Dear Everyone ~
Butterfly Bookful of Botanicals, the third workshop series Cat Bennett and I have co-taught, wrapped up at the end of April. The sessions—four Saturdays via Zoom—took place as Spring was springing. It was the perfect time to begin venturing outside to breathe deeply and observe & draw from nature. (I love Cat's playful colour pencil drawing above.)
I’ve since received many emails from students, heartfelt and, for me, heartwarming. For some of them, Butterfly Bookful was their first workshop series with Cat and me; others have taken all three of our Bookful workshops. As the co-instructor, I bask in the enthusiasm and creative camaraderie I sense with our students. It’s thrilling to me that students also feel this, from all over the planet! In April, we had students join us from Austria and as far away as Australia. Quite an A List of attendees!
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Below are snippets from some of the lovely notes I’ve received about Butterfly Bookful. I can hear the voices of these students in my head and my heart. The combination of appreciation, affection, and personal revelations bathe me in delight. I am endlessly thrilled (Yes, I admit to re-reading these notes for a quick pick-me-up) to be making these connections far & wide via Zoom.
Happiness is kits of Bookful materials sent via USPS to British Columbia and Austria and Australia...that arrive lickety-split in perfect condition and much more economically than you might think.
Double happiness blooms when I receive photos from students who have gone on to make more and more books using supplies they have on hand. And I’m always overjoyed to receive requests for extra kits of workshop materials. (The floral double-happiness blooms directly below are by Lesley in California.)
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From Karen in Florida (3-time Bookful student)
“ Look how great all of my Bookful books look together!! I enjoyed the butterfly stitch, and think I'll order some paper to make more books. Such a fun and calming thing to do! I like how the books became journals of our last sort of strange year and the different activities that were done during that (and this!) time. ” [Admire Karen’s books above.]
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From Jane in Michigan (Bookful first-timer)
“ The Bookful series has made me look at flowers in a new way. My first flower that I noticed was a periwinkle, and I thought I knew what it looked like until I began drawing it for my book. I had the leaves wrong, the proportion out of sync. That's when I began examining my flowers and was so amazed at the detail...they were little miracles. I have added more flowers [to my book] during the summer and am trying to be less judgmental of my painting and focus on the joy that I feel as I discover the wonders of these colorful plants and how they are so different, delicate and delightful. ” [Admire Jane’s trio of drawings above.]
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From Lesley in California (Bookful first-timer)
“ I enjoyed the book-ful class as much as I had enjoyed Introduction to Bookbinding the week before the workshop series began. I took Bookful primarily to learn how to stitch a spine. I have now made seven books in this style and I’ve given one as a gift! Cat’s sessions to fill our book were a great deal of fun. I love drawing flowers and especially enjoyed the warm-up sessions, so much so that I incorporated the exercises into my book, sometimes as pockets—which I thought added an interactive quality to the book. ” [Admire Lesley’s carrousel of books above.]
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From Barbara in Chicago (3-time Bookful student)
“ As I look over my books from each class (none of them full! all of them happily in progress!) they all confirm what Cat said to us more than once—that it would be great to be able to look back at our work and see what we saw. The biggest revelation for me was how much I enjoy 'drawing' with watercolors, which previously intimidated me quite a bit. As outside life becomes busier, I look forward to continuing to return to the excellent habit of taking time to breathe and look and make marks. ” [Admire Barbara’s watercolour drawings above.]
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From Gabriele in Austria (Bookful first-timer)
“ Your instructions were clear and easy to follow and the materials a real treat. I have since worked with Cat's suggestions and exercises quite a few times to draw flowers, fruit and vegetables. The blind contour exercises were particularly helpful for me to just relax and let the pen do the drawing. The group spirit was really palpable even across all those miles. I enjoyed the workshop immensely. Still enthused! ” [Admire Gabriele’s book and several post-Bookful drawings above.]
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From Alison in Chicago (Bookful first-timer)
“ Generally intimidated by making art, I’ve taken only a few art classes over the decades (most for only an afternoon). But this seemed like fun, and, boy, did I learn a lot: It’s about the process, just do it, and do it often, and do the same thing over and over. ” [Admire Alison’s watercolours in her book above.]
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From Becky in Evanston (Bookful first-timer)
“ While my drawings clearly look like the novice that I am, I found the act of drawing to be relaxing, absorbing and…fun! I realize now how many details I miss by not really looking at an object closely...as closely as one must look if they are drawing that object. These observations have begun carrying over into my regular life. My plan is to begin taping some drawings into my book. I am determined not to have this book remain empty like a few of my others.;) And your videos are a gift. ”
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From Lorraine in British Columbia (3-time Bookful student)
“ Again Bookful was wonderful! A quiet contemplative time looking and drawing in our beautiful books. Your instructions were so clear, and I loved all the choices of thread and arranging the coloured papers. Cat is so inspiring, and gives us the opportunity to play and enjoy our art. So well organized too!! I said to my husband today, ‘Thank goodness for this class—it gives me such a sense of possibilities.’ ” [Admire Lorraine’s watercolours above.]
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From Susan in British Columbia (3-time Bookful student)
“ I just realized that today was the last day of the workshop. It was so much fun! I learn more every time and it builds. Bari, I'm doing another book using the Cambridge papers I bought from you!!! Will you do another Bookful soon? Thanks again, you make art fun and inspiring. ” [Admire Susan’s Cambridge-covered book and drawings above.]
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Cat & I have enjoyed percolating about our next Bookful adventure, which I’ll announce next week. Hint: an ambitious book structure. Twint: delicious drawing exercises. Stay tuned for gourmet details!
Until then, Bari