

*For the complete version, tattoos and all, go to:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-316171183701447997

*To find out more about Art Seen Asheville visit www.myspace.com/artseenasheville or write to artseenasheville.

*If you are curious about Ursula and her fabulous paintings check out www.ursulagullow.com.

Our monthly Sewing Circles are a relatively new addition to our home studio gatherings and workshops. Though we are sewing books the idea is similar in sentiment to a bunch of ladies gathering around to hand-stitch a quilt (of course men are invited too). We typically meet in my home studio the first Monday evening of each month from 5:30 to whenever. The intention of these book socials are:

#1. to provide special time set aside to complete unfinished and/or anxiety ridden projects in good company

#2. for former students to continue their development in bookarts without having to pay for yet another class

#3 to have show-and-tell; share your current work and be inspired by the work of your peers

#4. a chance for problem solving and sewing assistance from Annie Fain or anyone present

#5. to stockup on materials (waxed linen, text paper, bookbinders glue)

#6. in a nut shell, to provide a gathering space for budding and advanced book artists alike and to continue to strengthen our arts community simply by getting together on a regular basis

Best of all, we always have tea and treats! Feel free to come by if you are a book artist who has happened upon this website and/or visiting Asheville from somewhere else.

Email me with any questions: anniefain