Hello everyone,

For a better newsletter experience you can also read this email online to get the latest information. I may sometimes add time sensitive information to the newsletter after it is sent out. Feel free to let me know about broken links or links pointing to the wrong place. Read any newsletter in the archives and access the calendar directly using the link in my signature block below. I hope that you can use this newsletter as a jumping off point for your own explorations looking for workshops, teachers and organizations, processes, etc.

• I received an email from Matthew Shlian just after sending out my November newsletter that mentioned "the once decent reach of social media is gone, unless you enjoy ads and AI content". I had noticed more ads were being thrown in my way as well as noticing more shorts (are our attention spans getting shorter as well?) as I tried to look for meaningful Instagram posts but thought nothing of it until I had a chat with a favorite teacher who drew it to my attention and had me thinking about it. During this holiday season and beyond would you think about how to locate meaningful information more easily, where to store this information and how you can support your local and/or favorite artists - thank you
• I am excited to be taking another workshop with Paula Krieg - her Realm of Solids workshop will be happening in January over 3 Tuesdays and am also attending her Secret Lives of Cubes workshop in February with CBBAG also over 3 Tuesdays - if that timing doesn't work for you this workshop is also available through CBA over 3 Thursdays in February
• Helen Hiebert's Paper Year will be open to new members from Jan 1 - 15, 2026 - more information here; Weave Through Winter, registration deadline is Feb 1, 2026
• American Academy of Bookbinding’s scholarship & tuition assistance application now open - application period now until Jan 9, 2026 - notification of awards on Monday, Feb 11, 2026 - scholarship information and application
• Focus on Book Arts (FOBA) news: call for applications for The Colleen Cavin Fellowship and Internship Program for the FOBA 2026 Conference - this new internship program will be able to support two (2) interns and two (2) fellows - more information and application - due: Jan 21, 2026; FOBA is also seeking a volunteer treasurer to join their Board - key responsibilities - please reach out to their volunteer coordinator at volunteers@focusonbookarts.org for more information; the FOBA 2026 list of instructors is out and the flyer will be out soon
• Paper on Skin™ 2026, held in Australia, is calling for entries - further information - deadline Feb 16, 2026
• PBI 2026 will take place from May 17-28, 2026 - general applications will open Jan 1, 2026 - sign up for their mailing list to be notified of scholarship and registration deadlines
• Apply to be an exhibitor at the 2026 Seattle Art Book Fair - to participate as an exhibitor at the 2026 Art Book Fair (May 9-10, 2026) the deadline is Dec 31, 2025 -Apply here
• Sebastopol Center for the Arts has a call for entry for its Pulp - Paper - Book exhibit - deadline is Jan 20, 2026 and more information can be found here or below in the Call for Artists/ Entries/ Proposals/ Submissions section
• There is an artists residency at Haleakala National Park on Maui Island, Hawai'i, for July 2026 with a deadline of Jan 15, 2026 (please see Call for Artists/ Entries/ Proposals/ Submissions section below)
• The Kalamazoo Book Arts Center has a call for entry for their Illustrated Accordion 2026 exhibit with applications being accepted up until Jan 26, 2026 (please see Things to do in the area and Call for Artists/ Entries/ Proposals/ Submissions sections)
• I wanted to give you a heads up that I will be traveling next year and the newsletter will be taking a break - the last newsletter before the break will be February 2026, no newsletter in March 2026 and will resume same bat time, same bat place in April 2026. Feel free to look at archived copies of the newsletter from years past - link available in my signature block below

Me ke aloha nui - Jade
Unfolding paper explorer, information conduit & facilitator, foodie, unorthodox traveler, astronomy enthusiast, somewhat grudgingly tech savvy
Mission: Connecting talented people with people exploring their talents
Motto: Always plan a trip around a workshop or vice versa
Book & Paper Arts Calendar | Book & Paper Arts Newsletter | Instagram | Email | Buy me a coffee

Sections below: Things To Do In The Area | Call for Artists/ Entries/ Proposals/ Submissions | Bits & Bobs About Paper/ Books/ Tips/ Trips | Musings and Meanderings | Workshop Calendar | Resource List | Housekeeping

New England Quilt Museum (18 Shattuck St, Lowell, MA 01852) - The Spirit Books: Works by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord - now until Dec 31, 2025

Long Beach Museum of Art (Long Beach, CA) - The California Effect: New Books from the California Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers - now until Jan 4, 2026

Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG) - Kindred Spirits: The Lucy Maud Montgomery Legacy as Interpreted by Contemporary Book Artists - on view at: University of Guelph, McLaughlin Library (50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1) - Jan 5 - May 1, 2026; Calgary Public Library, Central Library (800 3 St SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 2E7) - Jun 1, 2026 - Jun 30, 2026; Regina Public Library, George Bothwell Branch (2965 Gordon Road, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 6H7) - Jul 15 - Aug 20, 2026; Victoria - dates and details forthcoming - video

The University of South Dakota presents Bound and Unbound VIII - now until Jan 5, 2026 - can be viewed online in the Digital Library of South Dakota

Jaffe Book Arts Gallery, Florida Atlantic University's Wimberly Library (Boca Raton, FL) - Stardust: 25 Years of the Jaffe Collection - now until Jan 6, 2026

Michener Art Museum (138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA 18901) - Anila Quayyum Agha: Interwoven​ - now until Jan 11, 2025

The James Allen Rose Art Gallery, Francis Parker School (San Diego, CA) - Home Is Where The Story Begins by Judith Christensen - Jan 12 - Feb 20, 2026 - please make an appointment to visit the gallery - opening reception: Jan 15, 2026 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Kalamazoo Book Arts Center Gallery - Glancing at the Unseen exhibition with Lynn Sures - now until Jan 14, 2026

The San Francisco Center for the Book (375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA 94103) exhibition Who Is America at 250? Artists' Books on the State of Democracy - Jan 17 – Mar 8, 2026

Urawa Art Museum (Saitama, Japan) - At the Promised Place: Expanding Imagination Through Book Art - now until Jan 18, 2026

Wayne Art Center (Wayne, PA) - CraftForms 2025 - now until Jan 24, 2926; Attraction to Abstraction 2025 - now until Jan 24, 2926; Living with Craft 2025 - now until Jan 24, 2926

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (1011 Washington Ave S #100, Minneapolis, MN 55415) - Jerome Book Arts Mentorship Series IX exhibition - now until Jan 25, 2026

Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking (Atlanta, GA) - Legacies in Paper with works from Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, & Helen Hiebert - now until Jan 30, 2026 - virtual artist talk: Oct 15, 2025 | Paper & Architecture - Mar 2, 2026 - July 10, 2026 | The Craft of Paper: Contemporary Takes on Tradition - Aug 3, 2026 - Jan 15, 2027

The Guild of Book Workers is thrilled to announce its upcoming 2024-25 traveling juried exhibition - NIGHT CIRCUS: Baylor Libraries, Baylor University, Waco TX - now until Jan 31, 2026 - exhibitors list

Postmark Center for the Arts (25 W Main Street, Auburn, WA 98001) - Unfinished Business - now until January 2026

Serralves Contemporary Art Museum (Porto, Portugal) - Book of Resistance - The Resilience of Artists’ Books in a Digital Age - now until Feb 1, 2026

Fort Wayne Museum of Art (Fort Wayne, Indiana) - Paper Made II - now until Feb 1, 2026 - juried selections will be featured in the fall 2025 issue of Fiber Art Now

8-Day Art Retreat in Oaxaca, Mexico - an immersive art retreat nestled in the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of Oaxaca, Mexico - Feb 5 - 12, 2026 - more information

Kalamazoo Book Arts Center - Illustrated Accordion 2026 - Feb 6 - Mar 20, 2026 - previous Illustrated Accordion exhibits are available to view

National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC) - In the Library: Paper as Inspiration in Artists’ Books - now until Feb 6, 2026

CODEX X - Feb 7 – 10, 2026 - location: Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

Moody Memorial Library (Baylor University, Waco, TX) - Narrative Threads (information not currently on website) - Feb 9 - Apr 6, 2026

Kala Art Gallery (2990 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702): Bookness in collaboration with The CODEX Foundation - now until Feb 11, 2026 - view gallery

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (550 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110): Storytime with Mare: Artists’ Books from the Odditorium - now until Feb 15, 2026; Aimee Lee: Tethered - Mar 6 – Jun 7, 2026; Booking: Artists’ Books by Black Artists - Oct 2, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027

Book Arts and Culture tour in India led by Radha Pandey - Feb 16 - Mar 2, 2026 (tour is full but there is a waitlist)

Science History Institute (Philadelphia, PA) - Reaction: Artists Transform the Sample Book - now until Feb 28, 2025

Peters Valley School of Craft is hosting this amazing trip Mar 5 - 18, 2026 - A Journey through Craft, Culture & Cuisine: Vietnam & Cambodia

The Morgan Art of Papermaking (1754 East 47th Street - Cleveland OH 44103) - 14th annual juried exhibition - more information upcoming - Mar 6 - Apr 25, 2026

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (550 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110) - Handwork 2026: Spring Aimee Lee: Tethered - Mar 6 – Jun 7 ; Summer Cloth, Paper, Stitches - Jul 3 – Sep 20; Fall Booking: Artists’ Books by Black Artists - Oct 2, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027

New Museum Los Gatos (106 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030) - Stitches & Wiggles: Unraveled and Reimagined Mixed Media Art by Jody Alexander and Thomas Campbell - now until Mar 8, 2026

Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 South High Street, Sebastopol, CA) - Pulp - Paper - Book - exhibition dates: Mar 14 - May 3, 2026 - opening reception: Mar 15, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

The ALBERTINA (Vienna, Austria) - Fascination Paper - now until Mar 22, 2026

Save the date: Newport Paper & Book Arts Festival XXIX (Newport, OR, and surrounding communities) - Apr 23 - 25, 2026

Newlyn Art Gallery (Cornwall, UK) - Walking A Cappella, a major exhibition by Abigail Reynolds - now until May 2, 2026

State Library NSW (1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia) - Paper Universe: The book as art showcases close to 100 rarely seen works from the State Library’s remarkable collection of artists’ books - now until May 3, 2026

Printed Matter - LA Art Book Fair (LAABF) happening at ArtCenter College of Design South Campus (950 S. Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA) - May 7–10, 2026

Seattle Art Book Fair returns May 9 - 10, 2026 - Save the date - see you back at Washington Hall (153 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122) alongside artists, designers, and arts organizations who are making some of the most inspiring art books and publications today

Vancouver Art Book Fair at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2W3) - May 15 - May 17, 2026

Lynn Sures - Fabriano workshop and tour of Northern Italy - information and registration from May 28 - Jun 12, 2026 and Drawing in Italy 2026 from Jun 13 - 21, 2026

Columbia University Libraries - Butler Library (535 W. 114 St. 6th Floor, New York, NY 10027) - In CONTEXT: Art, Books, & Freedom - now until May 29, 2026

Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Scotland - Hybrid Printmaking - Texture, Color, Line with Lucy Turner - this printmaking workshop will be held from Jun 10 – 19, 2026 - more information

Kalamazoo Book Arts Center will be hosting a a travel study program to Italy - Book Arts in Venice - secure a spot by making your deposit online - trip dates: Jun 15 – 26, 2026 - deposit due: Jan 15, 2026 - final payment: Feb 1, 2026

Santa Fe Studio Tours (various locations around Santa Fe, NM) - June 20 - 21, 2026 and June 27 - 28, 2026

Save the date: Focus on Book Arts 2026 (Monmouth, OR) - Jun 24 - 28, 2026

The Bancroft Library Gallery, University of California (Berkeley, CA) - Shape of Thought: The Book as Art - now until Jun 30, 2026

The 2026 Taos Paper Retreat with Helen Hiebert will be happening Jul 19 - 25, 2026 in Taos, NM and the theme will be Capture the Light

Top

Websites for calls for entries for all mediums and online juried shows:

- Call for entries management and jury system entrythingy.com

- Find calls https://www.callforentry.org/

- Online juried shows

- Colossal (international platform for contemporary art and visual expression that explores a vast range of creative disciplines) opportunities

Note: On going calls below are listed in alphabetical order followed by calls by due date

Art in the Park residency OR Google “National parks artist in residence” - scroll down to the map of programs across the US map - each park has a different application, criteria, etc. explore the map and find a park that aligns with your goals for a residency - apply through that park’s unique site - artists of all mediums can apply…photographers, writers, composers and more - on going

Call for workshop proposals: Frederick Book Arts Center is settling into their new space and looking for teachers - if you have experience teaching bookbinding, letterpress, printmaking, photography or other skills related to book arts and are interested in working with us we are interested in hearing from you - please email: charlottemaulerhayes@fredbookartscenter.org - on going

Call for teachers: Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, Maui, HI, is looking for Youth Teaching Artists - more information - to apply for this position, please send a resume and sample art projects to: Michaela McGuire, Youth Programs Coordinator, michaela@huinoeau.com - on going

Call for Artists: The Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) Shop is seeking new artists interested in selling their work - on going

Call for teachers: Pacific Ocean Paperfolders monthly virtual meeting - on going - contact Joel Stern

Call for Workshop Teachers: PaperWorks 2025-2026 Season - half day, full day and multiple day classes, in person or via Zoom - download proposal form and send completed form to education@paperworks.info - on going

Call for Submissions: Printed Matter, New York - Decolonisation, Resistance & Solidarity - is actively soliciting artists’ books, zines, and print ephemera that engage with ideas of decolonisation, resistance, and interconnected solidarity around the world - accepted submissions will be distributed online and in-store - this is an open, rolling call - there is no deadline for submissions - to view a selection of titles that speak to these themes and their submission guidelines

Call for workshop proposals: The Santa Fe Book Arts Group Program Committee extends an invitation to submit proposals for workshops in the coming months - more information - on going

Call for artist in residence: Joseph Rock Arboretum on Hawai'i Island - JRA Sculptural Project Honoring the Earth Through Indigenous Wisdom - deadline: on going - they offer a 3-week stay in the Kailua-Kona area on Hawai'i Island (artist will need to get a rental car (or use UBER), buy food, bring their supplies or buy locally, to construct their art and they can bring a friend or partner)

Request for proposal: San Francisco Center for the Book - Small Plates 2026 - each year SFCB invites artists to produce an artist book edition of a specific size (4 inches x 4 inches) in a limited edition of 50-100 and provides space, equipment, technical support, and a materials budget to Small Plates artists to help produce their edition of books - due by Nov 30, 2025

Call for submission: The Morgan Art of Papermaking 14th Annual Juried Exhibition - is open to all artists living in the United States who utilize handmade paper, printmaking techniques, or artist books are highly encouraged to apply - information - deadline: Saturday, Dec 6, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST - on view: Mar 6 - Apr 25, 2026

Call for entry: Center for Book Arts is now accepting submissions for its 2026 Annual Poetry Chapbook Contest - submit your manuscript - deadline for submissions: Dec 15, 2025

Call for art: Gallery Director and Sitka Printmaking Fellow Mika Aono who shares her art gallery and print studio, Atelier Ghostbirds (Portugal), is now accepting artist submissions to the upcoming mail-art exhibition Fragments of What Makes Us Alive - deadline: Dec 15, 2025

Apply to be an exhibitor at the 2026 Seattle Art Book Fair - to participate as an exhibitor at the 2026 Art Book Fair (May 9-10, 2026) the deadline is Dec 31, 2025 - FAQs - Apply for the 2026 Seattle Art Book Fair

NATIONAL PARKS ARTS FOUNDATION - HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - JULY 2026 RESIDENCY (all media welcome with one month housing and $5,000 stipend) - deadline: Jan 15, 2026 - application (you will need to create an account on the National Parks Arts Foundation to submit your application)

Call for collaboration: Headlands Center for the Arts is pleased to host Present Company - a free 8-week summer program that centers how knowledge and meaning can be organically fostered by bringing a diverse group of artists together in both structured and unstructured ways - application - deadline: Jan 15, 2026

Call for upcoming opportunities: Women’s Studio Workshop (Rosendale, NY) - (1) Studio internship application due Jan 15, 2026; (2) Nonprofit Management internship application due Jan 15, 2026; (3) Art-in-Education Artist’s Book grant application due Jan 15, 2026

Call for entry: Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 South High Street, Sebastopol, CA) - Pulp - Paper - Book - deadline: Jan 20, 2026 - exhibition dates: Mar 14 - May 3 2026 - prospectus

Call for application: FOBA's The Colleen Cavin Fellowship and Internship Program for the FOBA 2026 Conference more information and application - due: Jan 21, 2026

Call for entries: Kalamazoo Book Arts Center - Illustrated Accordion 2026 - deadline: Jan 26, 2026 - exhibition dates: Feb 6 - Mar 20, 2026 in the KBAC Gallery - previous Illustrated Accordion exhibits are available to view

Call for Entries: Paper on Skin 2026 - deadline: Feb 16, 2026 - application - subscribe for updates in previous link

Apply to the McKnight Fellowship for Book Artists - deadline: Mar 6, 2026 - information session (register using previous link): Jan 21, 2026 - 6–7pm CT; Feb 24, 2026 • 7–8pm CT

Call for submission: 11th Annual Washington State Zine Contest - guidelines and additional information available here - entries must be dropped off or postmarked by Mar 27, 2026 - email sara.pete@sos.wa.gov with questions

Top

Note: If you want to inspect a link to see where it may take you, mouse over the link and in the lower left corner of your screen the status bar will show you where the hyperlink would take you. On smartphones or tablets long press on the link and a window will appear with that information

Sarah Bodman - Book Arts Newsletter - Impact Press at the Centre for Print Research, UWE Bristol, UK - more book arts related events in the UK, EU, EEA and some USA - latest edition and back issues

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s (BIMA) - Artist's Books Unshelved: full play list here - latest video: Conceal and Encrypt - Works by Erika Van Horn and Veronika Schäpers

Sampler popup mechanism booklet1 and booklet2

If you have not had a chance to check out Kelli Anderson's popup book, Alphabet in Motion, here is Adam Savage (MythBusters) on his Tested channel on YouTube to explore this book that was 6-years in the making

Here is the artist talk that BIMA had with Mare Blocker (her artist books were highlighted in Artists' Books Unshelved 2 months ago)

Making custom hardcover mini-books and notebooks, perfect for Post-it pads or small notepads

Here are 11 scenic drives when visiting California - one of my favorites is Hwy 1 along Big Sur driving north to south

"From Forest to Forest” a pop-up book that’s equal parts beautiful and educational - designed by Minneapolis based studio 10 Thousand Design (https://www.10thousanddesign.com) and brought to life by paper engineer Simon Arizpe (http://www.simonarizpe.com/)

I can't help but feel that this would be a terribly comfortable rattan woven chair that gives just a little a you settle in and absolutely no splinters!

Maybe figure out how to make this cube - the impossible popup cube

A little bit of cuteness - a very, very tiny elephant shrew and an origami elephant to fold

If you've ever folded bristol board and ended up with a cracked, buckled mess, Talas has a quick video showing you how to do it without the cracked, buckled mess

Toronto-based artist Andrew Ooi is known for his intricate sculptures made from countless hand-folded and painted sheets of paper.

A very cool protective book cover from Byopia Press

Lynn Sures artists books - she also organizes paper related trips to Italy

You see napkin folds I see pockets for pages - also some map folds

I watch NHK World Japan and they had a recent YouTube video on origami talking about the scientific applications using origami - Jun Maekawa is also in this video whose origami work I first came across in a Paula Krieg Realm of Solids workshop

I had a chance to see Olafur Eliason’s book, Your House in person at the Getty (it was a while ago)

How the right soundtrack can transform your reading experience

Dorothy McGuinness specializes in weaving paper baskets

Some of the the world’s most fascinating human-made structures

How to make a book of addresses - a graphically effective project to show off the satisfying form of addressing an envelope

Carved vegetables (the Japanese were the original zentanglists) - and a mish mash of fruit and fantasy - Kaori Kurihara whimsical ceramic sculptures

Unusual town names in the US

How to make a box with a lid that can be opened and closed with a single piece of paper

Twist and pop card with the popup at the top of the card instead of the middle

Newly discovered (for me) flexagon infinity card tutorial

Slip knot binding for single page books - I have probably mentioned this binding before and it is a nice one to have in your repertoire

Meet the retired teacher who turned his van into a mobile library

Village 360 popup book

Easiest square envelope ever

I plug in a tiny flash drive to backup my pictures when traveling but here 5 other things you can power with your phone's USB port (iPhones also starting with the 15 series)

I have collected some Susan Share videos for you to enjoy: Books, Props, Collages - Center for Book Arts in New York City, 1992; Arctic Floes - Book Performance Art by Susan Joy Share with Rachel Wells; Unfoldings - Created and performed by Susan Joy Share with musician Geoffrey Morrow

Do you need masking tape that will never pull up paper?

Want to try hand drawing a continuous pattern?

A Danish Christmas tradition that comes from the heart - could also be used for Valentines day or a heartfelt occasion - other patterns for this woven heart - the templates are in the description and another that is over the top

Ten things nobody told you about being creative

I don't recall if I have already included this in a previous newsletter but always good to have a supply of boxes that fold flat

I had an interactive telescoping page in my November 2026 newsletter but have found a video tutorial here - also like the closure (you could use other shapes)

NEBA show and tell video from September 2025 with Richard Reitz Smith, Chair of the Book Arts Program and Studio Manager. Maine Media Workshops + College - I am eternally grateful to Richard for opening up a 2nd session for the Hedi Kyle workshop back in 2023

I thought I had run across this book structure, a six fold dos-a-dos, in a Byopia Press newsletter (but have not been able to locate it) but found it here instead - found a video (the 1st half) that shows how it is opened and the tutorials are: making the signature blocks; assembly and the cover

Top

Unusual bird, rocket and cow statue sightings!

On our way to one of our favorite bakeries for a cardamom bun and kouign amman we almost ran over a peacock, with brilliant feathers but a rather short tail, trying to cross the street . A youngster perhaps? In researching how the peacocks came to be in this area I found out they were of the India Blue variety and they were a gifted pair (of course they were) from Lucky Baldwin's daughter to Frank Vanderlip, who was a developer in the Palos Verdes Peninsula area. This is only the 2nd one we've ever seen in the area. The 1st time was when we heard scrabbling outside our loft window and when we raised the blinds there was a full grown male walking about the pent roof above our front door. It was a what the heck moment of incredulity. You can read more about them here.

Headed back to the Central Coast after finding an amazing deal for lodging after getting back from Hawai'i. I get that I sound like a stuck record but I do adore being up there. It makes for a nice quick getaway from the Los Angeles area - more quiet, more green space, more rolling hills. I had a quest this trip to look for any leftover cow statues from the CowParade that happened in San Luis Obispo back in 2016/2017. This idea came up when I was wondering why there were so many elephant statues in Dana Point while having breakfast with some friends. Thought perhaps they were left over from an Indian restaurant that closed an age ago but, no, they were everywhere and had to do with making people more aware about the plight of the Asian elephant. More posts about CowParade came up than the elephants which reminded me that I had seen a couple of them in Harmony, CA, population 18, located on Highway 1 between Cambria and Cayucos. OK maybe not the most familiar of California towns/cities, so how about almost halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles (230 miles and 216 miles away respectively). Deciding to dive head first into yet another internet rabbit hole I found that there are cow statues from the CowParade still viewable publicly mostly in San Luis Obispo (where I went to college or is it university - what's the difference?), Los Osos and the aforementioned Harmony, CA, population 18. We saw about 5 cow statues, missed a couple as we had been driving around for a while and was getting tired (see next paragraph), one that was no longer at the airport, one we admired from afar as there was no way in heck we were climbing up that hill, one as we sped by on our way back to the hotel, "Oh, look! A blue one!", and one found at the Madonna Inn, the pink Lady Moodonna, while looking for more cows after getting back from our adventure.

In the wee hours of the morning of our cow adventure, there was a rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB - used to be Vandenberg Air Force Base) sending up more StarLink satellites. I have noticed that my GPS get frighteningly accurate as a result of these many launches, "Turn right after the Pismo Food Store ahead". I get emails for all rocket launches out of VSFB and I had set my alarm to wake up at the early part of the time range they give you for launch windows. Luckily I clicked on the appropriate link and it let me know that the launch would be 3 hours later. After getting into warmer clothes I brought myself and my phone out to the balcony. As I looked in the general direction of the launch site, about 35 miles away, I noticed another person in their PJs walking hurriedly along the boardwalk to their selected viewpoint. As we waited together united in our love of rocket launches I thought to myself, "Good! Another person crazy enough to wait up or wake up for a launch!" Bill was already up, having started his day an hour or 2 ago. The horizon started to glow with a soft golden hue that rapidly brightened into an artificial sun as I watched it lift off then turn to head south. It took about 3 to 4 minutes for the roar of the lift off to finally reach me as it blended in with the softer roar of the ocean. I have seen many launches and no matter how near (the next hill over - so close that I could feel the vibrations of the engines in my sternum that made me breathless) or far (on a step stool in my backyard against the setting sun) I happily admit that it still delights me. I was jumping up and down a bit when I saw the horizon start to glow as I squeaked for Bill to come out. Oh, yes! I had also caught a cold or something and have been nursing it for a couple of weeks before this trip.

Another one of my obsessions lately are mechanical keyboards - I love them when they sound thocky or clicky but not poppy. I did wait for black Friday to buy one that had round keycaps (like an old typewriter) edged in copper but when I tried typing on it it was entirely too clacky. I had to find some silent switches as it was driving me and I am sure, Bill, crazy. Not sure if it is possible but these switches may have been a little too quiet. I should have reviewed that YouTube switch video before getting them. Even though I did buy 2 sets of the quiet switches they weren't enough for a full size keyboard with a number pad. I was trying to figure out which keys I rarely used and was hoping to leave the louder switches under those keys, like the function keys. It was rather fun and tedious changing out the switches - I did them one at a time using the provided keycap and switch puller. There was a nice rhythm to the process, pop off the key cap, pull up the switch (took a little more upward pull strength than expected and thought I might break something), insert new switch with satisfying click, pop on old keycap. Ahhh! Not too bad for my first time and no longer driving me crazy!!

We are headed to TX to spend some time with my brother over Christmas. We will meet them in Austin, head to San Antonio and then back to Houston. I am open to any and all adventures but hoping to visit the Mark Rothko chapel on Rice University grounds. However you’re spending your holidays, I hope you're celebrating in a way that brings you tranquility and contentment, whether through quiet reflection or with lively gatherings. Stay cozy and creatively curious!

See you in 2026!

Top

(maintained in my Dropbox account - close popup to view document). Documents are saved in Word format (.docx). If you do not have Microsoft Word you can use Microsoft 365 to save a copy

• Organizations where I gather my workshop information
• Teaching opportunities (needs to be updated)
• On-demand workshops with pre-recorded videos and/or kits
• Favorite paper places (I am not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any of the companies listed. I merely enjoy their products and fantasize about what I might buy)
• Central place for artist residencies - all mediums
• MFA programs in the US (updated annually around early December) - due dates, points of contacts, programs offered and admission requirements
  
  Top

• Link to the calendar
• Best viewed on a large monitor (there is lots of information) and is searchable
• There is no difference between the colors you see, just a way to visually separate workshops but the more subdued colors are online workshops
• The calendar is updated as I come across information but you have 24x7 access to it
• If you add any calendar entry to your own personal calendar be sure to update the time to your local time zone - time zone converter
• For more information view this video
• Questions? Suggestions? Email me at jsqcentral-workshop@yahoo.com

Top

In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, I guarantee that I do not use your information for purposes outside of sharing this workshop calendar and special announcements relating to workshops. I will never share any of your personal information, including your address, contact information, or otherwise, with anyone. Please subscribe, unsubscribe or view this newsletter online using the link below.

Subscribe to the Book & Paper Arts Newsletter | Top