A New Chapter: Exploring Artists’ Books
I’ve just signed up for a new course with FibreArts Take Two, taught by Toni Hill from New Zealand, on the fascinating subject of making Artists’ Books. I hesitated for a while because of the cost, but in the end, my love for books won me over. Books have always held a special place in my life, and the chance to explore them in new and unusual forms was too tempting to resist.
Toni’s work excites me because she doesn’t just make books—she transforms them. She uses unusual materials and unexpected formats to push the definition of what a “book” can be. That is exactly what I’m hoping to learn: new ways to combine textiles and paper, to turn familiar materials into something unique, tactile, and inspiring. So the idea of creating books—books that are not just read, but touched, held, and explored—feels deeply exciting.
My love of books goes back to childhood. I was the child who saved up her allowance to walk down to the bookstore near the bakery, eager to bring home the latest Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys adventure—or whatever else caught my fancy that week. Mysteries, history, art, murder and mayhem—I devoured it all. I still do. To me, there’s nothing quite like the feel of a book in your hands, the anticipation of turning the page, and even that faint, familiar smell of paper. Books are more than objects; they are companions, offering distraction, entertainment, inspiration, and creativity.
Now, I’m drawn to explore books not only as something to read, but also as something to make. I’ve created a few in the past, but this course feels like the start of a new chapter; one that will allow me to reimagine books not only as vessels of stories, but as artworks in their own right. As I explore books as an artist, I find myself drawn to the interplay of form, material, and meaning. Holding a handmade book, turning its pages, and feeling its textures brings an intimacy that echoes my early love of reading. For the moment, I’m disciplining myself to take the lessons in order, though I confess I’m itching to jump ahead to the formats that really intrigue me.
So far, I’ve been exploring one-page books and simple formats like the meander and the star.
And a few more complex ones:
Once I made the star book out of paper, I couldn’t resist trying it with fabric. It took a bit of figuring out—and a lot more work—but here it is. Each small structure feels like a step into this bigger journey, and I’m already eager to try more.
I don’t know yet exactly where this journey will take me, but I do know it will deepen my connection to two of my lifelong loves: books and making. Perhaps every book we make is a reflection of the ones we have loved. For me, this is more than a course—it is the beginning of a conversation between paper, cloth, and memory, bound together in the form of a book.
Now, I’m off to fold some papers into interesting and intricate shapes. I’ll be sharing bits and pieces of what I create along the way, so keep reading to see what’s going on in my studio.
Thanks for reading, until I write again.
Ana
