Renate demonstrating a sewing technique.

SEWING, SEWING SEWING!

Students learned a variety of sewing stitches and then made models with blank paper of each of the sewing structures to keep for future reference. They then applied this new knowledge to the textblocks they washed and prepared from last weeks "Paper Conservation" class. The results are stunning. The structures are beautiful.

Jennifer Rose of Crested Butte, Colorado.


Leslie Drisdale of Calgary, Alberta.

Michelle Naujeck of Louisville, Colorado.

Week Two: Sewing Structures

Renate's second class is Sewing Structures. Students washed books and pages in the first week, and now they are learning different historical sewing techniques. This requires lots of concentration, and the students are quietly sewing away.







Over the weekend the group took an outing to Orvis Hot Springs, just over the pass in Ridgway. It was a beautiful, spring Rocky Mountain day.

DAY TWO!!
Renate had students washing pages today, and then used the groovy 'suction table' on loan from the Folger to dry some of the pages. It was a day mixing lots of different solutions, learning more about chemistry, and discovering the joys of whitening pages. Students are loving the class....especially Renate! We are so lucky to have such an experienced, competent and knowledgeable instructor here at the Academy. Renate will offer a public lecture, "Folger Shakespeare Library and the Preservation of Books," next Tuesday, April 27th. If you are in the area, please stop by. It will be at 6:30pm and most likely will be held here at the Old Stone Building. Enjoy today's photos....

Renate in the studio with students.

Basics in Paper Conservation

Renate Mesmer, Assistant Head of Conservation at Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, is at AAB teaching an enthusiastic group of students. Students are from Canada, Colorado, New York, Wyoming and Washington. Everyone loves the newly renovated building...check out the photos!

Students having lunch in the 'lounge.'

The kitchen

Renate with Jennifer Rose of Crested Butte, Colorado.

SPRING SESSION IN TELLURIDE STARTS!!!!

Renate Mesmer and Daniel Tucker check the guillotine.

Daniel attaches the blade.

Workers with BONE Construction place the large percussion press.

Mechanical expert Nancy Heim puts the board shear back together.

Construction ended this past week on our beautifully remodeled Old Stone Building, so this week we moved the equipment in, placed all the tools, machines and materials, cleaned the construction dust from every nook and cranny, and today is the first day of our Spring 2010 Telluride session. YEAH!! Anyone who has been here before will be amazed and delighted at the changes. I'll post photos of the finished space later today. Renate Mesmer, Assistant Head of Conservation at the Folger Shakespeare Library arrived Friday and is getting ready for her Introductory class that starts late this afternoon.

There is still room in some of our upcoming classes, so check out our website and call or email if you are interested in attending.

Renate's first class is Paper Conservation. She'll be going into depth about the care and preservation of different kinds of paper documents, manuscripts, prints and books. I'll post more photos this week.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

MOVING DAY!!!!

MOVING DAY!!!!

We are moving everything back to the almost finished Old Stone Building on Willow Street. YAHOO!!!! It is a busy week for us......BUT THE BUILDING IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! You will not believe how beautiful it is. More later.......

DON GLAISTER WORKSHOP "BRILLIANT"!!!

Don Glaister taught a one-week class, Introduction to Alternative Techniques in conjunction with the San Francisco Center for the Book at the end of March. The class was an exploration of design and innovative techniques. Don is master at using unusual materials to create interesting design bindings. Students learned some of his inventive techniques and even made a custom tool. The SFCB was delighted to partner with us, and it gave west coast bookbinders a chance to experience AAB's wonderful instructors. Most students were from the Bay area, but students did travel from as far away as Wisconsin. According to Jenny Bootle of Milwaukee, "The course was brilliant and Don is a fantastic instructor. The techniques we learnt open up many possibilities and the class discussions were stimulating (I'm still thinking about both now!)"

Here are a few photos from the class.

NICE ARTICLE about Bookbinding, Monique Lallier and Don Etherington

Check out the article in the Greensboro News and Record about bookbinding featuring Monique and Don!


http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/03/05/article/where_books_become_art

Monique & Company Visit Paris!




Monique Lallier traveled to Paris with students Patty Bruce and Connie Wozny for a bookbinding shopping extravaganza, while taking in the sites, sounds and delicious food of this great city. In the above photo, Patty, Connie and Monique pose at RELMA, where they purchased leather and paper. What a blast!



Hélène Jolis joined her friends for many outings including a bicycle tour documented in the above photo. Monique and Hélène are planning a cultural tour next spring as part of an AAB excursion to Paris and Belgium. Keep posted for more information on that exciting trip, the first in a series of international educational and cultural programs that AAB has planned.

Old Stone Building to be Finished April 1, 2010

downstairs

upstairs

Here are a few photos of the building as it nears completion. The bathrooms aren't in, but the new roof is on, the upstairs has its drywall and everything is looking FANTASTIC! You will not believe the transformation. With the middle staircase moved back and the bathrooms on the landing removed, the whole downstairs is more open. And there will be a full kitchen at the top of the stairs (which isn't in yet.)

Enjoy these photos!