Dear Everyone ~
For Bari Zaki Studio, 2021 was a year of memorable moments. Scheduling in-store shopping interludes certainly led to some momentous encounters, both with long-time local loyalists and with a couple of new friends. And, thanks to technology, some of my memorable moments were virtual. I am so grateful for so many people’s enthusiasm and appreciation and encouragement and sharing of the Bari Zaki Studio ethos. And, of course and always, for the real mail some of you have sent! Herewith my recounting of highlights & delights.
I will start with: Will, the most dependable & thoughtful mail carrier imaginable. He comes to my door whether he has mail for me or not, always to say hello, and to see if I have any “outgoing”. Last week, I began preparing two large envelopes to send off. One was to my dear friend & postal muse Alyson Kuhn. It contained a pane of 100 1¢ Chicago Century of Progress stamps, and a bonus of four 3¢ “modern” Chicago stamps, which I was gifting to her for some minor mailing emergency. I entrusted the envelope to Will when he came by...but then, later that afternoon, I suddenly realized that I had accidentally addressed it to the other person for whom I was assembling mail. I immediately began typing an email to that recipient, trying to explain that she would be receiving someone else’s contents, and that I needed her to send them back, and that I would double her order of Exquisite Scraps as a token of apology. I hadn’t had a chance to finish that email when I needed to head home, but planned to send it that evening. But, on my way home, just two blocks away from the studio, I spied a large postal truck. Hmmmmm, could that possibly, miraculously be Will? And it was! I pulled over and inquired, Hi, by any chance is that big brown envelope I gave you earlier still on the truck? And he says, It sure is! Phew beaucoup!
Skipping to the Southeast: I was thrilled when Frances Reed introduced the idea of a “private group workshop at home.” Back in the Spring, she had given her son David Introduction to Bookbinding as a birthday gift. Then, in September, she decided to host a family salon for Introduction to Gluing Happiness. David was there, as was his older brother William, and William’s ladyfriend Zelda, and Aunt Janice, and intrepid family friend Beth. Refreshments were artfully melded with everyone’s decanted kit of materials, and Jimmy, a very sleek black cat, invited himself to patrol the proceedings. For the frosting on the proverbial cake, Frances wrote an entertaining report of the salon, which we featured here.
Back in Chicago: Tammy Stams (such a euphonious name, almost an endearment!) is my co-so-many-things. She co-teaches behind the scenes when I’m developing group zooms, suggesting ways to describe steps as I demonstrate them. Early on, I introduced her as my co-stitcher, because when I was teaching myself a new binding stitch, she would read the directions out loud to me in real time. She would read, I would stitch. Tammy is an accomplished knitter but not a bookbinder. Between the two of us, we could understand the directions. She has also remained my studio/shop assistant these past two years, now remotely from her home, which we refer to as BZS North. She winds, she glues, she bags, she ensconces. Without Tammy, I would be in such a jammy—or basicially in a bind.
Sidney, British Columbia: Lorraine Douglas lives in the wilds of B.C. She is a Bookful five-timer, meaning that she has completed all of the four-part workshops I’ve co-taught with artist Cat Bennett. Lorraine has also taken a couple of my own group zooms including Trio of Envelope Techniques. Barely 24 hours thereafter, she sent me a fabulous photo showcasing an entire handful of envelope-cases she had made après-workshop! I did ask what she was planning to do with all the cases, and she is gifting them for the holidays, to her fellow Postcardians—which is the term Lorraine & her correspondence coterie decided upon for themselves. She added, “It is so nice to work with such beautiful materials and make things that look so smart…” Lorraine’s comment went smart to my heart!
On California’s Central Coast: Cheryl Maruyama arranged a private Introduction to Boxmaking, her first BZS workshop. Quite soonish, she asked if she could purchase six (vi) additional boxmaking kits! She sent me photos of her finished boxes...and then ordered five (v) more kits! She has made boxes for family & friends. She emailed, “All your beautiful creativity and papers make these gifts so special.” I am smiling from ear to ear, and from lid to tray.
Up in Boston: Cat Bennett first came into my life in 2016 when I took one of her online workshops from Sonheim Creative. The gentle and loving way she taught encouraged me to draw freely, uninhibited and joyfully. I found comfort in my own style of drawing and felt instantly liberated. To my delight, a year later, I discovered that Cat and I had some Boston friends in common. I sent word to her directly to see if we could meet while I was there visiting. And from there our beautiful kindred friendship bloomed. Cat has since flown to Chicago several times to teach a weekend full of in-studio painting and drawing workshops to an overflowing audience at Bari Zaki Studio. In 2020, we conceived and debuted our Bookful series of workshops, combining both of our teachings. Cat & I continue to be so energized and amazed by the creative zeal of our students who have taken four or five of our Bookful series. We could not, would not, do them without you. And we cherish your emails of appreciation!
In the Other Cambridge: Cambridge Imprint has been a star, a stellar seller, of 2021. The patterns! The colours! The mix-and-matchiness! The charmola keepsake boxes! The splendid videos for those wishing (on an origami star) for a few folding tips! Our Cambridge Imprint love will carry into 2022, with the Origami Heart Bunting Kit. O my stars, we almost forgot to mention the Cambridge Imprint envelopes...and labels!
Right on Lincoln Avenue: It has been a thrill to welcome out-of-town customers to Bari Zaki Studio for visits & shopping. My toastiest warmth to those who drove or detoured in my direction: Michiganders Lynn Williams and Jossette Lory, Atlantan David Goldwasser Reed, Virginian Carla Jacobs, Missourian Joyce Briscoe, and Jennifer James from Northampton, Mass. It’s also been exciting to have people who follow me on Instagram get in touch and ask if they can come visit.
Closest to home: My lovely husband Zak remains my biggest & longest running enthusiast, dating all the way back to the last millennium, when I took my first eight-week bookbinding workshop at Artist Bookworks. Zak’s encouragement kept me on my then-new path. That was half my lifetime ago! Today, Zak is at the ready for all manner of studio tasks, from helping me construct twenty drop-spine boxes, to sweeping leaves from the entrance and decorating the windows with holiday lights. Not to mention continuous trips to the Post Office bearing international parcels.
From the Continent: Gabriele Buemberger from Innsbruck, Austria, has now completed seven workshops, including two Bookfuls. All but one of her kits of materials arrived within two weeks, which is a mailing marvel. It is sunset or dusk for her when she joins our zooms on Saturday morning in the Midwest! She has sent me a vignette of her collected workshop oeuvres with a lovely message: “You are inspiring and supportive and always willing to answer questions. And your choice of materials is simply beyond words. There is also the love with which you package all those goodies.” Gabriele is retiring from her day job at the end of this year, and is already gearing up to take Mighty Fine Nine Signature Spine in 2022!
From the Pacific Northwest: In 2017, Carla & Steve Sonheim, the incredible innovators of Sonheim Creative, invited me to Seattle to film an online bookbinding workshop. The experience was exhilarating, to say the least, and I was thrilled with how the recorded workshop came to life. Four years later, Buttonhole-stitch Journal remains prominently listed alongside workshops led by many talented artist-teachers. It continues to connect me with bookbinding enthusiasts all over the globe, from Norway to Australia. And in 2020, I had the great pleasure of welcoming Carla & Steve to Bari Zaki Studio. They were on a whirlwind tour, making micro-videos for Carla’s year-long class, Words & Pictures. Carla paired Cat Bennett and me for a Loopy Link-stitch/drawing exercise combo. I felt honoured to be in such accomplished artistic company!
On the Left Coast, but close to my heart: Alyson Kuhn, my postal muse. Who I now refer to as my everything muse. We met 26 years ago when she lived in Chicago for a year. From the moment we met, my paper world and everything connected has improved immensely. She is an intrinsic part of the BZS experience. At the beginning of this year, Alyson and her co-author completed their book “I hear you: Talking and listening to people with Alzheimer’s”, and I interviewed her here.
Last, but not at all least: My heart overflows at the abundance of email, calls, postcards and missives I have received with descriptions of bookbinding joy, accomplishment, happiness, and wrapping (and unwrapping!) rapture.
My thanks to Everyone!
Wishing you all a peaceful, delicious, and safe Thanksgiving. May you bask (or baste!) in the connections that matter most to you.
~ Bari ~