News

Dear PSBA Friends,

Wishing you all a happy and creative 2026!

Belinda Hill, President

Here’s to a wonderful 2026!

2026 marks the start of our 15th anniversary year and on behalf of the Board of Puget Sound Book Artists, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all members for making this such a vibrant organization. We appreciate all of you that have renewed your membership and also acknowledge the many generous donors who have supported PSBA.

We are starting out the New Year with a great line-up of programs including a special ZOOM session on January 20 organized by this year’s Exhibition Committee, in collaboration with the Book Arts Guild and the NW Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers, featuring three well-known voices in the book arts: Erina Zona, Johanna Drucker, and Alicia Bailey.

February is also packed full with our Third Annual Valentine Making event with BARN on Bainbridge, our Annual Membership Meeting, and a Thank You Coffee for Volunteers!  Be sure to visit our calendar to register for these events and don’t forget to renew your membership HERE.

Jane Carlin, Vice President/Communications Committee Chair

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for January is Jane Carlin.

If we asked our readers to identify the most recognized PSBA voice, I’m sure Jane Carlin’s voice would come to mind. She has hosted PSBAs Salons both in person and via Zoom. She’s the voice welcoming artists to the PSBA community. Her involvement goes back to the time PSBA was just an idea. Jane, along with a small group of women, conceived the plan to build a regional organization dedicated to furthering the knowledge, practice and understanding of the art of the book. You’ll hear about all of them over the next few months.

Jane has been an active PSBA board member through all these years. How fitting we begin this 15th anniversary year by spotlighting Jane. I met Jane on a rainy afternoon at Bloedel Reserve. After walking through the gardens, we entered the main house and climbed the narrow attic stairs to view her new project, rescuing and organizing the archives of the estate. —Diane Miller 

You'll find her Spotlight interview here.  

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

Thank You Sally Alger and MalPina Chan!

This December two of our long-term board members have ended their terms. Sally Alger and MalPina Chan have contributed so much to the organization from serving on exhibition committees, managing and organizing programs, and sharing their expertise.   Their hard work and dedication to PSBA is recognized and we thank them for their outstanding service!

Upcoming Events

January 20: The 2026 Annual Members' Exhibition Committee is pleased to share that, in collaboration with the Book Arts Guild and the Guild of Book Workers Northwest Chapter, we are hosting a very special ZOOM event on January 20 from Noon-1pm. We have assembled a panel of experts to explore the topic, “Best Practices in the Book Arts: Writing Artists' Statements and More!”

Additional information and reigstration is here.

January 22: PSBA Board Meeting. Members welcome. No registration. Contact Belinda Hill directly for more information at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com.          

January 24: Revolving Ring. 9am-Noon. Online workshop with Belinda Hill

The Revolving Ring structure can be folded compactly and unfolded into a wreath that can be rotated showing 6 sections with four sides plus inner decorations. The sides can be decorated, cut with windows, or with pop-outs. Starting with 24 panels, they are decorated, folded assembled into modules that are connected. With magnetic closures the connected modules can be joined into a wreath shape that can revolve. Requires few tools, mostly medium weight paper and glue.

Registration is required. Mini-workshop fee: $30. Register here.

February 4: Will you be our Valentine at BARN on Bainbridge.10-2PM.

Additional information and registration available here.

February 15: PSBA Annual Meeting. 1pm-3pm with special guest speaker Yuka Petz. 

Register here.

February 21: Transforming the Familiar. 1pm-4pm. Online workshop with Gina Pisello.

Registration required. Mini-workshop fee: $30. Register here.

February 22: All About Books Redux: The Influence of Graphic Design on Artists' Books with Babette Mayor. Noon-4pm. BARN on Bainbridge.

Register here.

February 26: PSBA Board Meeting. Members welcome. No registration. Contact Belinda Hill directly for more information at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com.          

February 27: PSBA Volunteer Recognition Coffee.10:30am-Noon. 2926 S. Steele Street, Tacoma (Becky Frehse's Studio).

Registration required. Click here for additional information and to register.

2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition Updates: Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity and Community!

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Intent to Submit form for this year's exhibition. Don't worry if you did not respond, you are still able to submit your book. The Intent forms provided the Committee with a general idea of the number of participants. The prospectus is available on the website and the entry form will be available February 1!  Some important dates to remember:

•  Exhibition is June 4-July 31
• Entry form opens February 1
• Entry form closes March 15 (midnight)
• Notification by Week of March 31
• Exhibit Catalog orders due April 21
• Art drop-off June 1, 10am-Noon
• Exhibition Installation June 2-3
• Opening reception June 4

2026 PSBA Annual Book Exchange Call for Theme Ideas

The PSBA Annual Book Exchange takes place in October each year, providing an exciting opportunity for members to exchange their own handmade artist’s book for another artist’s book. We are writing to solicit themes for this year’s exchange! Please submit your ideas by end of day Thursday, January 15, 2026, using this form.

Looking for inspiration? Last year’s theme was “Bridges.” Theme ideas considered also included Architecture, Gratitude, Melody, and Recipes. Books from previous Exchanges have been amazing! To help you brainstorm, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books and themes from the past few years.

You are welcome to submit an idea from previous years or something completely new.

The Book Exchange Planning Committee will narrow down your ideas to five possible themes. Look for an email by January 18 that will include a link to a form for you to vote for one of the five finalists by end of day Thursday, February 12. The winning theme will be announced at the PSBA Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, February 15.

Please join us in brainstorming themes for the PSBA 8th Annual Book Exchange!

Olympia Meetup

Our next Olympia PSBA Meetup will be Friday, January 30 at 1 pm  in the Olympia Public Library meeting room.

Plan on bringing some book arts or creative writing to share. In the meantime, Happy Holidays (and stay warm and dry)!

Pierce County Meetup

The Pierce County MeetUp will be January 14 at the University Place Public Library from 6pm to 8pm. Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

Member News

Two PSBA Members were selected as Bloedel Creatives!   

We are delighted to announce that two of our members, Abbie Birmingham and Donna Letterese, were recently selected as Bloedel Reserve Community Creatives.

The Program was established in 2023 to offer local members of the community the opportunity to utilize the Bloedel Reserve as a place of inspiration for their work over a period of several months. Each Community Creative is expected to offer at least one community engagement opportunity for the public.

Abbie Birmingham:Abbie’s project will be a series of artist books highlighting the birds of the Reserve and the plants that feed and shelter them throughout the four seasons. In cooperation with Bloedel Reserve staff she will design her community engagement opportunities to share her love of birds and nature through creation of small artist books and other works.

Donna Letterese: While working under the guidance of the Community Creative Program and Bloedel Reserve overall, Donna aims for her community engagement projects to be art workshops. She plans to create a cross-disciplinary combination of Botanical and Narrative Illustration/Comics, Artists' Books (with a focus on Accordion Books and Tunnel Books), and Illustrated Journals/Urban and Nature Journaling Sketches. Donna is very happy to be able to have the chance to be in the Community Creative program at Bloedel Reserve and is excited for all of the endless reference and inspiration the Gardens will provide for her to work across these varied art forms for her Creative Project.

Judith Christensen: “I'm delighted to announce the opening in January of my one-person exhibit at the Rose Gallery in San Diego. This exhibit will focus on the metaphor of the house and the everyday details it encompasses--a theme I return to again and again.”

Exhibit Information: "Home is Where the Story Begins"

January 12 - February 20

James Alan Rose Art Gallery, 6501 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111

https://www.judithchristensen.com/

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, January 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The February newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Call to Share Upcoming Events

Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Hello PSBA members! Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Greetings Friends,

2025 has been a busy year for PSBA and its members. We hope that you have enjoyed our many events. We'll have an annual report out to you soon.

2026 is going to be busy with multiple events, both online and in-person, in January and February. You'll want to read the newsletter carefully and also check the website calendar so you don't miss any.

Belinda Hill

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for December is Catherine Alice Michaelis. Catherine’s path as an artist began as a journey of discovery. She didn’t know in 1985, when she traveled to China and Tibet, that this was more than an adventure—it was her calling. This month's spotlight interview traces some of the milestones in Catherine's path as an artist.

Catherine is both an artist and a curator. She has curated national and international artist book shows in the Pacific Northwest and created programming around them, most recently at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Bringing other artists forward and building community is something she believes in and does. Her connection to PSBA goes back to its beginning; she was a member of the founding board.

She’ll be giving a talk about her printmaking processes December 7th—more information at the end of this newsletter in Member News.

You'll find her Spotlight interview here.  

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (Carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

2026 Events

January 20: The 2026 Annual Members' Exhibition Committee is pleased to share that, in collaboration with the Book Arts Guild and the Guild of Book Workers Northwest 

Chapter, we are hosting a very special ZOOM event on January 20 from Noon-1pm. We have assembled a panel of experts to explore the topic, “Best Practices in the Book Arts: Writing Artists' Statements and More!” Watch your email for registration information.

We are delighted to welcome three leading voices in the book arts—Johanna Drucker, Alicia Bailey, and Erin Zona—for a conversation on professional best practices. Together, they will discuss:

·       Crafting clear and compelling artists’ statements

·       Developing strong and cohesive exhibition themes

·       Documenting artists’ books effectively

January 22: PSBA Board Meeting. Members welcome. No registration. Contact Belinda Hill directly for more information at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com.          

January 24: Revolving Ring. 9am-Noon. Online workshop with Belinda Hill.

February 4: Will you be our Valentine at BARN on Bainbridge.

Back for our 3rd year! Join BARN (Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network) and PSBA members in the Print & Book Arts studio for creative Valentine to distribute to organizations in our community or to a special someone in your life.

This is a free event and materials will be provided. We’d like you to register so we have an idea of how many will be attending. If you have a special Valentine you would like to share for inspiration, please bring it.  Sweet treats will be provided. Hope to see you there!

Time: 10am-2pm.

Additional information and registration available here.

February 15: PSBA Annual Meeting. 1pm-3pm with special guest speaker Yuka Petz. Yuka Petz is a visual artist and writer whose creative practice centers on language, heritage, paper, and letterforms. She writes and hosts Artist’s Books Unshelved, a video series offering in-depth explorations of artists’ books in the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art collection, and she teaches youth and adult workshops nationwide. Yuka’s artists’ books and prints are held in numerous special collections. Her work is grounded in collaboration, community engagement, and increasing the accessibility of book, print, and paper arts.

February 21: Transforming the Familiar. 1pm-4pm. Online workshop with Gina Pisello.

February 22: All About Books Redux: The Influence of Graphic Design on Artists' Book with Babette Mayor.

February 26: PSBA Board Meeting. Members welcome. No registration. Contact Belinda Hill directly for more information at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com.          

February 27: PSBA Volunteer Recognition Coffee.10:30am-Noon. 2926 S. Steele Street, Tacoma (Becky Frehse's Studio).

Join us for a warm and welcoming morning of coffee, conversation, and community. We’ll be celebrating the accomplishments of our current PSBA volunteers and sharing ways you can get involved with our organization.

You'll have the chance to meet our Volunteer Coordinator, Lynn McClain, who will update you on volunteer opportunities for 2026 as well as LeeAnne Campos, who will offer her personal insights on volunteering with PSBA. If you’re a new member, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow PSBA members and learn more about what we do.

Not a volunteer yet? No worries—we’d love to see you there!

We’ll provide the coffee and snacks, but please bring your own MUG!

Registration required. Click here for additional information and to register.

April 11 and 12: Matchbox and Hardcover Book Workshop. 10am-4pm both days.

Location: Studio of Becky Frehse, 2926 South Steele Street, 2nd Floor, Tacoma, WA. Instructor: Rhiannon Alpers.

Small boxes can hold big wonders—perfect for safeguarding artist book creations, treasures, and field findings. This two-day weekend workshop combines bookbinding and boxmaking, guiding students through the creation of a hand-sewn hardcover book and an enclosure—a drawer box style matchbox—to house it. Together, these elements form a beautiful and functional set, full of creative potential.

This workshop is welcome to all levels and will explore the principles of multi-component box construction and discover how these techniques apply to other practical box forms students can create at home.

Registration is Required. Additional information and registration will be available on the website in early 2026.

Please note there is also a $30 materials fee, payable directly to the instructor by cash, check, or Venmo.

BARN & PSBA Meet-Up- All About Books November 7 Recap

We had a great crowd of close to 30 individuals at our November event. The variety and scope of the books shared was inspiring with books ranging on topics of nature, photography, memories, the environment and more, all reflecting unique formats and materials. In addition, we were treated to some "vintage" Banana Chocolate cookies made by Barb Hoppmann who shared a unique mini cookbook from the 1950s.

Donor Opportunities Gratitude: Remembering Clarissa Sligh’s 2017 Visit to Puget Sound

In 2017, the University of Puget Sound and the Puget Sound Book Artists (PSBA) were honored to host renowned visual artist and social activist Clarissa Sligh.

The Archives & Special Collections at the University of Puget Sound proudly holds six of Sligh’s artist books, which remain available for viewing and study.

During her 2017 visit, Clarissa was joined by Kim Purser, an artist, poet, and teacher she first met at the Penland School of Crafts in the mid-1990s. Purser, a photographer and book artist, has collaborated with Sligh on numerous projects. In 2005, she taught Clarissa to fold origami cranes—a gesture that would later become deeply symbolic in Sligh’s artistic practice—and the two have been folding cranes together ever since.

Throughout her residency, PSBA members were privileged to engage with Clarissa in workshops and presentations. Her work was featured in two powerful exhibitions hosted by the Kittredge Gallery and Collins Memorial Library.

We remain deeply grateful for Clarissa Sligh’s visit and her profound generosity. Her art continues to inspire reflection, compassion, and hope within our community.

Websites to learn more:

·       https://wsworkshop.org/2019/06/clarissa-sligh-living-a-life-the-personal-and-the-political/

·       https://clarissasligh.com/

Remembering Michael Jacobs

PSBA Member Bonnie Julien shares the sad news that well known book artist Michael Jacobs has passed away. Below is a portion of his obituary that will be shared in full on the NORBAG (North Redwoods Book Arts Guild) newsletter and blog. Thank you Bonnie for sharing this news.

Michael, a resident of Washington State, passed away in September. He was born in California and grew up in Santa Monica. At the age of 11, he received a leather craft kit, and this was the beginning of his interest in creative arts. He took workshops and training in photography, paper making, metal work, bookbinding and other arts. In 1988 he obtained a Commercial Art Degree with Honors from Seattle Central Community College.  His career progressed from being the owner of The Leather Works in Santa Monica (1968 to 1975) to working in mixed media crafts and sculptures (1975 to 1986). He was the owner and designer of Dimensional Graphics in Seattle, making paper sculptures, props and signage (1988-1993), the Co-Owner and Art Director of The Creative Zone in Seattle, producing multimedia artist books, sculptures, and paper craft kits (1993 to 2009).   His artist books have been in private collections across America since 1973. In 1990, Michael designed and fabricated the World's Largest Photo Album (including 7,500 photos and weighing 228 pounds) for the Kodak Goodwill Games.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Award Winner Spotlight

The 2025 PSBA Members' Exhibition Closes on December 12. The exhibition team is very proud of the contribution from our members—this was the largest PSBA exhibition to date. We want to honor the last two 2025 Award Winners:

Belinda Hill was one of two winners for Innovative Form for her heartfelt piece Essential. This is Belinda's description of her work, "I love lichens. I pick them up as I walk around my woods and bring them into the house. I've been pressing them and drying them and recently tried using glycerine to preserve them. The poem that accompanies the book expresses some of my feelings about lichens but it is also a statement about the larger issue of all of the essential pieces of life that we don't look at closely." 

The award for Thematic Interpretation went to LeeAnne Campos for her book Trabajar Los Campos. LeeAnne wrote, "In 1942 a deal was signed by Mexico and the United States to alleviate the labor shortage in the US during WWII. Vital to the US's food supply, the agreement created the Bracero program. Bracero means 'one who works with his arms.' Ending in 1964, this program brought 4.6 million Mexicans to the US, where many endured harsh treatment and unrealized promises of wages." This theme is both historical and contemporary. 

2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition: Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity and Community!

Attention all PSBA members!

Two new features of the 2026 Annual Members' Exhibition are the 2026 Exhibition logo, designed by PSBA member and exhibition graphic designer Rebecca Chamlee, and the Intent to Submit registration.

This is not mandatory, but by registering your intent to submit to the 2026 Annual Members' Exhibition it provides the Committee with an indication of the number of participants and helps with exhibition layout and design elements.

The deadline to register your Intent to Submit is December 15, 2025.

The process is simple, just reply to psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org. You do not have to provide any additional information. And if you change your mind and do not submit, don't worry!

Expect to see the 2026 PSBA Annual Members' Exhibition Prospectus on our website in the first week of November!

Sincerely,

Your 2026 PSBA Annual Members' Exhibition Curatorial Committee

Jane Carlin

Deborah Greenwood

Lucia Harrison

Mark Hoppmann

Gina Pisello

Olympia MeetUp

The Olympia MeetUp had a lively and interesting get together in November. We decided our next gathering will start with a holiday lunch and then move to the Evergreen State College Library. We can carpool to Evergreen for one last look at the 2025 Exhibit and then help pack it up.

We will meet on Friday, December 12 at 1pm at Pho Lynne, 1600 Cooper Point Rd SW, Ste 620, Olympia, WA 98502.

Pierce County MeetUp

The Pierce County MeetUp will be December 10 at the University Place Public Library from 6pm to 8pm. Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

Member News

Catherine Alice Michaelis: Catherine of May Day Press will present “Shop Talk - Feeling the Pressure to Print’ on December 7. She’ll discuss what process for what project and why. These processes will be offered in workshops later in 2026 at Community Print in Olympia. For more information, visit https://www.community-print.org.

Other Book Arts Resources and Events

Eleventh Annual Washington State Zine Contest is Open:

Submission Guidelines and additional information available here. Entries must be dropped off or postmarked by March 27, 2026. Email sara.pete@sos.wa.gov with questions.

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Friday, December 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The January newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Dear Friends,

We have two extra events coming up. Have you ever made a “triskelion globe?” In December you'll have an opportunity to try making one or more.

Also I'm hosting a second PSBA Q&A on November 8 at 5pm PST. They are a low-key opportunity for you to share what you're working on, ask questions, and chat with other members. Resister for the Q&A here.

Belinda Hill

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for October is Paige Pettibon.

Paige and I met on a Sunday afternoon at the Collins Library. While we were talking about her work, the back of my brain was trying to figure out why her work was so familiar. And then the bell went off. About three years ago I saw her presentation of her first book, Urban Cedar, which was amazing. She was part of a group of book artists at one of Jane Carlin’s lunch time events. The whole room was in awe at the complexity and style of her book—written both in English and Twulshootseed.

You'll find her Spotlight interview here.  

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversation November 13

The current series of ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations will conclude on November 13.

We are delighted to welcome PSBA member and educator Randi Parkhurst to our ZOOM Lunchtime Conversation series. Randi invites us into her Olympia studio to share her colorful works on paper, including eco prints, gel prints and more. Her papers are used to embellish her handmade books, boxes and intricate constructions. Randi is also beginning her exploration of natural dyes and will showcase this work during her presentation! Register here.

This November ZOOM also marks the last ZOOM hosted by Jane Carlin and Laurie Moorhead. Since 2020, PSBA has been offering a number of ZOOM programs and our ZOOM Lunchtime Series has been a joy to develop. Over the years we have hosted exceptional artists who have inspired all of us and we look forward to the program resuming in the spring of 2026 with programs for March, April and May led by Suzanne Moore and Janet Reynolds. On a personal level, a huge thank you to Laurie who has volunteered her time to manage the ZOOM hosting of Lunchtime Conversations! It's been a great collaboration and thank you for your support and interest in this program.

Videos of the past presentations of Allie Alvis and Pietro Accardi are now available via PSBA Media on YouTube here.

November Events

November 2: All About Books: A Meet-Up at the BARN Print and Book Arts Studio, 2PM-4PM.

This informal gathering at BARN Print and Book Arts Studio is in partnership with PSBA.

Facilitated by Jane Carlin (PSBA) and Laura Samant (Print and Book Arts Lead).

Register here.

Questions: Contact Jane, Carlinjane@gmail.com.

November 15-16: PSBA Booth at Arts at the Armory: 1001 S. Yakima in Tacoma, 11AM-5 PM both days.

LeeAnn Campos, Debbi Commodore, Belinda Hill, Dorothy McCuistion and Rachel Watson will be selling book and paper art objects. We'll be right next to Lucia Harrison and Deborah Greenwood.

Drop by to support your community and shop for holiday gifts from over 130 art vendors. (10% of PSBA artist sales will go to PSBA). We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Coordinator for PSBA!

We are delighted to welcome Vashon Island artist Lynn McClain as our first ever Volunteer Coordinator. Lynn brings a wealth of experience working with local arts organizations. As a former Board member of the Vashon Island Visual Artists (VIVA) Lynn has worked to organize and facilitate workshops and classes for members. She is passionate about recognizing the important work that volunteers contribute.

Learn more about Lynn's art and work here:  https://vivartists.com/viva/artists/lynn-mcclain/. More information forthcoming. Welcome and thank you Lynn!

Hello PSBA members! Happy Fall!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

The year isn't over and there are still two workshops, several luncheon conversations, another PSBA Q&A, and our special members gift Zoom event in December, but the Board of Directors is busy working on events for 2026. Our newsletters are getting longer because there are so many things we think you'll want to know about.

Take a few minutes to read the newsletter and check the website for new articles and events.

PSBA also has a new Board member, Judy Cook! After retiring from her professional life as a computer programmer, Judy pursued studies in art history and printmaking at Evergreen State College. There she discovered book arts. Judy is a storyteller at heart. She uses book art form as a visual means of storytelling. Using printmaking and multimedia art, she tells her stories in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. Her works include pop-ups, papier-mache sculptures, fabric, and various forms of folded books.

Belinda Hill

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for October is Anna Moore,

Join us in getting to know Anna Moore, one of the 2025 Exhibition Award winners for her book Retreat. The Spotlight interview is somewhat of an interplanetary journey because of Anna's interest in outer space.

She is passionate about her work and I think you’ll see that as she describes her inspiration, her creative process and the sense of adventure she brings to book arts.

Some of her work aims to make a subject graspable or understandable. And then there’s another side where she honors the unknown—an astronaut seeking out the creative process. Read the full interview here.

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations

We are pleased to resume our Lunchtime Conversations. We have two presentations coming up soon! Videos of the past presentations of Allie Alvis and Pietro Accardi are now available via PSBA Media on YouTube here.

October 23: Noon-1. Karen Kunc, a prolific book artist, will share insights into her artistic journey, Register here.

November 13: Noon-1. Randi Parkhurst invites us into her Olympia studio to share her colorful works on paper, including eco prints, gel prints and more.

Register here.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Updates!

Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA: September 29 – December 12, 2025. More information will be available in the fall.

Save the Date: Open Case Events at The Evergreen State College Library

The Annual PSBA Members' Exhibition Field Work arrived at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The exhibition will be open from September 29-December 12, during library open hours. Save the date for our two open case events on:

• Thursday, October 30 from 3pm-5pm (in person) and
• Sunday, November 2 from Noon-2pm (hybrid).

Artists in the exhibition will receive an additional email with instructions on how to present at these events. More information will be added to the PSBA website soon.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Award Winner Spotlight

2025 Exhibition Field Work Award Winner for Emotional Resonance— Jan Dove for her moving book Ghost Tree.

This award goes to the piece that moves you the most—and Ghost Tree certainly does. Through vivid visuals, tactile details, and poetic form, Jan captures the grief and reflection of witnessing a clear-cut forest in timber country. An extraordinary 11 feet long, this book is both intimate and monumental. 

An excerpt from the book: 

• On advice from rain there followed
• Silent thrusting green
• Insistent and rooted wisdom
• The nursing of the Fireweed
• The promise to care for each other

2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition: Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity and Community!

The 2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition marks a major milestone—our 15th year! The Exhibition Committee is already hard at work preparing for this special event, and we are deeply grateful to the 2025 Committee for their exceptional documentation and organization. Your efforts have made the path ahead smoother—Thank you!

Theme: “15”

The theme for 2026 is all about celebration. We invite members to creatively explore the number 15 in all its forms—as a reflection on the past, a celebration of accomplishments, and a vision for the future. Since our founding, we’ve grown together as book artists, fostering a vibrant, supportive community. Let’s honor that journey.

Key Date: March 15, 2026

Please note: the submission deadline will be earlier this year—March 15th, 2026—giving you nine months to create work that captures the spirit of “15.”

Creative Prompts for Inspiration:

Here are some starting points to inspire your work:

• A book of 15 pages
• A reflection on your evolution as a book artist
• A book inspired by the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• The number 15 symbolizing harmony, balance, and energy
• Cultural reflections on turning 15, such as the quinceañera
• Traditional 15th anniversary symbols: crystal, rubies, and roses, representing clarity, passion, and wisdom

Prospectus Coming Soon

The official prospectus will be released in the coming months with full details.  Please note that books submitted that do not reflect the above theme are welcome in the exhibition.

Questions?

Please email Jane Carlin after July 15, 2025, at carlinjane@gmail.com.

2026 Exhibition Committee

Jane Carlin

Deborah Greenwood

Lucia Harrison

Mark Hoppmann

Gina Pisello

October Workshop and Events

October 11 Workshop: Art of Eco-Dyeing

We are happy to announce this workshop on Eco dying taught by Lisa Tsang. It will be held in Lisa’s spacious and well equipped, ground level studio at the SCH Warehouse Space: 18080 NE 68th St, B160, Redmond, WA 98052.

All tools and materials, except papers to dye, will be provided. $60 for PSBA members and $95 for nonmembers.

To register, click here.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange – Bridges: October 5

**Location Change for Exchange: Pacific Lutheran University, Ingram Hall **

The 7th Annual PSBA Book Exchange is an opportunity to exchange your artist book with another artist. This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

This year the Collins Library at UPS is unable to host the 2025 7th Annual Book Exchange. Our new location is at Pacific Lutheran University, Ingram Hall. PLU's Ingram Hall is home to the University Gallery, the College of Professional Studies Dean's office and the Department of Communication, Media and Design Arts.  A big thanks to Taylor Cox for making this possible!

For those who are new to the Book Exchange, the rules are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event on October 5, 2–4 PM, at our new location, Pacific Lutheran University, Ingram Hall, 12149 8th Ave Ct S, Parkland, WA 98444, Room 128. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

Books from previous annual Exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Contact LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

Olympia Meetup

The Olympia Meetup is scheduled for Monday, October 6 at 1 pm in the Olympia Public Library meeting room. Please join us and bring some art or writing to share. Contact Ann Storey aelizabeth.storey@gmail.com if you have questions.

Pierce County Meetup

The Pierce County Meet Up will be October 8 at the University Place Public Library from 6pm to 8pm. Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

Member News

Christie Houston: The Fidalgo Arts Retreat invites you to “Exploring Creating Zines This Fall!” classes will be held October 12, 19, 26, and November 2.

Class information and sign up can be found at https://fidalgoartsretreat.com/.

For those traveling out of their area, there is an available small Airbnb (at a discount $50 per day/maximum 2 people).  View the Airbnb at https://www.airbnb.com/hosting/listings/editor/49630557/details/photo-tour.

Questions? Contact Christie Houston, Email: okeffe@gotsky.com, Phone: 1-360-899-8210.

Janet Reynolds: “I'm excited to share that my artist book "Frenzy of Feathers" has been accepted to the Bound and Unbound VIII exhibition at the University of South Dakota.  It will be on view from August 25, 2025 - January 5, 2026.  The book is created using a repurposed book as the vessel for the tunnel book created from hand cut images of birds from a Birds of North America discarded book.” 

Catherine Alice Michaelis: PSBA congratulates Catherine for her stellar work as the Curator of Artists' Books at BIMA Museum. During her tenure at BIMA, Catherine curated a number of major exhibitions, established new programs, and helped create a flourishing community of book arts. Catherine has stepped down from the position and will be focusing on her own artwork. 

Cynthia Sears: Book Club of Washington recognized Cynthia with the Emory Award for a Washingtonian who made a significant contribution to the culture of the book. Many PSBA members were in attendance at the presentation on September 21 and Jenny WIlkson, Jodee Fenton and Catherine shared remarks about Cynthia's impact on the book arts.

Mare Blocker has an exhibit opening at the Sherry Grover Gallery October 3 that will go through February 15, 2026. An artist’s talk and movie premier will take place October 19. Visit https://www.biartmuseum.org/exhibitions/storytime-with-mare-artists-books-from-the-odditorium/ for more information. 

Other Book Arts Events

New Exhibit at University of Washington George M. Beckmann Reading Room

The new exhibit, “From Brush to Type – The Evolution of Bookmaking in East Asia,” is on display in TEAL 3F George M. Beckmann Reading Room starting September 24. This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library, University of Washington Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shaped. A workshop with special collection items on display will be held on October 15 at TEAL 2M Seminar Room. Register at the event link here.

Fall Book Fair November 9

This book event on the Olympic Peninsula will have small press publishing, zines, and artists books.

Location: Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA.

When: Sunday, November 9, Noon-5pm.

Additional information is forthcoming and will be here.

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Sundy, October 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The November newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Hello PSBA members! Wishing you a wonderful autumn!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

I am constantly amazed at how our small organization can offer so many creative opportunities for its members and the community. If you'd like to learn more about how we do it, join me on September 6th at 11am Pacific for PSBA Q&A. You need to register to receive the zoom link. We'll answer book arts questions, talk about ways you'd like to participate, what we're planning next, exciting things you're working on or have learned recently.

Register here.

Belinda Hill

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for September is Peter Newland. Many of our members are familiar with his resonant voice—the Dick Cavett of many PSBA Zoom interviews. As his wife, Robyn Johnson, said: “in Caesar’s time he would have been an orator.” In the September Spotlight the tables are turned and he is the interviewee, telling us about what inspires his work. It's a curious world that includes circus figures and puppets along with the deeply touching story from his time in Vietnam. You’ll find the interview on the PSBA website under News at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/Member-spotlight.

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

Celebrating Cynthia Sears at BIMA!

September 21, 1:30 to 2:30 in the Auditorium, followed by an informal reception

Please register here:  https://www.bookclubofwashington.org/events.  

Congratulations to Sandra Kroupa!

PSBA acknowledges the many contributions of Sandra Kroupa, Books Arts and Rare Books Curator at the University of Washington, who recently retired after a 57-year career. Read more about Sandra’s career and accomplishments here.

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations

We are pleased to resume our Lunchtime Conversations. We have two presentations coming up soon!

September 4: Noon-1. Pietro Accardi master paper marbler will share his insights into his amazing artistry. Register here.

October 23: Noon-1. Karen Kunc, a prolific book artist, will share insights into her artistic journey, Register here.

November 13: Noon-1. Randi Parkhurst invites us into her Olympia studio to share her colorful works on paper, including eco prints, gel prints and more.

Register here.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Updates!

Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA: September 29 – December 12, 2025. More information will be available in the fall.

Save the Date: Open Case Events at The Evergreen State College Library

The Annual PSBA Members' Exhibition Field Work arrived at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The exhibition will be open from September 29-December 12, during library open hours. Save the date for our two open case events on:

• Thursday, October 30 from 3pm-5pm (in person) and
• Sunday, November 2 from Noon-2pm (hybrid).

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Award Winner Spotlight

As the 2025 Exhibition —Field Work—moves to The Evergreen State College in September, we want to continue highlighting this year's award winners. In September we recognize Anna Moore for the Innovation in Form Award for her book Retreat.

This award honors bold, creative breaks from traditional book structures. Anna’s work transforms the book into a sculptural experience.

2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition: Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity and Community!

The 2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition marks a major milestone—our 15th year! The Exhibition Committee is already hard at work preparing for this special event, and we are deeply grateful to the 2025 Committee for their exceptional documentation and organization. Your efforts have made the path ahead smoother—Thank you!

Theme: “15”

The theme for 2026 is all about celebration. We invite members to creatively explore the number 15 in all its forms—as a reflection on the past, a celebration of accomplishments, and a vision for the future. Since our founding, we’ve grown together as book artists, fostering a vibrant, supportive community. Let’s honor that journey.

Key Date: March 15, 2026

Please note: the submission deadline will be earlier this year—March 15th, 2026—giving you nine months to create work that captures the spirit of “15.”

Questions?

Please email Jane Carlin after July 15, 2025, at carlin.jane@gmail.com,

Upcoming Events

Fabric Marbling: September 14, 9AM–4PM

2926 S. Steele St, Tacoma, WA 98409 – 2nd Floor

Presenter: Pietro Accardi

Registration is required. Further event information and registration is available here.

Art Supply Swap hosted by Community Print & PSBA: Sunday, September 14, Noon-2pm, 414 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA

Join Belinda Hill and Ray Zill for another art supplies swap! Bring in your gently used art supplies and swap them for something new-to-you. This is an on-site swap and donations must be delivered in person between 11:00am-12:30pm on Sunday, September 14th. Members of the public are invited to "shop" for free art supplies from 12:00pm-2:00pm. Remaining supplies will be donated to Lost and Found Crafts. We are most interested in donations of supplies used for printmaking, bookmaking, and mixed media art.

Art of Eco-Dyeing: October 11, 9:30am-4:30pm, Lisa Tsang’s studio

Register here. $60 for PSBA members and $95 for nonmembers. All tools and materials, except papers to dye, will be provided.

Panel Book Structure Workshop October 25-26

At the 2024 PSBA Book Exchange, a piece we saw was a charming little structure that involved four small books folded into a center container. When we asked if anyone at the meeting would sign up for a workshop to learn this structure, many hands were raised. Event information and registration will be available soon on the PSBA calendar.

PSBA Display at the Lacey Public Library: Call for Submissions

PSBA is hosting another book arts display at the Lacey Public Library this December, curated by Ray Zill. We are looking for artist books and prints that showcase the breadth of our work as PSBA members and how we have learned in community this year. Reach out to Ray at poetrayprints@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange – Bridges

Location Change for Exchange: Pacific Lutheran University, Ingram Hall 

The 7th Annual PSBA Book Exchange is an opportunity to exchange your artist book with another artist. This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

This year the Collins Library at UPS is unable to host the 2025 7th Annual Book Exchange. Our new location is at Pacific Lutheran University, Ingram Hall. PLU's Ingram Hall is home to the University Gallery, the College of Professional Studies Dean's office and the Department of Communication, Media and Design Arts.  A big thanks to Taylor Cox for making this possible!

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive by October 1^st. Please include $10 (check made payable to PSBA) to offset the shipping costs of the book that will be mailed to you after the Exchange.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Tacoma WA 98411

Complete the online registration form by September 21^st.

Please click this link: https://psba.formstack.com/forms/annual_book_exchange_2025

Books from previous annual Exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Contact LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

Marilyn Stablein has two artist books in Book Arts: Beyond Expectations, a show curated by Teresa J. Wilber, that opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, September 12, 5-8PM at the Gallery at Liggett Studio, 314 S. Kenosha Ave. The show closes October 2. 

1. My Hindi Primer, a flag book pop-up binding featuring 3 rows of colorful vintage prints of Hindi alphabet flash cards with imagery used by school children in India to learn to read.

   2. Paper Visions, a painted board book with five turkish origami map fold pop-ups with decorative papers. An embossed metal ornament on the cover has moveable jangling charms.

Lynn Skordal has several books appearing in exhibitions this fall.  In Rochester, NY, the 2025 Art of the Book exhibition (https://roccitylibrary.org/artofthebook/) includes two pieces--"People I Know, People I Don't Know" an artist’s book and "Copper No. 2" a book sculpture category;  at the University of South Dakota, the 2025 Bound & Unbound VIII exhibition (https://libguides.usd.edu/BU8) includes “Double Vision,” an altered book collaboration between Lynn and Sabine Remy of Germany;  and soon opening in Decatur, GA, the 2025 “The Book As Art v. 13: Mixed Messages” (https://decaturartsalliance.org/the-book-as-art/).

Hello PSBA members! Hope your summer is going well!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

The summer is flying by and by the time you read this our Members’ Exhibition will be leaving Tacoma and will open in Olympia in the fall. There will be a picnic in Tacoma at the end of August where we hope to meet with many members. But, many of you don't live in the Puget Sound area and we don't want you to feel left out. So I'm going to host an online PSBA Q&A the first Saturday in September where you can join me on Zoom and tell me about yourself and what you are working on and ask questions about PSBA and our work. The registration link is on the calendar and we'll send an email in August.

• What do you want to know about PSBA?
• What do you want to learn about Book Arts?
• Who would you like to take a workshop from?
• Would you like to teach a workshop or mini-workshop?
• What makes you joyful in your work with book arts?

Belinda Hill

SAVE THE DATE for the PSBA Members' Summer Potluck Picnic!

August 30, 11AM - 2PM at Wapato Park in Tacoma. Look for the announcement with more details in your email and be sure to sign up--the event is free.

This will be a time to share a meal and socialize with your PSBA friends old and new. Bring a potluck dish to share (and serving utensil).

PSBA will provide drinks, paper cups, plates and plastic ware.

Registration and further information available here.

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

The PSBA Spotlight Artist for August is Mark Hoppmann. Mark graciously invited me to his studio which was the perfect place to be introduced to him and his artistic journey. The studio is his own TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) like a Dr. Who time machine or space craft; the exterior is small, but once you enter, whole worlds open up. Stop by and visit during the next Tacoma Studio Tour.

About book arts, Mark says his intent is "...to design illustrated books for those with 'with satiable curiosity.'"

You'll find the full interview on the PSBA website starting August 1 here.

Previous spotlight profiles are here.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations

We are pleased to resume our Lunchtime Conversations. We have two presentations coming up soon!

August 27: Noon-1. Allie Alvis returns for a second talk, focusing on color and the historic holdings of the Winterthur Library. Register here.

September 4: Noon-1. Pietro Accardi master paper marbler will share his insights into his amazing artistry. Register here.

October 23: Noon-1. Karen Kunc, a prolific book artist, will share insights into her artistic journey, Register here.

November 13: Noon-1. Randi Parkhurst invites us into her Olympia studio to share her colorful works on paper, including eco prints, gel prints and more.

Register here.

The Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound: August 3, 2025 is the last day of the Collins phase of the exhibition. Books going to Evergreen will be packed and stored at Evergreen. Books not going to Evergreen will either be mailed or Debbi Commodore will reach out to you to coordinate pickup arrangements.

Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA:September 29 – December 12, 2025. More information will be available in the fall.

Field Work Community Engagement: We’d like to see how our members respond to the community engagement project about books and book arts. The prompt cards are available at the Collins Library and will be available at Evergreen. You can mail your response or drop off the card at the library. Members of the curatorial team will bind the cards into a book as a thank you for the libraries’ support.

Historical Context of the PSBA Exhibitions: Debbi Commodore, chair of the 2025 Exhibition, noted how the annual PSBA Exhibition has evolved since its inception in 2011. Since then, 73 artists have participated in the annual exhibition, with many returning year after year—including four who have exhibited every single year.

2025 Participation:

• 57 artists had work in the exhibition—the highest number to date, up from 27 artists in 2011.
• 15 artists participated for the first time
• books were submitted from members in nine states, with 30% coming from outside Washington.

Since 2011, the annual exhibition has showcased a total of 730 books.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Award Winner Spotlight

This month we highlight Gabby Cooksey, Winner of the Thoughtful Use of Traditional Book Form Award for her beautiful Tarot for the Misguided.

This award celebrates books that masterfully use classic forms to tell their story. Gabby ’s work includes two Bradel-bound books, sewn on hinges, all tucked inside a slipcase with a separate box for tarot cards.

Time ’s a tricky thing when digging into tarot ’s origins—mixing truths, tall tales, and legends passed down through the years. Gabby hopes her work sparks your own journey into tarot, whether it ’s for learning, art appreciation, or getting to know the animals on the cards. A brilliant blend of craft, tradition, and truly unique imagination.

2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition: Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity and Community!

The 2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition marks a major milestone—our 15th year! The Exhibition Committee is already hard at work preparing for this special event, and we are deeply grateful to the 2025 Committee for their exceptional documentation and organization. Your efforts have made the path ahead smoother—Thank you!

Theme: “15”

The theme for 2026 is all about celebration. We invite members to creatively explore the number 15 in all its forms—as a reflection on the past, a celebration of accomplishments, and a vision for the future. Since our founding, we’ve grown together as book artists, fostering a vibrant, supportive community. Let’s honor that journey.

Key Date: March 15, 2026

Please note: the submission deadline will be earlier this year—March 15th, 2026—giving you nine months to create work that captures the spirit of “15.”

Creative Prompts for Inspiration:

Prospectus Coming Soon

The official prospectus will be released in the coming months with full details.  Please note that books submitted that do not reflect the above theme are welcome in the exhibition.

Questions?

Please email Jane Carlin after July 15, 2025, at carlin.jane@gmail.com,

2026 Exhibition Committee

Jane Carlin

Deborah Greenwood

Lucia Harrison

Mark Hoppmann

Gina Pisello

Upcoming Events

Panel Book Structure Workshop October 25-26

At the 2024 PSBA Book Exchange, a piece we saw was a charming little structure that involved four small books folded into a center container. When we

asked if anyone at the meeting would sign up for a workshop to learn this structure, many hands were raised. Elsi Vassdal Ellis will be coming to teach us how to create the Panel Book Structure this year. It will be a 2-day event October 25-26. Students will learn many basic book arts skills as well as basic decorative box making, and will go home with their own version of this wonderful structure. All skill levels are welcome. Event information and registration will be available soon on the PSBA calendar.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange - Bridges

The 7th Annual PSBA Book Exchange is an opportunity to exchange your artist book with another artist. This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

For those who are new to the Book Exchange, the rules are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event on October 5^th, 2025 (2–4 PM) at Collins Library, University of Puget Sound, McCormick Room #303 on the third floor. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive by October 1^st. Please include $10 (check made payable to PSBA) to offset the shipping costs of the book that will be mailed to you after the Exchange.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Tacoma WA 98411

Complete the online registration form by September 21^st.

Please click this link: https://psba.formstack.com/forms/annual_book_exchange_2025

Books from previous annual Exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Contact LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

2025 7^th Annual Book Exchange Committee

Denise Stephenson

Janet Reynolds

Deborah Poe

LeeAnne Campos

Pierce County Meetups this Summer

Wednesday August 13 from 6:15pm-8pm at the University Place Pierce County Public Library meeting room. Bring something book arts related to share. All are welcome!

Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

Member News

Gina Pisello has a display of artists' books and paper sculptures at the Bainbridge Island Public Library for the month of August. If you stop by, it is right at the entrance of the Library.

Marilyn Stablein, collagist, book artist and mail art aficionado contributed a collaged art postcard that was included in Postcards to the Future, an international outdoor POSTCARD EXHIBIT July 4-6, at Don Davis Park gazebo, in Newport, Oregon. The exhibition was sponsored by the Coastal Arts Guild, on the Central Oregon Coast. To view the exhibition online visit their online gallery, Postcards to the Future.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Hello PSBA members! Wishing you a happy summer!

August 30, 11AM - 2PM at Wapato Park in Tacoma. Look for the announcement with more details in your email and be sure to sign up--the event is free.

This will be a time to share a meal and socialize with your PSBA friends old and new. Bring a potluck dish to share (and serving utensil).

PSBA will provide drinks, paper cups, plates and plastic ware.

Registration and further information available here.

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

July's Spotlight features book artist, visual artist and poet Carrie Larson. Carrie lives in Hoquiam and once a month she drives to Olympia for the PSBA Meetup. She once described her work in this way:

“A sense of place is often at the root of my art-making—even in its most abstracted forms. A particular piece may suggest the natural beauty of the physical landscape, sourced from the reflections found in rivers and puddles to the patterning of light and shadow under the forest canopy. Another work might build from an emotional place—grief, fury, longing, joy—and pull the viewer in to share that experience. I edit down to essences and sensations, evoking a poetry of sorts, wanting the viewer to connect with these ‘places’ in some meaningful, resonant way… I invite the viewer to a quiet intimacy.”

You'll find the full spotlight interview on the PSBA website under the News tab.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations

We'd like to thank everyone for attending our ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations over the last year. We will take a break over the summer and restart in August!  Please mark your calendars for our fall lineup and more details are forthcoming!

August 27: Noon-1. Allie Alvis returns for a second talk, focusing on color and the historic holdings of the Winterthur Library. Register here.

September 4: Noon-1. Pietro Accardi master paper marbler will share his insights into his amazing artistry. Register here.

October 23: Noon-1. Karen Kunc, a prolific book artist, will share insights into her artistic journey, Register here.

November 13: Noon-1. Randi Parkhurst invites us into her Olympia studio to share her colorful works on paper, including eco prints, gel prints and more. Register here.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Updates!

The Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound— June 5 - August 3, 2025

Key dates:

• July 8, 2025—open case (zoom) noon -1:00; registration required.
• July 24, 2025—open case (in-person) 4:00 - 5:30; registration required.
• August 3, 2025 — Last day of the Collins Library phase of the exhibition. Books going to Evergreen will be packed and stored at Evergreen. Books not going to Evergreen will either be mailed or Debbi Commodore will reach out to you to coordinate pickup arrangements.

Library summer hours: Monday-Friday: 8am- 5pm; Saturday: 1-5; Sunday: closed. The Library will be closed July 4-6 for the holiday.

Please check the PSBA website for more information https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/2025-Members-Exhibition-Press-Release.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Reception

The 2025 Members' Exhibition opened June 5 with a gathering of members and friends. As always, there was an air of excitement to see the many interpretations of the year's theme. And with 57 books, there was a lot to see. It was also a chance for attendees to catch up and to enjoy the lovely buffet offered by the University of Puget Sound. 

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Awards

The highlight of the reception was the awards ceremony! Each book in the exhibition shines with its own distinct brilliance, yet seven works rose above—radiating extraordinary creativity, craftsmanship, and vision.

To celebrate these exceptional pieces, we presented a series of distinguished awards in categories including Thematic Interpretation, Emotional Resonance, Thoughtful Use of Traditional Book Form, Innovation in Form, and Exemplary Craft.

LeeAnne Campos

Thematic Interpretation Award for Trabajar Los Campos (“To Work the Fields”).

Gabby Cooksey

One of two winners in Thoughtful Use of Traditional Book Form Award for Tarot for the Misguided.

Jan Dove

Emotional Resonance Award for Ghost Tree.

Kat Gower

One of two winners of the Thoughtful Use of Traditional Book Form Award for Edinburgh 2013.

Lucia Harrison

Exemplary Craft Award for her beautiful book, A Seasonal Companion.

Belinda Hill

One of two winners in Innovation in Form Award for her heartfelt piece, Essential.

Anna Moore

One of two winners in Innovation in Form Award for her amazing

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Award Winner Spotlight

Each month through the end of 2025, the newsletter will feature an award winner of the exhibition. This month we celebrate Lucia Harrison, winner of the Exemplary Craft Award for her beautiful book, A Seasonal Companion.

This work walks us through the seasons with the Red Flowering Currant, teaching us generosity, hospitality, reciprocity, and hope—values that help in tough times.

From hummingbirds visiting in spring, to butterflies laying eggs, animals spreading seeds, leaves nourishing soil, and hopeful winter buds—this piece captures the amazing cycle of nature.

Made with six French door folios of handmade daffodil and abaca paper plus delicate hand embroidery, it’s a true work of heart and craft.

From Lucia: “Walking the seasons with Red Flowering Currant, I learn key values—generosity, hospitality, reciprocity and hope—that help me in troubled times. In early spring, her cascading flowers welcome Rufous Hummingbirds on their long journey from Mexico exchanging nectar for pollination. In late spring, she hosts Zephyr Butterflies who lay their eggs on the underside of her leaves. In late summer, she nourishes animals with currants, and they spread her seeds. In fall, she sheds leaves and fuels the soil organisms who put nutrients into the soil around her. In winter, her swelling buds offer hope.”

Upcoming Events

Collage Book with Accordion/Tunnel Surprise: September 20, 9AM–Noon (PST), Zoom.
Workshop Fee: $25

Instructor Bio: Rosemary Rae is a creative director/designer, artist, and design educator living in San Diego, CA.

Skill Levels: all levels.

Questions? Contact Belinda Hill @ benjisnewadventure@gmail.com,

Register at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/event-6201664.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange - Bridges

The 7th Annual PSBA Book Exchange is an opportunity to exchange your artist book with another artist. This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

For those who are new to the Book Exchange, the rules are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event on October 5^th, 2025 (2–4 PM) at Collins Library, University of Puget Sound, McCormick Room #303 on the third floor. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive by October 1^st. Please include $10 (check made payable to PSBA) to offset the shipping costs of the book that will be mailed to you after the Exchange.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Tacoma WA 98411

Complete the online registration form by September 21^st.

Please click this link: https://psba.formstack.com/forms/annual_book_exchange_2025

Books from previous annual Exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Contact LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

2025 7^th Annual Book Exchange Committee

Denise Stephenson

Janet Reynolds

Deborah Poe

LeeAnne Campos

Thank You May PSBA Volunteers!

The PSBA Outreach Committee would like to thank the Wayzgoose, Karshner Museum and Seattle Book Arts Festival Volunteers. We talked about book arts, handed out brochures and had a 1-sheet make and take. Through your work PSBA raised $1800! Becky Frehse, Jane Carlin and Lucia Harrison organized the outreach events.

Wayzgoose Volunteers included: Peter Newland, Robyn Johnson, Lee Ann Campos, Carli Schultz, Jane Carlin, Becky Frehse, Karen Benveniste, Belinda Hill, Sandy Campbell, Lucia Harrison, Kim Izenman, Sally Alger, Dorothy McCuistion, and Deborah Greenwood.

The Karshner Museum in Puyallup asked PSBA to create a mini-exhibit and lead a five-station book arts project for their Artist in Action Series. This involving making an accordion fold booklet, a collage, a popup, a gratitude envelope message and an origami fold cover.

Volunteers included Beth Lamama, Terry Bader, Kim Izenman, Mari Gower, Kat Gower, An Gates, Dorothy McCuistion, Deborah Greenwood, Rachel Watson, and Belinda Hill.

The Seattle Book Arts Fair drew in 4,000 people. Volunteers for the PSBA table and panel discussion included Lee Ann Campos, Carletta Carrington Wilson, Bonnie Thompson Norman, Jane Carlin, Candis Litsey, and Esther Ervin.

We would also like to thank Fran McReynolds for coordinating nine book arts workshops for the Whatcom READS No Two Persons (by Erica Bauermeister) library events in Whatcom County.

Pierce County Meetups this Summer

Wednesday, July 9 and Wednesday August 14 from 6:15pm-8pm at the University Place Pierce County Public Library meeting room. Bring something book arts related to share. All are welcome!

Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Saturday, July 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The August newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Call to Share Upcoming Events

Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Hello PSBA members! Hope to see you at the Members’ Exhibition opening June 5!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

Many of you probably vary your schedule during the summer, vacations, retreats, workshops and family events. So do all the members of the board with members going from Great Britain to Australia. Don't forget to share news of exhibits, classes, or artists to our social media Facebook or send news to the newsletter. Our big events in June center around the Members' Exhibit (details below). Every year I am impressed by the wonderful work from our members and this year they are fantastic.

Have a wonderful summer,

Belinda Hill

Looking for Past PSBA Newsletters?

The archive of previous newsletters is located at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/Newsletter.

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

June’s spotlight shines on LeeAnne Campos, https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/Member-spotlight. You’ll find a preview of her Field Work submission and the special meaning behind it. She answered questions about her wide-ranging art projects, her lifelong passion for music, and her perfect day in the garden.

If you have a suggestion for a PSBA spotlight, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com) or Diane Miller (dianemiller1914@gmail.com).

ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations

We'd like to thank everyone for attending our ZOOM Lunchtime Conversations over the last year. We will take a break over the summer and restart in August!  Please mark your calendars for our fall lineup and more details are forthcoming!

August 27: Noon-1. Allie Alvis returns for a second talk, focusing on color and the historic holdings of the Winterthur Library.

September 4: Noon-1. Pietro Accardi master paper marbler will share his insights into his amazing artistry.

October 23: Noon-1. Karen Kunc, a prolific book artist, will share insights into her artistic journey

November: TBA.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Update!

The 2025 Exhibition planning is in the home stretch. The draft catalog is in the final stages of review. 57 books were selected and they are amazing—each explores the theme in a way that matches the vision of the artist. Can’t wait to see them in person.

Since last summer, we’ve been working on the Field Work exhibit. And now the moment has arrived.

The Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound— June 5 - August 3, 2025

Key dates:

·       May 29, 2025—mailed entries should arrive at the Collins Library by this date.

·       June 3, 2025—in person library drop off between 1 - 3. Remember to pack your books securely whether mailing them or dropping them off in person.

·       June 5, 2025—opening reception 4:30 - 6:30. Awards will be announced, and catalogs will be available for those who ordered them.

·       July 8, 2025—open case (zoom) noon -1:00; registration required.

·       July 24, 2025—open case (in-person) 4:00 - 5:30; registration required.

PLEASE NOTE —THIS IS A DATE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED JUNE OPEN CASE.

Library summer hours:

Monday-Friday: 8am- 5pm; Saturday: 1-5; Sunday: closed

Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA—

September 29 – December 12, 2025. More information will be available in the fall.

The exhibition is free and open to the public at both venues.  Accessible parking is available.

Please check the PSBA website for more information https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/2025-Members-Exhibition-Press-Release.

Field Work: A Community Artist Book

In the spirit of Field Work, this year ’s Puget Sound Book Artists exhibition invites you not only to observe—but to respond.

Postcard-sized cards will be available, asking a question about books:

What do books mean to you?

How is an artist’s book different from a conventional book?

Visitors are invited to pick up a card, consider, and reply. A word, a sketch, a fragment of thought—each mark becomes a gesture of participation in a larger unfolding conversation.

These cards, gathered over the run of the exhibition, will be bound into artist books—living archives of curiosity and reflection. Each book will reside in the libraries of the University of Puget Sound and The Evergreen State College, a reflection of a conversation about books as we know them today.

This is field work of a different kind—not of data and specimens, but of ideas and impressions. A collective act of noticing, questioning, and reimagining what a book can be.

Volunteers Needed: Peninsula Summer Arts Festival

PSBA will have a booth at the Peninsula Summer Arts Festival to be held in Gig Harbor July 19-20 as part of the Festival's Creative Corridor! We would love some volunteers to take on some shifts during this event that runs both days. Jane Carlin and Bonnie Julien are already signed up to volunteer, and we hope other members will consider joining us for 3-4 hour shifts on both days! Our table will be very similar to what we did for Wayzgoose and Seattle Art Book Fair. If interested, please email Jane at carlinjane@gmail.com.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange - Bridges

The 7th Annual PSBA Book Exchange is an opportunity to exchange your artist book with another artist. This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

For those who are new to the Book Exchange, the rules are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event on October 5^th, 2025 (2–4 PM) at Collins Library, University of Puget Sound, McCormick Room #303 on the third floor. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive by October 1^st. Please include $10 (check made payable to PSBA) to offset the shipping costs of the book that will be mailed to you after the Exchange.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Tacoma WA 98411

Complete the online registration form by September 21^st.

Please click this link: https://psba.formstack.com/forms/annual_book_exchange_2025

Books from previous annual Exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Contact LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

2025 7^th Annual Book Exchange Committee

Denise Stephenson

Janet Reynolds

Deborah Poe

LeeAnne Campos

Seattle Art Book Fair Recap

Thank you to all our volunteers: LeeAnne Campos, Jane Carlin, Esther Ervin, Candis Litsey, and Carletta Carrington Wilson for hosting the PSBA table. According to the SABF organizers, over 4000 individuals attended the two-day event. That is incredible! We had lots of visitors to our table and many asked about workshops for beginners! The take-away one page book was very popular and everyone admired the items from the Ambassadors Box. We also thank Bonnie Thompson Norman, Jodee Fenton, Carletta Carrington Wilson and Esther Ervin for their presentation Redefining the Book. It was a great weekend.

Member News

Gina Pisello has an altered book juried into Bound and Unbound VIII that opens at the University of South Dakota in August, https://libguides.usd.edu/c.php?g=1424248&p=10562823.

Wayzgoose Kitsap Art Festival June 7

Wayzgoose Kitsap is a printmaking festival connecting local artists and bringing communities together.

Event information at https://search.app/eZZ6bbwFehwzfDCZ9.

Guild of Book Workers Scholarships Available

The Guild of Book Workers has announced its annual meeting, the Standards of Excellence seminar, in Iowa City this October.

The Guild of Book Workers offers scholarships to attend the Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding. The scholarship consists of one year of Guild Membership, a waiver of seminar registration fees, lodging costs for four nights at the conference hotel, and the cost of the Saturday evening banquet dinner. The lodging costs covered do not include hotel parking, phone calls, movie rentals, or any other room services. Tour costs are not covered by the scholarship. The GBW Treasurer will reserve a room for each recipient at the conference hotel. Recipients are responsible for making their own travel plans. Scholarship recipients will be asked to volunteer a small amount of their time during the seminar to assist the event organizers, presenters, or other GBW volunteers.

The application link and more information is at https://guildofbookworkers.org/2025?section=2025-landing.

Great New Book Arts Resource!

Describing artists' books can sometimes be a challenge. The University of Utah has just released a great new resource: Opening Artists' Books https://oab.lib.utah.edu/artist-book-terms/

You can search for a term and link to a description as well as suggest terminology. It is a great resource to help describe and document artists' books.

PSBA thanks Vamp & Tramp!

Vamp & Tramp Booksellers will close June 30 after 30 years in business. 

The store will continue to take orders through May 31 and make sure they are fulfilled even if it means delivery after June 30.

 Vamp and Tramp will soon begin reaching out to artists to return any inventory we have in our Birmingham office. 

For further information, visit their website at http://www.vampandtramp.com/html/home.html.

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Thursday, June 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The July newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Call to Share Upcoming Events

Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Greetings PSBA members! Hope your Spring is going well!

Image courtesy of Suzanne Moore.

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

The PSBA board and committees have been hard at work this spring. You'll read about some of them in the newsletter and there will be more throughout May. We hope that you are all having a wonderful spring, creating. What more can I say when you can read more below.

Belinda Hill

New PSBA webpage is now live!

We anticipate a month of review and testing and we would love your feedback. Please send feedback to the following email address: psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org.

PSBA Members’ Spotlight

A new spotlight will soon be available on the PSBA website featuring our President Belinda Hill. Follow her circuitous path through academia to book arts—and what she learned along the way.

And next month we'll talk to LeeAnne Campos and what she learned in researching the background for her book.

 If you have a suggestion of a PSBA member to spotlight, contact Jane Carlin at(carlinjane@gmail.com).

Upcoming Events

May 10-11: Join PSBA at the Seattle Art Book Fair.  https://www.seattleartbookfair.org/About.  

For those of you attending on May 11, PSBA is sponsoring a panel discussion from Noon-1PM. 

Redefining the Book: A Conversation with Book Artists.

Facilitated by Jane Carlin with Carletta Carrington Wilson, Esther Ervin, Jodee Fenton and Bonnie Thompson Norman. In this interactive panel discussion, you will have the opportunity to hear from prominent Seattle book artists who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary book design through their artistry and creativity. Whether working with letterpress, fine binding, textiles as well as historical and contemporary text, these 4 artists each approach the art of the book in unique and inspiring ways to engage the viewer/reader to reflect and learn and be inspired. They will be sharing examples of recent work.

May 15: Lunchtime Conversation with Suzanne Moore. Zoom, Noon-1pm.

Last month we had the opportunity to learn from Heidi Gustafson and delve into the topic of color. This month we continue the conversation with noted artist Suzanne Moore. How do choices of various color media offer distinct effects, which reflect and convey the content of each book's message? How does each color technique create a unique look on paper, and how can color tell a story?

Suzanne will explore these issues as she shares examples of past and current work and discusses how her own work with a variety of color applications has played out in her book work. Suzanne weaves words and imagery with form, content, and rich color to engage and inspire the viewer.

For additional information and to register, visit https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/event-6130771?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=5/29/2025.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Update!

The 2025 Exhibition planning is in the home stretch. The draft catalog is in the final stages of review. 57 books were selected and they are amazing—each explores the theme in a way that matches the vision of the artist. Can’t wait to see them in person.

Save these Dates:

• How to Pack Your Work: April 30 on Zoom. Tips from Suzanne Moore and other experienced PSBA artists. There’s still time to register for this “how to” class, but if you miss it, the video will be available in the PSBA website video library.

• Drop off for Installation: June 3, 1PM-3PM at the Collins Library.

• Opening Reception: Thursday, June 5, 4:30-6:30 at the Collins Memorial Library, University of Puget Sound. Awards will be announced at the event.

• Open Case: in-person Saturday, June 21, 2- 4 at the Collins Memorial Library. This is an opportunity to meet the artists and hear them describe their work.

• Open Case: zoom, Tuesday, July 8, noon. Participants should register for the event at the Puget Sound Book Artists website. There will be a moderated discussion with select artists about their books.

• Community Engagement Project: guests and participants will have the opportunity to write their thoughts about books and book arts in particular. A card station will be set up in the exhibit room. The cards will be collected throughout the show and turn into an artist book at the end of the exhibition. There will be a book for the Collins Library and one for Daniel J. Evans Library.

Questions? Send your inquiries to psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org

Olympia-area PSBA Meetings

The next Olympia PSBA monthly meet-up will be on Monday, May 12, starting at 1 pm in the Olympia Public Library meeting room. Everyone is welcome! Please bring some book arts or creative writing to share. For more information contact Ann Storey aelizabeth.storey@gmail.com. 

Pierce County Meetup

The next Pierce County Meet- up will be held on Wednesday May 14 from 6:15 to 8:00 pm in the atrium entrance to the University Place Pierce County Library.  All are welcome.  3609 Market Place W.  University Place, WA 98466.  For More info contact Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com

2025 Arts at the Armory

PSBA is planning to apply for a booth at the December Arts at the Armory event in Tacoma.  It will be a great opportunity to sell your art work if you don’t have enough work for your own booth.  Would you like to participate?  Please contact Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange - Bridges

The rules for the book exchange are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive a week before the Exchange There will be a charge for mailing the book.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Tacoma WA 98411

This year’s theme is “Bridges.” There are many possibilities with the theme — physical bridges, such as viaducts or overpasses; paths from one place to another; relationships between people; or joining two objects or ideas together.

The in-person Exchanges takes place October 5 from 2pm–4pm at Collins Library in the McCormick Room, University of Puget Sound.

Complete the online submission form by September 21 on the event page here.

We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It’s inspirational to see the books created with the theme, and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!

Questions? Email LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

For additional information and to view works from previous years, click here.

PSBA thanks Vamp & Tramp!

Vamp & Tramp Booksellers will be closing June 30 after 30 years in business. 

The store will continue to take orders through May 31 and make sure they are fulfilled even if it means delivery after June 30.

 Vamp and Tramp will soon begin reaching out to artists to return any inventory we have in our Birmingham office. 

For further information, visit their website at http://www.vampandtramp.com/html/home.html.

Other Book Arts Upcoming Events

Community Print has several events in May! See full details and register at https://www.community-print.org/events

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, May 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The June newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Call to Share Upcoming Events

Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.

Importance Notice

We are currently negotiating a tentative timetable for our website redesign process to commence. There is a strong possibility that our PSBA website will be unavailable between April 7-28.  We URGE you to go ahead and register for April and May events prior to April 7.  Additional emails on this schedule will be forthcoming. 

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

I joined PSBA because there was a workshop that I really wanted to take. I also thought that it would be fun to challenge myself to enter a book into the Members’ Exhibition. Since then, I have continued to benefit from both the opportunities and challenges that are offered to members. Among the opportunities are working with other members of the organization. I learned so much and gained new friends from working on the exhibition committee for two years. Now as president I get to benefit further from getting to know and work with many of you.

Challenge yourself and consider joining one of our committees or taking on a small task like becoming a Zoom host and see how much you'll gain.

Happy Spring,

Belinda Hill

Call for Book Artists to Feature in PSBA Members’ Spotlight

PSBA is beginning a new series of spotlight interviews featuring its members. If you have someone in mind, contact Jane Carlin (carlinjane@gmail.com), chair of the Communications Committee.

Upcoming Events

On Display Now-April 27: Nature and the Book Exhibit at Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island. This exhibition, previously displayed at the Miller Library of the University of Washington, is now on display in the beautiful Residence on the Bloedel Reserve. Please note that tickets are required to visit the Reserve and may be purchased online. For those of you that are not members, you may want to take advantage of the Welcome Wednesday option. On the first Wednesday of the month visit the Bloedel for a pay-what-you-wish community day at Bloedel. You still need to book a ticket but will pay what you want. Read more about the exhibit here: https://bloedelreserve.org/nature-book-exhibition/.

April 10: Lunchtime ZOOM Conversation with Heidi Gustafson. Noon–1 PM, Zoom.

We are delighted to welcome Pacific Northwest artist, author and ochre specialist, Heidi Gustafson, to join us to discuss the process and relationship between two versions of her spellbinding field guide, Book of Earth. The original Book of Earth, is an oracular artists' book made of bioregional pigments and soils, intended to let the land/rocks speak for themselves. The commercial version, Book of Earth: A Guide to Ochre, Pigment, and Raw Color (Abrams, 2023) repeats the intention, but with more experiential guidance and land stories for the reader to further engage place, and working with pigment-bearing minerals through embodied, artistic practice. Learn more about Heidi on her website, earlyfutures.com or on instagram @heidilynnheidilynn.

April 26: Mini-Workshop Collage Book with Accordion/Tunnel Surprise. Zoom, 9AM-Noon.

Using random ephemera, images and scrap paper we will build an unique structure that houses a folded accordion which when fully opened, reveals a dimensional tunnel attached to the inside back cover. We will collage and paint the covers, the accordion and tunnel. Create a story that carries the viewer from the front cover to the inside panels and then to the dimensional collage in the back. Work can be based on a theme or a random exploration. Experience making books and working with collage is helpful, but not necessary. All skill levels are welcome.

Workshop Fee: $25.

Additional information and registration available at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/event-6059716.

April 30: How to Pack Your Work Information Session. Zoom, Noon-1pm.

PSBA is thrilled to offer artists in our Annual Members’ Exhibition the opportunity to have work travel to multiple venues. As your artwork will be on the move, it’s essential to pack it properly to ensure it arrives safely at each site.

You do not need to have work in the Annual Exhibition to attend.

The Zoom event will be recorded and available on the PSBA website afterward.

For more information about the exhibition, please contact psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org.

Registration is forthcoming and will be on the Events page at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/events.

May 15: Lunchtime Conversation with Suzanne Moore. Zoom, Noon-1pm.

Additiona information coming soon on the Events page at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/events/

May 17: Mini-Workshop Expand the Accordion Fold Structure. Becky Frehse Studio in Tacoma, 1pm-4pm.

The accordion structure has endless possibilities! In this workshop participants will learn variations of the structure including the pocket accordion, the flag book, and how to multiply the accordion structure when combining it with a sewn in signature. We will also look at sewing needles, thread, sewing templates, simple sewing techniques, and make 3-5 accordion structures.

Workshop Fee: $55.

Additional information and registration available at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/event-6071425.

May 31: Mini-Workshop One Sheet Wonder--Explore the Maze Book Structure. Becky Frehse Studio in Tacoma, 1pm-4pm.

With a single sheet, a series of folds, and strategic cuts a beautiful book is created that has unusual formations, twists, and turns. Shereen LaPlantz describes maze books as spaces for stories within stories. Participants will learn multiple patterns for maze books and create books on both mock-up paper and fine art paper.

Workshop Fee: $45.

Additional information and registration available at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/event-6071333.

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Update!

We’re entering into the season of the Annual Members’ Exhibition. The 2025 theme, Field Work, has been met with a lot of enthusiasm by the members putting the final touches on their books. Can’t wait until June when we get to see the unveiling? The exhibition committee is ready to announce the exhibition related events —mark your calendar.

Final Preparation:

•   04/01 midnight is deadline for the formstack submission.

•   04/30 a zoom tutorial on "How to Pack Your Work.” The lead presenter will be Suzanne Moore. Registration is required for the Zoom session; a recording of the session will also be available. See events calendar for more information.

Book Delivery—see prospectus (or tutorial) for packing instructions:

•   05/29 deadline for the mailed work to arrive at the Collins Library.

•   06/03 in person book drop off at Collins from 1-3pm.

Exhibit Events—more information will be posted to the PSBA Events Calendar in April:

•   06/05 The 2025 Annual Exhibition Opening Reception from 4:30-6:30—registration is not required.

•   06/21 Open Case in-person event from 2-4 pm—registration required.

•   07/08 Virtual Open Case from 12-1 pm—registration required.

Questions? Send your inquiries to psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org

Shereen LaPlantz Salon Recap

Despite torrential rains on Sunday, March 23, members of PSBA gathered at Collins Library (University of Puget Sound) to view portions of the Shereen LaPlantz collections. One of PSBA's founding members, Rochelle Monner, donated this  extensive collection created by Shereen to the Library. Showcasing a myriad of book structures, from innovative modifications of classic bindings to her own creations, this collection contains many book structures shown as examples depicted in LaPlantz's instructive books about book arts, including The Art & Craft of Handmade Books, Cover to Cover: Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals, and Albums, and Innovative Bookbinding: Secret Compartments & Hidden Messages. 

Shout out to PSBA members Gabby Cooksey and Taylor Cox for their work on describing and documenting the collection.

Volunteers Needed for Tacoma Wayzgoose and Seattle Art Book Fair

PSBA is excited to be part of these two signature events and to showcase the events, programs, and artists of our organization. Please consider a volunteer shift at either one of these great events:

Tacoma Wayzgoose

Below is the schedule. If you are available to volunteer, please contact Becky Frehse at bfrehsestudio@gmail.com or text her at 253-380-1293 with your preferred day and time. Becky will contact you to confirm.

Seattle Art Book Fair

Olympia-area PSBA Meetings

The next two Olympia PSBA monthly meetups will be on Monday, April 7 and Monday, May 12 starting at 1 pm in the Olympia Public Library meeting room. Everyone is welcome! Please bring some book arts or creative writing to share. For more information contact Ann Storey aelizabeth.storey@gmail.com.

Pierce County PSBA Meet-ups

University Place Public Library -Large Meeting Room.

Wednesday April 9, 6pm-8:00pm.

Contact Lucia Harrison (luciaharrison49@gmail.com) with questions.

PSBA Seventh Annual Book Exchange - Bridges

The rules for the book exchange are simple. Create a book using the theme as a guide and join us for the Exchange at the in-person event. Drawing one name for each book will result in random exchanges.

If you cannot be physically present at the Exchange but would like to participate, you are very welcome to do so. Books being mailed need to arrive a week before the Exchange There will be a charge for mailing the book.

Send your book and check to:

LeeAnne Campos

4001 S Pine St

Unit 111163

Questions? Email LeeAnneCampos@icloud.com.

PSBA thanks Vamp & Tramp!

Vamp & Tramp Booksellers will be closing June 30 after 30 years in business. 

The store will continue to take orders through May 31 and make sure they are fulfilled even if it means delivery after June 30.

 Vamp and Tramp will soon begin reaching out to artists to return any inventory we have in our Birmingham office. 

For further information, visit their website at http://www.vampandtramp.com/html/home.html.

Call for Member News

Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?

If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Saturday, April 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The May newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.

Call to Share Upcoming Events

Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.