Like this natural contact print on the ramp up to the Book Arts Studio, I have left my mark on the Folk School here in Brasstown. Yesterday I finished my final class and it was a lovely easy ending after thirty years and six months. Five students taking a class called, “Books All About The Stitch”. Here is some of the work done.
Pat’s shifu book about her losing dialogue with an ill husband.
Jenn’s coptic and toji binding lessons.
And her charming little family felt books.
Kent’s stitched books, fronts, insides, and backs. Plus a detail of a small sewing book he did.
And his work in progress.
Beverly’s small books outside view.
And inside views.
Sarah’s mother’s tapestry box, closed and open.
Here Sarah works on just one more during closing ceremonies.
Our little display of work.
I worked on this recycled idea that Kent showed me in a class a couple of years ago. He had peeled the cloth off old books and glued the pieces together. I stitched mine. The green one was a book written by Joan Biaz during her early days in our anti war period. The cover had this small design that I made into an attached book mark for the patched book. It will be my sketchbook for Australia.
It was a quiet class. Each one lost in their own work and not in need of my attention very often. So I read from my poetry book when not stitching on the book above or helping out, or cleaning up. It was such a pleasant experience to just be in the book arts studio with them.
It was a perfect good-bye to teaching there
Now I will donate some pieces to the archive center there….sculpture works and books about the community.
I might even be able to take a class there sometime…..but not now. Now I am simply letting go.
Cut myself loose you might say.
This next week I will get back to that pesky cane toad with rocks and other leathers.
A little time back in my own studio and showing Marla how to use my presses while she takes a break from looking after Lee and joining in a printmaking class at the folk school.
Til next week with something else.