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This past Saturday I taught The Craft of the Book and, as usual, I had a great time meeting attendees and learning what brings them to the Library. My classes always include a little spread of books from the Library’s collection to give people a peek at what we offer. And below, as requested by a few of the students, I have listed the books shown that day (with links to the Catalog records for each). Thanks for coming!

Paper cutting by Annye Allison

Catalog 25; type faces, border designs, typecast ornaments, brass rule, superior specialties, machines and materials, cabinet equipment by Barnhart Brothers & Spindler

The world of the book by Des Cowley and Clare Williamson

An abridged specimen of printing types made at Bruce's New-York type-foundry by George Bruce’s Son & Co.

Papermaking for printmakers by Elspeth Lamb

Artists' books : a critical anthology and sourcebook, edited by Joan Lyons

Making books by hand : a step-by-step guide by Mary McCarthy and Philip Manna

Made with FontFont : type for independent minds, edited by Jan Middendorp and Erik Spiekermann

Exploring typography by Tova Rabinowitz

Book typography by Ari Rafaeli

Paper silhouettes by Mildred Swannell

Wood type by William H. Page & Co.

It might be summer, but at the Library class is in session--craft of the book class, that is. If you would like to learn more about hand-press era bookmaking, come to the Library Saturday afternoon for an illustrated talk on the craftsmanship of paper making, printing, and bookbinding. And I'll have some books from the collection to share too. It's a free class, and you don't need to register. And attendees get to take home a handy guide to the subject (pictured above, atop a great wood type specimen book that I'll have to share too!). This guide doubles as a model for a quick and easy bookmaking structure that you can make at home anytime!

Saturday, July 25th, 2:00 to 3:00pm (classroom will open at 1:45pm)
New York Public Library
Celeste Bartos Education Center
First Floor, South Court Classrooms
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue & 42nd Street

One last note: I'll teach this class once more this summer (at 2:00pm on August 22nd), so you can come then if you are interested but can't make it this weekend.

I had a such a great time meeting those of you who came to my class on Friday--thanks for being there and for contributing so much to the discussion. I hope that you'll come back to dig into our collections in the future. In the meantime, as suggested by one attendee, I've put together the following list of magazines and books that I had in the classroom, for your reference:

Bernat's Handicrafter

Embroidery: The Journal of the Embroiderers' Guild

Minerva Style Book

Box furniture: how to make a hundred useful articles for the home by Louise Brigham

Creative hands, an introduction to craft techniques by Doris Cox and Barbara Warren

Hobbies : leisure and the culture of work in America by Steven M. Gelber

Clark's O.N.T. book of crochet and tatting by Frances A. Harris

Clark's O.N.T. "woolsaver" knitting and crochet book by Frances A. Harris

Formschone Lampen und Beleuchtungsanlagen by Gerhard Krohn and Fritz Hier

The simple art of wall decoration by Lois B. Livingston

Home dressmaking; every woman's practical guide to the art of making smart clothes, with chapters on sewing for babies and children, and renovations by Agnes M. Miall

Paper Sculpture by George Arthur Sadler

Paper silhouettes by Mildred Swannell

Another collection of one hundred textile designs compiled by S. Takahashi

Paper folding and modelling by Aart van Breda

Los milagros en metal y en cera de Puerto Rico by Teodoro Vidal

Wood Type from William H. Page and Company

Remember that these books are just the tip of the handicraft iceberg here at the Library. Don't hesitate to ask if you want help in finding particular materials. And also, please let me know if you have specific requests for future classes and programs. I'm always looking for ways to match your interests so don't be shy!

Thanks again! And if you didn't make it to Friday's class but would be interested in future classes, stay tuned because our next season's schedule will be finalized soon.

Just one of dozens of inspiring textile designs available for browsing on NYPL Digital Gallery. Search for textile design to see more!

In last week's Handmade Then and Now* class, I met some very creative people and we exchanged plenty of good ideas for learning, obtaining materials, and finding new creative outlets. Here are three sites we discussed in class, for those who wish to follow up:

Spoonflower
While still in beta (which means, among other things, that you have to put yourself on a waiting list to have a chance to use it), this service is worth watching and waiting for. It allows you to design your own fabric—Spoonflower then prints as much of it as you want and sends it to you!

Materials for the Arts
Run by NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs, this organization supports active re-use of objects with arts and crafts potential. They collect and then distribute arts supplies of all kinds to community projects, schools, and arts programs.

Material Connexion Library
This library, maintained by Material Connexion, provides access to innovative materials of all kinds. Their resources can help designers to select innovative, sustainable, or cradle-to-cradle materials that work best with their creations.

My thanks, once again, for the great conversation, suggestions, and questions. It's always such a treat to connect with enthusiastic handmakers.

*Taught at NYPL, this class provides ideas for the craft-curious on how the Library can inform and inspire one's handmade creations. If you’d like to attend a future Handmade Then and Now class, just keep an eye on the calendar. I’ll teach it again this fall!

Everyday here in the Milstein Division, we get questions from all over the city and around the country about the history of New York City. Questions range from the very specific, “What was the weather in Manhattan on May 7th 1864?” to the dauntingly vague, “My great-grandfather lived in New York, his name was Patrick Murphy. Could you send me information on him?” Fortunately, the library’s collection of reference material on New York City history is astounding and rare is the question that goes unanswered. But for those who don’t have direct access to our print collection and are interested in researching the history of our great metropolis, I invite you to a free research class at the library this week.  read more »

Have "modish travelling-costume," will travel! (Image from NYPL Digital Gallery)

Connecting with enthusiastic craft-loving people is a big part of why I enjoy teaching my Handmade Then and Now class at the Library. And this weekend I will have the good fortune of talking with even more yarn devotees at Knitty City, where I've been invited to teach knitters and crocheters how to get the most out of the Library's collections. I'm more than glad to take my little Handmade show on the road.

Knitty City is a bright and cozy shop on the Upper West Side. It is brimming with books, yarns, hooks, needles, patterns, and friendly staff. The staff is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very welcoming. They know their fiber arts and have given me great advice and encouragement on sock making and yarn choice. In my class I will provide helpful hints on navigating New York Public Library as a whole, I'll share tips on searching for patterns (both new and vintage), and I'll bring along some examples to share. And if I've gotten far at all in my first attempt at socks (I'm following Cookie A's Hedera pattern, I'll bring my work along to share with you all. So please bring your own knitting too, and join us!

Saturday, June 21, 1:00pm
Knitty City
208 West 79th (between Broadway and Amsterdam)

Ahh, school days. (Image from NYPL Digital Gallery.)

As you might imagine, I am always on the hunt for interesting Library resources both old and new to share with the great wide world of the handmade. And next week I'll be giving a free one-hour class on how you too can use the Library's resources to satisfy your own crafty curiosities.

On Wednesday the 16th, at 2:15pm, please join me at the New York Public Library's Celeste Bartos Education Center at South Court. I will talk about how the Library's books, magazines, and databases can both inform and inspire you in your own handmade work. I'll bring along samples of pattern books and magazines, histories, and wonderful old craft books to share too. There's no need to register--just come on in and join me for this crafty show-and-tell.

Here are the details:
Wednesday April 16th, 2:15-3:15pm (classroom will open at 2:05pm)
First Floor, South Court Classrooms
New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue & 42nd Street

One last note: I'll teach this class two more times (at 2:15pm on May 21st, and at 2:15pm on July 16th), so please mark your calendars for one of these dates if you are interested but can't come next week.