WELCOME TO OUR BLOG



Dear Friends, Students, Faculty Members and lovers of books,

This is Deb Stevens. I am the administrative director for the American Academy of Bookbinding based out of Telluride, Colorado. This blog was started as a way for all of us, those who have studied at AAB, friends of AAB, as well as those who want to find out more about this place, can keep in touch with each other during the year. I'll be posting all kinds of photos, news and updates as regularly as possible (or newsworthy). I hope you will also share any bookbinding thoughts, questions, revelations, etc. Send me your photos and let us all know what you're up to. Keep connected!



Sunday, December 12, 2010

The lovely and talented Deb Stevens


AAB Welcomes New Employee!!

I am delighted to announce that Deb Stevens has joined me at the AAB office. Deb has been training just minimal part time the past month, and will start to work 20 hours/week beginning January 1, 2011. Deb will be helping me with all aspects of administration, including registering students, working with instructors, developing material lists, handling donations and financial aid, ordering materials, assisting with housing, answering emails and so much more. I can't tell you how excited I am! I have known Deb for a long time—we sing together in an all women's a cappella group, Heartbeat. So, maybe you will get to hear us rehearsing in the office in between phone calls!

Besides being a very kind person with a big heart, Deb has a long interest in art and brings great qualities to her position. From 1974-1990, Deb was a full time production potter. She also worked at the Arvada Center for the Arts in Arvada, Colorado, where she was the Deaf Access Coordinator. She is a stained glass artist, sings with the Telluride Choral Society (where she is also a semi-administrator), and does graphic design in her free time. Oh, did I mention she plays the harp? She also can't wait to take some bookbinding classes! Deb lives with her husband Dalen on Hastings Mesa in their beautiful handmade house they built from scratch, along with their dog Chinle, and cats Chutzphah, Bailey and Poh.

I look forward to introducing you to Deb on your next trip to Telluride. You may also be getting correspondence from Deb instead of me if you send an email.

Welcome to the AAB family, Deb! I know you will develop great friendships with the wonderful students and faculty whom you will soon meet.

Monday, November 8, 2010

2010 Laura Young Recipient, Frank Mowery, getting a congratulations
kiss from his wife, Sonja Jordan-Mowery.

GBW CONFERENCE IN TUCSON A BLAST!!!!

Though I was delayed arriving in Tucson, and had to spend the night in Phoenix without my luggage, the GBW Conference was terrific. There weren't as many attendees and visitors to the vendor's room this year (we had so much more traffic at the San Francisco Conference last year, due to the high number of binders in the area) but I was able to chat more in-depth with people. It was great to see students and faculty. I rented a glass book case and my table was a big attraction. Everyone wanted to see and hold the books by Monique Lallier, Don Glaister, Lang Ingalls and Brenda Parsons.

Once again I failed to take photos of everyone, but I was able to visit with a few people including Rebecca Chamlee (I hope you are recovering quickly), Sherry Barber, Marilyn Chambers, Karen Hanmer, Ethan Ensign, Taylor Crosby, Christine Fabian, Lang Ingalls, Frank Lehmann, Cathy Adelman, Jim Welker, Lesa Dowd, Sandra Good, Elaine Nelson, Patricia Owen, Toby Schwartzburg, Wilfredo Geigel, Edna Wright and several other students that I can't recall at the moment (so sorry!) I also had a good time chatting with the other vendors, and I need to tell you all that I bought a good supply of decorative papers and leather! So you can 'shop away' next time you are here. I enjoyed seeing Don G. and Suzanne M, as well as Frank Mowery and Sonya Jordan-Mowery, Alicia Bailey, Betsy Palmer Eldridge and Bill Minter.

Here are a few snapshots:

Don and Frank

Alma and Wilfredo Geigel

Lang, Wilfredo and Cathy

Lesa looks at Don Glaister's book about sail boats.

Wilfredo, Edna and Taylor
Binding by Judy Ferenbach

BOOKS FROM MONIQUE'S CLASS The books made in the style of "Separate Board Structures" from Monique's one-week class were absolutely beautiful!!! Some students made stunning paper in Suzanne Moore's class, then put the paper on their books in the following class. Enjoy the images:

Binding by Coleen Curry

Binding by Coleen Curry


Binding by Coleen Curry


Binding by Daniel Tucker


Binding by Daniel Tucker


Binding by Myssie Light

Binding by Myssie Light

Binding by Patty Bruce

Binding by Patty Bruce

Binding by Patty Bruce

Thursday, October 7, 2010



SEPARATE BOARD STRUCTURE with Monique Lallier


Monique Lallier is teaching a one-week class in Separate Board Structure. The beauty of this technique is that the spine can be in leather and the boards covered in with decorative papers, cloth or leather. If the boards are covered in leather, the design is worked on the boards prior to attaching them to the book. The spine is titled by hand as well. Most students are using the beautiful papers that they designed in the last class with Suzanne Moore.

Another fabulous class with a fabulous teacher.








Monday, October 4, 2010





PIGMENT ON PAPER......WORLD CLASS!!

Wonderful week of making paper with artist Suzanne Moore. We held an open house for the community on Thursday, and Suzanne also presented a slide show/talk of her work. According to one attendee, "That was world class! What an amazing artist!"

Everyone made loads of paper, experimented with new techniques, and learned a lot.

We can't wait for Suzanne to come back next fall when she teaches a class with her husband, Don Glaister.

I'll post the 2011 schedule later this week!










Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Don and students from his fine binding class last week. The weather this fall has been a dream! Warm, sunny days. See what you are missing!!!!



SUZANNE MOORE IN FULL SWING

Suzanne Moore, acclaimed artist extraordinaire, is at AAB teaching "Pigment on Paper." The class of 11 1/2 (the half is me, who observes lectures and will be making paper by the end of the week...I swear!) is the largest class we have had in some time. We are managing extremely well with the new tables, new sinks, etc. Everyone seems happy and comfortable. Since this is only day 2, the experimenting is just taking off. Suzanne has demoed a number of techniques and participants are launching on individual projects with a book in mind. They will be making sheets for their books...paste paper sheets that could be used for the end pages, the covers or the textblock sheets.

I must say before I go any further that I am humbled and in awe of the creative genius of Suzanne Moore. WOW! What imagination, what a creative mind, what a long career filled with amazing calligraphy and books. This is the best part of my job, being able to work with such amazing artists. I am so lucky. I am so lucky to be able to see these artists at work, and to learn from them. I can't say enough about the extraordinary artists that teach here at AAB.

Enough from me. Enjoy the photos from these first two days of class. On Thursday we host an open house for the public to see the work, catch a slide show by Suzanne, and check out the facility. If you are in the area, please stop by between 5:00 and 7:oopm.

Jody from Lakewood, CO

Myssie Light of Houston, TX

Nancy from Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Don and Suzanne (Don left today...boo hoo!)

Anne Marie from Montrose, CO

Suzanne showing a book she hasn't seen in 20 years, a book that she and her husband, Don Glaister, made together. The title is George and the Egyptian, and it is wonderful exerpts from a Mark Twain original manuscript that was never published. It describes the house that he and his wife lived in in Connecticut, and some the characters who were a part of their lives at the time. The images and binding are stunning. I didn't get a chance to read the text, but I'll be able to take a closer look this week. One of Suzanne's collectors (who happens to be in the class) brought it for us to see. Such a treat!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010


Don's Class Going Well.....Suzanne arrives today

Don Glaister's Intermediate Binding class is in the second week and all is well. Students are very focused on their work and making beautiful books. I'll post some finished book photos on Friday. Here are a few shots from class.....





ANN ARBOR CLASS FANTASTIC!!

Monique Lallier is in Ann Arbor teaching Fundamentals of Bookbinding at Hollander's. According to several students the class is "fantastic!" There are eight students from all over, including Alaska, Hong Kong, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Here are a few photos from the class.