Last week Oola and I made the trip to Tacoma to take the workshop Collapsible/Flexible Book Structures:  Paper Balloons, Tubes & Vessels with Helen Hiebert.

Creative chaos reigned for two days.  (You can view enlargements of the images by clicking on them.)

Oola was in her element as was Bonnie Egbert, pictured in the background.

New friends and connections.

Carrie Larson has the delicate touch to make the collapsible sphere work.  I, however, found myself — shall we say — temperamentally unsuited.  She has a new website not to be missed.

Steel-slinger Shoshona Albright experimented with lace paper.

In addition to experimenting with translucencies, photographer Victoria gave an impromptu demonstration of Image Transfer using Purell.

 

Shari Weatherby cutting the balsa for tiny shoji-like screens, and the same Shari experimenting with her eye catching binding.

Lily contemplates the possibilities of weaving and translucency, exacto at the ready.

Linda and I both ran afoul of Google map directions.  But we were not deterred.  WashsiArts.com is Linda’s brainchild/project/adventure and the home of beautiful Japanese papers.

My favorite technique was this flexible hinge, a little like a Jacob’s Ladder, which makes it possible to present as an accordion screen or as a container.  You just have to keep your wits about you while you do the gluing. It is for sure I will use this on a larger project.

Beautiful variants on the inflatible balloon technique.  Oola says I have to get my act together and try this again!