Craft in America by PBS

Well, it has been a long time since I have blogged! Since my last post, my journey has brought me to Amherst, Massachusetts. In this first year (we actually arrived to town a year ago today), my primary job as an elementary teacher, has required most of my time. As a result, there hasn't been much time for bookbinding and other creative projects. Now that I am out of school for the summer, I am getting back into bookbinding, paper folding, and working with paints and inks. I have used "screen time" to reclaim some of my inspiration.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have enjoyed watching the PBS series, Craft in America on DVD. It is thought provoking to listen to various artists talk about their craft and their inspiration. While watching this, I find myself more eager to launch into my own work, and to do so with more care and precision. The first DVD in this series has brought a few thoughts to mind.

* As artists create inanimate objects, so much thought, creativity, and the human element goes into the piece. It makes the object feel like so much more than just an item. Of course part of this happens in the way an artist puts so much of themselves in the work. But, it also happens through conversations. As artists talk to other crafters or with people who admire the work, a deeper understanding and connection is formed. I find this to be true when people reflect on my handmade books. Even if they don't buy one of my journals, I appreciate the feedback and conversations that take place around my work. I come to see and understand my work in a different way - through their eyes and their words. I realize the handmade object serves as a thread that binds people together. This is meaningful!

* The idea of passing special items and objects from person to person, generation to generation really resonates with me. I have always been more drawn to old antiques (even though I like many modern devices as well). When we make a handmade object - books, furniture, quilts, glassware, baskets, or jewelry, we give "life" to an object. This special item, when passed along to others, allows the receiving person to find their own meaning in the piece. I have a quilt that someone made for me when I was born - hand stitching. I wonder about the fabric used in the design; what else was the fabric used for? Perhaps, the fabric came from clothes worn by her relatives or from fabric that was used to make clothes for relatives. Again, the idea of connectivity comes through. While I have very few memories of the person who made this for me, it means a lot to me that she created it. As a teacher, I enjoy taking the quilt to school to share some of these big ideas with children.

*.Another idea that leaves me thinking is that many of the crafters featured in this series had very practical reasons for their trade. For many, it had to do with learning a skill taught to them from a parent or grandparent - something passed down through families. While others learned their craft as a way to earn income for their families during difficult times. And for some, the craft was deeply rooted in cultural heritage. As so much of our world changes around us, most of the skills associated with handmade objects are very old - there is very little change in the techniques and methods. Regardless of our reasons, there is something secure in appreciating the history of our craft.

* One of the artists in this series reflected on the fact that the quality of her work is better because she surrounds herself with other artists. She gets to see the work they produce, and this inspires her to stretch herself. Watching this series had a similar effect on me. Seeing the quality and craftsmanship achieved by these skilled crafters (and how their work evolved over time) inspired me to reflect on the quality of my own work while also thinking more creatively about the materials I use and how I use them.

Amherst and Lupe

It has been a while since life has allowed me to move forward on bookbinding projects. My partner is a scientist and has been on the job hunt this past fall. He just accepted a faculty position at Amherst College and we will be moving there this summer. We have known that a move would be coming and are both very glad to know where we are headed. The details during this initial decision making process have kept both of us quite busy! I truly look forward to getting to know more about the art community in and around Amherst. Now, it is my turn to explore job opportunities as an elementary teacher. Now that this major move is in place and we have announced it to those close to us, we can get back into some sort of routine once again. For me, this means carving out some time to create handmade books. Although, I also realize that I don't have much more time for bookbinding in St. Louis.

This afternoon, I finished one more upcycled book; this time, using a 1934 copy of the book, Lupe Goes to School by Esther Brann. It has an orange cover with black lettering. A little girl is walking across the cover. One of my favorite features of the book appears on the back cover. The fabric from the spine has been carefully detached and reapplied on the back cover. I love the fact that this old book has been given new life. It will make a perfect journal for just the special someone!


I have some other pieces of spine fabric that I have removed from other antique books. I might incorporate those into another upcoming handmade journal. This project also includes scanned portraits from a 1929 yearbook. Currently, the book is sewn and sitting in my "to do" pile. I look forward to the final product (hopefully, I can finish it this weekend or early next week).