Greetings,
I know many of you are busy getting your books ready for the Members' Exhibition. I'm looking forward to seeing all of your unique creations. My words of wisdom for March: READ THE NEWSLETTER. With so many great things planned, you don't want to miss any of it.
Belinda Hill, President
PSBA Members’ Spotlight
The PSBA Spotlight Artist for March is Randi Parkhurst.
Randi and I met in her idyllic studio on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The first object that greets the visitor is a suspended, life-size, papier-mâché figure of a mysterious female figure floating through the air. How cool is that?
Randi is a paper, book and box artist living in a tiny house in the forest. Her work reflects the colors, texture and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She paints, prints and dyes all of her papers that become the artwork she makes. PSBA has a video tour of her studio and her work in our video library.
Randi attended the first get- together of a group of artists that would later become PSBA. Fifteen years and many books later we’re ready to learn more about the artist’s life she has created.
—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).
Upcoming Events
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. Drawing on the serene beauty and intricate patterns found in nature, she creates sculptural artists’ books that evoke a sense of connection to the environment. You can learn more about our presenter by viewing her website or Instagram pages.
Register here.
April 4: Pamphlets with a Punch. 1PM-4PM. Zoom.
Who says a pamphlet has to play it safe? In this lively workshop, we’ll transform the humble pamphlet stitch binding into a playground of engineered surprises—adding folds, cutouts, and inventive combinations of bindings that turn simple structures into dynamic storytelling forms. Discover how small shifts in design can pack a big punch, creating books that move, reveal, and delight. Open to all levels—bring your curiosity and a spirit of experimentation (and any unconventional materials that inspire you). This Zoom workshop includes a materials kit designed to make your session engaging, hands-on, and easy to follow—while leaving plenty of room for experimentation and for your own good ideas to roam free afterwards.
Presenter: Rhiannon Alpers is a papermaker, letterpress printer, and book artist based in Portland, Oregon. She holds both a BA and an MFA in Book and Paper Arts, with 25 years of experience as an educator and commercial printer/bookbinder. She has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her editioned book work is held in the collections of the Library of Congress, Yale, Stanford, Cornell University, Cynthia Sears Artist's Books Collection (BIMA), and Rijksmuseum Research Library, among others. Her limited edition and one-of-a-kind artist books are published under the Gazelle and Goat Press imprint. More information about her work is available at https://rhiannonalpers.com/.
Register here.
April 11 and 12: Matchbox and Hardcover Book Workshop with Rhiannon Alpers. 10am-4pm each dy. Studio of Becky Frehse, Tacoma.
Small boxes can hold big wonders. This two-day workshop combines bookbinding and boxmaking, guiding participants through the creation of a hand-sewn hardcover book and a drawer-style matchbox enclosure designed to house it.
Participants will learn traditional link-stitch sewing with multiple signatures and create a hardcover wrapped in bookcloth and decorative paper. The structure is intentionally flexible and ideal for writing, collage, mark-making, and image transfers—either during the workshop or afterward at home.
The workshop is open to all skill levels, though an intermediate skill level is recommended. Students will also explore principles of multi-component box construction that can be applied to other box forms created independently.
Presenter: Rhiannon holds a BA and MFA in Book and Paper Arts and has over 25 years of experience as an educator and commercial printer/bookbinder. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, and her work is held in major collections including the Library of Congress, Yale, Stanford, Cornell University, and the Rijksmuseum Research Library. Her artist books are published under the Gazelle and Goat Press imprint. Website: rhiannonalpers.com.
Register here.
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, 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 meetup will be a little different. We will meet at Community Print (414 Legion Way SE) on Friday, March 6 at 1pm to share our creative work.
Then at 2 pm we will join Belinda who will guide us in making our own Artist Trading Cards, or we can tour Community Print and learn about their interesting programs.
Artist Trading Cards are small 2.5 by 3.5 inch examples of your work. We'll have materials and ideas to share but it will mostly be a time for people to play with paper and see if they'd like to make more cards or trade with others. More information on artist trading cards is here.
Pierce County Meetup
.The next PSBA Pierce County Meet-up will be on Wednesday, March 11 from 6-8pm at United Church in University Place (3912 Grandview Drive W, University Place, WA.). All are welcome. Questions? Email Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
Focus on Volunteers!
Lynn McClain is our new Volunteer Coordinator and she is excited to launch a new section on our newsletter: Volunteer Voices!
This month we are starting a new feature in our Newsletter "Volunteer Voices" that will highlight volunteer contributions and opportunities! We could not run the organization without the help of volunteers, and we thank you for your contributions!
LeeAnne Campos: You know from the Member Spotlight that LeeAnne is actively engaged in many activities within PSBA. Not only is she the Coordinator of the Annual Book Exchange, but she has participated in Tacoma Wayzgoose and the Seattle Art Book Fair, representing our organization with enthusiasm and no doubt recruiting new members.
When asked about what PSBA means to her and her interest in volunteering, she shared, "When I was introduced to the PSBA about five years ago, I felt a real connection. I absolutely love the bookmaking process, and this community is so welcoming of all book artists at their various levels of skill. Being a volunteer for the PSBA has offered me the opportunity to give back, with gratitude, to the leadership and members for opening my eyes to this unique art form. I so enjoy meeting likeminded people at the events where I volunteer. The more I volunteer, the more I learn and grow as an artist, and I appreciate my function as a conduit for other artists to come to bookmaking. “
Volunteers Needed for Seattle Book Fair!
PSBA has a table at the Seattle Book Fair May 9-10. If you can help at this event, please contact Lynn at mcclaingrp@gamil.com.
The Influence of Graphic Design on Artists' Books Event
On February 22, it was a standing room-only presentation at BARN on Bainbridge. It was great to see so many new faces turn out for this event. Babette Major, former Cal Poly Panoma Professor of Graphic Design and presenter of the Open Book Tours at BIMA, shared her incredible collection of ephemera and designed items including shopping bags, clothing labels, exhibition catalogs, and her own artists' books. It was nothing short of extraordinary and her remarks inspired all of us to look at everyday objects in new ways. Babette also shared a "mini book" with those in attendance, Drawing Inspiration: Graphic Design and Artists' Books. Thank you Babette and BARN!
Updated PSBA Book Arts Resources
Check out the PSBA website for the updated and expanded Book Arts Resources. The information is current as of January 2026. If you know of any suggested resources to be added, let us know. The plan is to update it annually.
New Exhibit at BIMA Opening March 6
Aimee Lee: Tethered. Special Presentation on March 14, register here.
Aimee Lee (Ohio) is an artist who makes paper, writes, and advocates for Korean papermaking practices. Her initial Fulbright research helped her build the first hanji studio in North America and write her award-winning book, Hanji Unfurled. Her second Fulbright award as a senior scholar focused on further research of Korean papermaking tools and continued her training since 2009 with various national and provincial Intangible Cultural Property Holders.
Member News
Paula Te: Paul is teaching two upcoming workshops with details below. Open to any artists interested in combining light into their paper/book/flexible/wearable artwork!
- Paper Circuits Intro: March 14, 2-4pm. Editions Studio in Georgetown, Seattle.
Discover the magic where art meets electronics!
In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn to create illuminated art using simple circuits and LEDs. No prior electronics experience needed—just curiosity and creativity.
Perfect for book artists and anyone else wanting to add an interactive, luminous element to their work. You'll learn the fundamentals of circuits while experimenting with conductive tape, LEDs, and various switches.
Register here.
- Advanced Paper Circuits: April 10, 6pm-9pm and May 16, 2pm-5pm. Editions Studio in Georgetown, Seattle.
Ready to push your illuminated art further? This advanced workshop builds on basic circuit skills to create sophisticated multi-LED installations with advanced switches and diverse conductive materials.
You'll explore multiple kinds of LEDs, experiment with advanced interaction mechanisms, and develop a personal reference guide of conductive materials and techniques. Perfect for artists planning ambitious light-integrated projects or anyone ready to expand their technical toolkit.
Register here.
Gina Pisello: Gina is teaching a piano hinge binding class at BARN on April 4 from 1-4pm. Details can be found here: https://www.create.bainbridgebarn.org/AssnFe/ev.asp?ID=5326132.
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, March 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The April 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.
