Come join us to learn about Artists’ Books, paper arts, box structures and creating dynamic book bindings! Reserve your seat!
Reserve your seat!
SDBA offers a wide array of classes in book constructions, box creations, design skills, as well as paper arts. Check out our upcoming workshops.
Erin Fletcher returns to SDBA offering the Envelope Binding structure, Clara Gevaert’s inspiration from a 15th century limp vellum cover. Kit Davey adds joy to the world with her creative book constructions of The Telescoping Book and The Circular Cascade Book, plus her new Full Series III. Paul Jackson continues probing paper possibilities with Fascinating Flexagons, Pleating for Surfaces and Forms, Seasonal Paper Joys and the new class offerings of Intermediate Level Non-Model Folding and Fundamentals of Zig Zag (Miura-ori) Pleats. Nancy Akerly returns with five new SDBA offerings! We’d love to have you join in for The Two Tiered Tower Box, Zhen Xian Bao, Lotus Box in Two Sizes, The Quartet Box, and the Puzzle Box. Lesley Patterson-Marx adds two exciting and fun classes to SDBA’s opportunities. Join us for Exploding Picture Box and Hand Carved Stamps: Relief Printing for Book Cloth and Decorative Paper.
Featured
Join us for these exciting workshops:
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- The Telescoping Book
- Pleating for Surfaces and Forms
- Full Series III of Four Classes with Kit Davey
- House Shaped Shadow Box Book
- Seasonal Paper Joys
- The Two Tier Tower Box
- Zhen Xian Bao
- The Circular Cascade Book
- The ATC Photo Album Book
- Intermediate Level Non-Model Folding
- Exploding Picture Box
- Lotus Box in Two Sizes
- The Slider Book
- Hand Carved Stamps: Relief Printing for Book Cloth and Decorative Paper
- The Triple Decker Accordion Book
- Fundamentals of Zig-Zag (Miura-ori) Pleats
- The Quartet Box
- The Puzzle Box
Members, log in now or during checkout to view discounted prices.
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Monthly Educational Meeting
Our next Monthly Meeting will be held on September 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM PT (1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET).
We’re excited to welcome Mary Conley back for another fun and fascinating presentation, this time on “Pull-Up Nets.”
More information, including details about the project and materials, will be coming soon. We hope you’ll join us!
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 11:00 am PT (1:00 pm CT; 2:00 pm ET) via Zoom, last day to RSVP October 19
Free and open to members and non-members. RSVP required. Attendees must take care of their RSVP in a timely manner, and take note of the Zoom link that is received upon replying.
Presentation: Making Mini Longstitch Junk Journals, and Sharing Simple Cyanotypes with Lesley Patterson-Marx
Lesley Patterson-Marx will guide you in making a mini longstitch “junk journal”. A junk journal is a one-of-a–kind, small hand bound book made from a variety of recycled materials. You will transform vintage magazines, maps, old photos, scraps of fabric, and more, into a little book that you’re sure to treasure. Lesley will also share a few examples of her book and textile works that incorporate cyanotypes on paper and fabric. Although you won’t be making cyanotypes at our meeting, Lesley will talk you through a simple and fun approach to the cyanotype technique, with minimal set up and no mess.
A list of the necessary materials to work along with Lesley, will be shared to those who RSVP.
Everyone had a wonderful time with Mary Conley at our last Monthly Educational Meeting, where we built pull-up boxes and used them to create a beautiful accordion book.
Thank you, Mary, for your wonderful presentation! We always look forward to your creative ideas and the inspiration you bring to our meetings.
SDBA members can now view the recording, which has been posted under the Paper Folding Projects category.
And here’s the link.
Happenings In and About San Diego
A Legacy and Celebration of Mentorship: Honoring Jim Stiven, Al Rodriguez, and Elaine Antoniuk
For many years Al Rodriguez, Jim Stiven, and Elaine Antoniuk have been driving forces behind some of SDBA’s impactful achievements. Known for their collaborative spirit, they consistently gave above and beyond to ensure members have the tools, guidance and network necessary to thrive.
Recently, SDBA received two closely related requests. Al Rodriguez, a long time SDBA member and revered teacher, would like to give away his book binding equipment, tools, and materials to members of SDBA. Then, a note arrived from Jim Stiven who wanted to share the news of his current Artist Book Exhibit at Cardiff Library, in North San Diego County. Jim also served on the SDBA Board of Directors.
Jim’s exhibit will be up until October 31, 2026. Some images of Jim’s Exhibit are included for your perusal. While Jim is still making books, he now spends more time painting, with two of his watercolors currently on display at the Off Track Gallery in Encinitas.
Al’s Open House will take place on October 3, 2026 from 10 AM until 2 PM. The location is 736 Sutter Street, San Diego. The gifting of supplies will take place in Al’s garage studio. Parking is on the street, and garage directions will be posted on the porch of his home. As you’ll note in the included images, Al’s binding equipment includes a book press, lying press, backing boards, sewing frame, 24 x 24 inch paper cutter, bench hooks, sewing cradles, marbling tools, linen sewing thread, wheat starch paste, needles, awls, creasers, rulers, triangles, leather paring and snap-off knives, corner cutters, paper slitters, glue and miscellaneous art brushes, Sumi stick grinding stone, Sumi ink, wood, bone and teflon folders, scissors, weights, bamboo lifters, fabric headbands, beeswax, copper foil, mica, indigo kit, ribbon, lino blocks, lino cutting tools, folding pens, book cloth, leather rolls and scraps, foam sheets, felt, 8.5 x 11 chipboard, with books on marbling and bookbinding.
Jim shared that he started making Artists Books during 2009, in the garage studio of Al Rodriguez. He was introduced to Al because of his wife, Kathleen, who was on the SDBA Board at the request of her friend Elaine Antoniuk. So onward from there.
In closing, we also honor Elaine Antoniuk for her love of book arts and her long-term support of San Diego Book Arts. (Link to an article about Elaine is here.)
Here’s Jim Stiven displaying his amazing collection of Artists Books.
Come and enjoy the generosity of Al Rodriguez.
Congratulations to Judith Christensen, the inaugural recipient of the Genie Shenk Excellence in Book Arts Award recognizing an outstanding artist in this creative medium.
James Alan Rose Art Gallery
6501 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
SDBA worked with a videographer trying to capture the essence of Judith’s exhibit…not easily accomplished, but nonetheless an offering for those who could not personally attend. We also value having this documentation in appreciation to the Shenk Family for their continuing dedication towards the legacy of their beloved mother and a renowned artist.
Your Directors present a brief slideshow, followed by a wonderful presentation with Paul Jackson!
Boxes: Should we be Thinking Outside, Inside or Between Them?
Paul Jackson gives reasons why it is preferable to think between boxes, instead of thinking outside them, when creating new work. He gives tips on how to do this and shows examples from his own creative practice as a paper artist.
Paul Jackson has been a professional paper artist and paper engineer since 1983. He has taught extensively, including at the Royal College of Art in London, MIT in Boston and is a semi-regular instructor at the Centro del Libro in Ascona, Switzerland. He has written 45 books and been a consultant for many clients, including Nike, Disney and the Harry Potter movies. His folded artworks have been exhibited extensively. English born, Paul has an MA in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London.