JCCFS: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in your medium. How did you get started?

JB: I was a preschool teacher for 30 yrs. I think that says something about my stamina and patience! In 2004, I took my first bookbinding class and fell in love with it. I was surprised to find that there are so many ways to bind a book. Some structures became my favorites (Traditional and Belgian binding) and I practiced and honed my skills at making them. In 2008, I was introduced to book repair and restoration and that became my focus. I apprenticed with Dea Sasso and in 2012, I opened my own bindery. I make new books, repair books and make boxes for books for folks. I have taken several marbling classes with different teachers and have team taught and taught marbling on my own since 2015. Marbled papers enhance both books and boxes. One of my favorite things is the aesthetics of choosing cloth and papers for a structure.

JCCFS: Tell us more about your class’s specific technique or process.

JB: This class combines marbling and bookbinding. The first 3 days will be spent marbling papers and the next 3 days we’ll bind books, using the Traditional method of binding and using our own marbled papers. I have several decorative types of book cloth that I’ve made and students will be able to choose the cloth(s) that they like and then marble using the same color palette (perhaps).

JCCFS: What can students expect to leave your class with?

JB: Students will learn how to set up the tray, paper and paints for marbling paper. They’ll learn how to float the paints and make patterns on the paper. They will learn how to make a traditional book structure and make 2-3 books. They will go home with instructions and a list of resources for continuing the practice at home. They will practice accepting less than perfect.

JCCFS: What is your favorite aspect or part of the Folk School?

JB: I mostly love the sense of community at the Folk School, people helping and caring for each other.

JCCFS: What’s one piece or craft object you’ve made recently that you are proud of, and why?

JB: I recently recovered an old book with a leather spine and corners and used some of my marbled papers that I made in a class with Dan and Regina St. John. We ground our own paints and this particular pattern was a ‘tiger eye’ that fit in with the time period of the book. Just beautiful.

JCCFS: What tips would you give a student or aspiring craftsperson? Anything you wish you had known earlier in your career?

JB: Find what you love and practice, practice, practice.