I’ve been admiring Liz Constable’s work for years. From her captivating book arts and vibrant use of color to her stunning mixed media creations and playful “what happens if…” experimentation, everything she does is infused with creativity. Not only have I been a fan of her talent, but her fun and engaging personality drew me in. Let’s just say I had an inkling that we’d really get along.
Turns out, I was right! Liz and I got to meet not long ago; a friendship blossomed, and an idea took shape: what if we combined our two worlds through a creative collaboration? That’s how Books with Liz and Ali was born.
How it began
Early in 2024, I decided to reach out to Liz after one of our Handmade Book Club members shared work inspired by her Dyed and Gone to Heaven class. Liz and I chatted through a few brief email exchanges, then decided to meet for a virtual cup of tea. Of course, it took two attempts because I got our time zones mixed up!
Our connection was instant; the conversation was easy. Ironically, we had both admired each other’s work for quite some time but had felt too shy to reach out to the other. But boy, am I glad I did! We had so much in common that our one-hour chat could have continued for days. It was like we’d known each other for years. Within minutes, we were arranging to meet when Liz visited her daughter in New York in September.
We finally met in September, not in New York but in Greenwich, CT. We sat on Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean and talked about our daughters, parents, siblings, businesses, and aging—you know the normal stuff girlfriends talk about. We ate lunch, did a little shopping, and ate ice cream—all with the ease of old friends.
We just knew we had to create something together. And so we did.
The collaboration
From her studio in New Zealand, Liz worked her mixed media magic on upcycled canvases, then handed them off to me.
From my studio in Massachusetts, I used her canvases to create a little library of three new bookbinding structures: Honeycomb, Butterfly, and Hourglass.
We filmed it all, and now we’re ready to share Books with Liz and Ali with the world! The class includes:
- 24 pre-recorded instructional videos
- Clear written directions
- A detailed supply list
- Printable templates
- 2 live zoom sessions to connect with us both (Dec 2 and 3)
- One-year access, with option to download content
Liz and I had a blast with this collaboration, and we’re thrilled to share the experience! She’s a true kindred spirit and now a dear friend. I’m so happy our worlds collided!
HI! I’M ALI MANNING
Years ago, I learned about handmade books, and ever since then, I’ve been hooked. I love creating new designs, learning about different techniques, and expanding my collection of paper. But what I love most about bookmaking is the community.
Through Vintage Page Designs and the Handmade Book Club, I’ve met thousands of other passionate bookmakers, mixed-media artists, and crafters. We all share a love of book arts and crafting, just for the joy of it.
I believe that bookbinding and book arts are for everyone, regardless of skill level or equipment. All you need is a little creativity and, of course, paper!
I have already signed up and a member of handmade book club, how do I access the videos?
This was a masterful collaboration. You are two of the best. Thank you for the time, creative energy and what appears as genuine admiration. Looking forward to creating my books.
I registered and took the entire class and now I don’t know where to find the videos so I can watch some of the content again. Please help.
Thank you, Lindy Barnes
After some searching, here is where I found it:
https://www.handmadebookclub.com/login
I have seen people refer to this as the “old” handmade bookclub sign in.