Southscribes and Socially Distancing

Dear Members and Followers,

I have had some great responses from members providing items for these posts and the emails that I am sending out at this time. I'll send and post them out at different times, so you don't get overwhelmed with too many things to do all at once.

One just to hand is from Pam Forbes which is time sensitive, thank you Pam this course looks great.

Pam writes:

In reply for your request for interesting items - there is a free course from Trinity College Dublin, currently running online about the Book of Kells. It started 9 March, you can still join but you have limited time to finish.

It covers

• Where and how the manuscript was made
• The social context from which the manuscript emerged, including early medieval faith and politics.
• The artistic context of the manuscript, reflecting local and international styles.
• The theology and interpretations of the text.
• How and why the manuscript survived
• The Book of Kells and contemporary culture.

You can join at Ireland and the Book of Kells History Course - FutureLearn

Ireland and the Book of Kells History Course - FutureLearn Discover the fascinating world of medieval Ireland through the world-famous Book of Kells, with this online hist...

Keep safe and remember to check on your friends.

Cathy

August - Calliarts - Accordion Books with Gloria Scott

Dear Members and Followers,

In August we not only have Lexie Arlington tutoring with her workshop Brush with the East, we also have Gloria Scott taking us through simple accordion books.So whether folding or brushing come join us for two Saturdays of great fun.

From simple basic folding we will create a multipurpose book, card or memento book and find ways to use up those “leftover” strips of paper.Several examples on display will present more ideas that can be explored at the November Calliart on Christmas ideas.

Beginners welcome, please advise so that we can send you a materials list.

Materials List - Calliarts - Saturday 10 August 2019 - 1pm to 4pm -
Sylvania Community Hall, Canberra Rd, Sylvania - $10.00

BOOK 1

Small Book with Cover

Accordions: You will need one strip of Canson paper 180 gsm, or similar paper

53 cm long x 10 cm wide

Covers: 2 pieces of card 10.5 cm x 5.5 cm

2 pieces of cover paper 12.5 cm x 7.5 cm

Length of ribbon 45 cm (optional)

BOOK 2

Accordion fold with non-slip covers

Accordion page: 66 cm x 15 cm Canson paper or similar

Covers: 2 pieces of card 10.5 cm x 15 cm

2 pieces of cover paper 'A' 10.5 x 21 cm

2 pieces of cover paper 'B' 15 cm x 16.5 cm

1 piece of cover paper 15 cm x 8.5 cm

1 piece of card 15 cm x 0.5 cm

Materials for Bookmaking

Pencil, Rubber, Set Square, Cutting Mat, Craft Cutter, Stylus or Bone Folder, UHU Glue stick,For the book, a short quote or verse. Usual calligraphy gear, plus some colours – ink, gouache, etc. Pencils, Textas, Paints & Brushes

Copyrighted Gloria Scott

Employees of Biblioteca Angelica Demonstrate a Book that Opens Six Different Ways

Dear Members and Followers,

This 17th-century dos-a-dos structure opens in six directions. The video gives an idea of the beauty and refined technique with which this artifact was created. It is a true masterpiece of printing and bookbinding crafts.

 https://www.ibookbinding.com/history/employees-of-biblioteca-angelica-demonstrate-a-book-that-opens-six-different-ways/

Forme of Cury: A Medieval English Cookbook

Dear Members and Followers,

Do you want to rethink Christmas in our hetic commercial world then look to the past http://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2016/12/forme-of-cury-a-medieval-english-cookbook.html

‘Chykens in hocchee’ in Forme of Cury, Add MS 5016.

Protect Your Library the Medieval Way, With Horrifying Book Curses

Dear Members and Followers,

Medieval scribes protected their work by threatening death, or worse. 

Read all about their curses here (but please don't take their books!).

Protect Your Library 

 A 15th century portrait of a scribe. Jean Le Tavernier/Public domain

November Calliarts

Dear Members and Followers,

November is our last Calliarts for 2016 and we are finally putting our word a month project together as a Japanese Stab Binding book.

Even if you aren't participating in the word a month project is a great book binding method to learn.

JAPANESE STAB BINDING.

This is a traditional binding which dates to the early 1600’s and can have a variety of uses such as a photo album, diary or notebook. 

The photo below is a very basic version but there are lots of things you can do to decorate the cover such as using coloured thread, adding beads, gluing on decorative paper. It only stops with your imagination. 

MATERIALS LIST FOR JAPANESE STAB BINDING

We will first do a “mock up” so you can get used to the stitching pattern and then a second book with better paper if you wish. The book will be a landscape format

TEXT BLOCK

·         20 x A5 sheets, A4 photocopy paper is ideal for your mock up, cut in half as the grain direction is then correct. I have said 20 pages but you can make it as thick or thin as you like, if you go thicker just bear in mind your awl has to go through the whole thickness and the covers.

·         For your second book you can use any paper you like but make sure your grain direction is correct for a landscape binding

COVERS

·         For each book – 2 x A5 light card – 140 – 160 gsm is good, Canson Mei- teintes works well. Whatever colour you would like. Again be mindful of your grain direction.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

·         Sewing thread – this can be embroidery thread or similar to contrast with your covers. You can use a thicker thread if you wish but be sure that the eye of your needle is big enough for it to go through.

·         A needle.

·         A punch or heavy duty awl – you will need something strong enough to go through the text block and both covers together. If you don’t have anything suitable I will bring some punches.

·         A small hammer – if you have one – again I will bring one if you don’t have one.

·         Scissors

·         Cutting mat – if you have an old one bring that as when you punch the holes a mark may be left on the cutting mat. Alternately if you have a few small pieces of very thick cardboard bring that to protect the cutting mat or even an old plastic kitchen cutting board.

·         Ruler

Out and About

Dear Members and Followers,

Every now and again I receive some news that is not strictly calligraphy related but may prove interesting. Here are two of those items. Enjoy