Virtual Demos
MM Videos
Virtual Demos are recorded during the SDBA Monthly Meetings. Be sure to also check out our Tips & Tricks page for more virtual learning opportunities!
December 2025: A Small Ornament with Paul Jackson
In celebration of the holidays, Paul Jackson will delight us with the art of paper. We’ll enjoy a folding activity and one or two special demonstrations as a festive treat for the audience.
December 2025: Pushing Boundaries: Embroidery + Book Arts with Celeste Chalasani
Celeste Chalasani will be joining us again—this time for a lecture in which she shares her journey exploring the intersection of embroidery and book arts for the National Academy of Needle Arts Teacher Cum Laude program. She will introduce six different bookbinding methods she studied and explain how she incorporates embroidery into her artistic practice. Celeste will also highlight the tools and materials she uses, along with insights into what proved successful and what did not.
November 2025: Tunnel Book with Celeste Chalasani
Our November program will be a lesson in how to make a basic tunnel book. What is a tunnel book? It is a structure that contains pages that are held together by folded strips of paper on each side that resemble an accordion. To “read” a tunnel book you look through a hole in the front cover. Each page features openings that allow the reader to see through to the back page. The images on each page work together to form a three-dimensional scene. The overall effect is an illusion of depth and perspective. According to Wonderopolis, (https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-tunnel-book#), tunnel books date back to the mid-18th century when they were originally called “peep shows.” The concept was inspired by theatrical stage sets. Participants in this workshop will need to print and cut out photos and “things” to go on four pages. In the workshop, we’ll cut frames, attach the “things” to the frames, create a modified accordion fold for the sides, and then attach the pages to the sides.
October 2025: Writer's Folder with Claire Formilan
In today’s fast-paced digital world—where most of our communication happens through emails or messaging—receiving a handmade, handwritten card feels extra special, doesn’t it?
This month, Claire will guide us through creating a Letter-writer’s Folder, a beautiful and practical way to keep all your letter-writing supplies in one place. You’ll be ready to send thoughtful notes whenever inspiration strikes!
August 2025: Reverse Piano Hinge with Lesley Patterson-Marx
This month we will be working along Lesley Patterson-Marx while she teaches us a fun structure called Reverse Piano Hinge.
This soft cover book is made of separate signatures that are connected by a central accordion fold that weaves itself through slots in the middle of each page. The pages, secured by paper “pins” can be easily removed and rearranged. This “no-sew” book structure contains so much potential for fun design variations!
July 2025: Introduction to Wire Edge Binding by Daniel E. Kelm
We’re excited to welcome Daniel E. Kelm as our guest speaker for the July Monthly Meeting. Daniel will share insights from his extensive background in the book arts and introduce Wire Edge Binding—a creative and innovative alternative to the traditional codex structure.
My presentation for the July 16 meeting will serve as an introduction to Wire Edge Binding (WEB), featuring a slideshow of my bindings to help illustrate the concepts discussed. I’m looking forward to answering questions about the structure’s potential and offering a preview of the upcoming online Wire Edge Binding workshop, launching in August 2025.
~Daniel E. Kelm
June 2025: Leporello Journal with Kat Kirby
In this fun workshop, Kat will teach us how to create a unique concertina journal with 3 signatures. The cover is folded in a pleated accordion style, although I like to make it with one cover rather than separate covers.
The name likely comes from the manservant, Leporello, in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni. He was tasked with keeping a record of his master’s conquests, and had to find a way of maintaining the very long and expanding list! You can use your Leporello Journal however you want!
May 2025: Flexagons with Debbie Gallas
Come play and make a little magic at our May meeting with Debbie Gallas. She’ll be demonstrating a variety of flexagon models – mesmerizing paper forms that reveal hidden faces as you fold and flex them. With just a few simple supplies, you’ll amaze your friends (and yourself) as these clever creations transform right before your eyes. These are perfect as whimsical toys, interactive cards, or unique book forms that reveal a story one panel at a time. Bring your inner child – and your curiosity – and join the fun!
April 2025: Mailscape: Creative Collage from Repurposed Envelopes
In this mini class you’ll use security envelope patterns – either your own or from the supplied PDF – to create a landscape design on card stock. Kathy Johnson will share tips for mixing patterns and creating depth in your collage and guide you as you embellish an envelope from the left-over scraps to coordinate with your card.
You’ll get to see the book Kathy uses to catalog her growing collection of security envelope patterns – 280 and counting! She’ll also show examples of how she incorporates them into her collage work and how she sorts and stores the ever-expanding collection of envelopes that are waiting to be transformed into art.
March 2025: Paper Embroidery with Suzanne Glémot
Suzanne Glémot will be previewing her summer workshops with SDBA, showing samples from each class and providing an overview of materials used and techniques covered. Following this presentation, Suzanne will give a short demonstration on how she embroiders on paper.
February 2025: How to make an Interlocking Folds Book
Kit Davey will be our February guest. She will show us how to make a mini book using two strips of paper. After a series of folds and interlocking the paper, Kit will show us how to attach it to the covers and in the end we will have a beautiful book.
January 2025: Bookbinding Tools with Erin Fletcher
Erin Fletcher teaches us about bookbinding tools.