Greetings from the PSBA President!
Dear Friends,
I like to think of PSBA as a community. It's a community that I am happy to be a part of and I hope that you are as well. We are grateful at your response for our request for donations. Donations can be more than money, it can be time and talent as well. Please consider how your skills and talents might assist our growing and vibrant community. Thank you.
As always you can contact me at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com with suggestions, comments and questions.
Belinda Hill
PSBA Members’ Spotlight
The PSBA Spotlight Artist for February is Pat Chupa.
Pat has been a book artist, bookbinder, and writer for more than 30 years. Her works now reside with private collectors, in the Artists' Book Collection of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Archives and Special collections Artists Books, Collins Memorial Library, and at the Hypatia Trust in Penzance, Cornwall.
In keeping with PSBA’s 15-year anniversary celebration, we are spotlighting Pat Chupa this month. In 2010, Pat attended the initial meeting organized by Jane Carlin to gauge interest in forming a book arts organization. Forty people answered the call, the interest was clear! And the rest is history. Pat has been an active member of PSBA ever since, including serving on the board for four years. In 2021, she authored the ten-year history of PSBA that is available in the 2021 Exhibition catalog.
Pat clearly loves the craft and our members have found it fun to work with her on projects. In recent years her eyesight has started to fail. She can only do detailed work for about two hours a day now, but in those two hours she accomplishes a lot. Looking forward to seeing her book in this year's exhibit.
—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).
2026 PSBA 8th Annual Book Exchange: Vote by February 12!
A reminder that the Annual PSBA Book Exchange takes place in October each year, providing an exciting opportunity for members to exchange their own handmade artist book for another artist’s book.
A big thanks to everyone who sent ideas for themes for this year’s exchange! The Book Exchange Planning Committee has narrowed down your ideas to five possible themes. You will choose from the following by voting with this form: Pattern, Murmuration, Recipes, Gratitude, and Wabi-Sabi.
PSBBA Annual Membership Meeting February 15!
1pm-3pm, Zoom, 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.
Register here.
Upcoming Events
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.
March 14: Meandering Pamphlet Book. 10am-1pm. Zoom.
This hybrid book structure combines the meandering elements of an accordion with pamphlet stitched signatures. Interwoven between the decorative boards are four mini books to be filled with content. The book can be displayed in multiple orientations showing the signatures, the decorative paper of the accordion boards or stack in a neat block.
Presenter Janet Reynolds is a visual artist/educator living in Houston, Texas. Born and raised in New Hampshire, she developed an early appreciation for nature’s magnificence which continues to influence her practice. Learn more by viewing her website.
Register here.
March 21-22: Montage Sur-Onglets or Hinge Binding. 9am- 4pm each day. Becky Frehse's Studio, 2926 S. Steele Street 2nd Floor, Tacoma.
We are very pleased to be offering a workshop taught by Gabby Cooksey in the Montage Sur-Onglets or Hinge Binding technique. Many of you are familiar with this binding, which was used in her books Tarot for the Misguided and her Pangolin Pandemic. These bindings are especially useful when you have bulk to add to the pages such as photos or other low-profile objects.
PSBA Member Fee: $215. Non-Member Fee: $250.
Click here for further information and to register.
PSBA Remembers Bonnie Egbert
We have received notice of the passing of Bonnie Egbert. She was one of our founding members. Lucia Harrison captures Bonnie’s spirit in these remarks: “Bonnie was a founding member of PSBA and on the board. She brought handmade gifts for us at each board meeting— like weather grams. She was Rochelle Monner's right hand person for Play Dates. She made most of the materials used in the play dates at Rochelle’s studio. She was so generous. I remember going to her summer cabin on Hood Canal for a board retreat. She was a wonderful person, so vital in helping to create our community.”
2026 Annual Members’ Exhibition: 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, 2026
- 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
Olympia Meetup
Our next get-together will be on Friday, February 13, starting at 1pm in the Olympia Public Library meeting room. Please bring some creative writing or art to share. Hope to see you there!
Pierce County Meetup
The Pierce County Meet up will be on Wednesday, February 11 from 6-8 pm. A new location will be announced in the email reminder. Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
Member News
Marilyn Stablein: Marilyn has a new artist book published by Red Fox Press in Ireland. The book, Undercover: Briefs & Drawers is a whimsical visual exploration of 19th century-early 20th century vintage retro cultural and visual wardrobe customs. The book featuring 40 color collages, in a stitched, limited numbered edition, will debut February 7-10 at the International Codex Artist Bookfair at the Oakland Marriott, in the Red Fox Booth.
Marilyn also has 3 collages in a current show (January 10-February 14) Game On: An art Journey Through Childhood Play, at the Josephy Center for Art & Culture in eastern Oregon, 403 N. Main St, Joseph, Oregon. The titles are: Bingo Monopoly, Let’s Play Cards!, and Authors Cards & Checkers pictured below.
Other Book Arts Events
Call for Artists: The Karshner Museum and Center for Culture and Art invites participants for an event celebrating Youth Arts Month and Women Artists during Women’s History Month on March 21 from noon-5pm.
Contact Lynda Belt, karshnercenter@puyallupsd.org.
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
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Thursday, February 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The March 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.
