TSL-67-4-WINTER-2019

digital
Font Meme
https://fontmeme.com/
A fun and addictive font generator which gave me an hour of enjoyable creativity.
Extremely easy to use allowing creations to be embedded into documents and web pages – almost
anything really. Simple tools to create brilliant graphics..why have I not seen this before!
A huge variety of fonts to use – which in itself is tempting. Simple to create stunning text using these
fonts. Some of the fonts are also available to download – quick and easy. There are of course lots of
sponsored ads which can become annoying but that’s the price you pay for using a free site like this.
The ‘fonts in use’ is almost like an archive of fonts used in history in films, books, games, TV shows
and so many other things. The most used font by librarians is probably the Netflix font
(https://tinyurl.com/y5xv4k8y) that can be used to create a Bookflix display as used by Lucas Maxwell.
If you are interested in creating an animated PP Bookflix display there are clear step by step
instructions on this teacher blog: https://tinyurl.com/y298cq57
I really enjoyed using this font maker – it’s just so quick and easy... this is definitely one to
share. However, more than an hour is needed to get the very best out of it.
My favourite was the calligraphy font – a thousand uses for this one...!
Val Dewhurst, Librarian, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School
Book Folding Art on YouTube
Everyone loves the look of book art, and as a display in the school library, it can be
a spectacular centrepiece, so have you thought about trying to replicate it? Thanks
to YouTube it can be simpler than you think.
A very simple start is the book hedgehog:
https://tinyurl.com/yytapz7b
More advanced art is the carousel:
https://tinyurl.com/y3kdw7su
There are many examples on YouTube to
follow. Some, as in above, start from scratch
and have one video from start to finish. However, one artist, Maria
Christensen, offers a book folding course in bite sized lessons. These
start at the beginning and are 3, 4, 5 minutes long. Once you progress
to starting a project, the videos are longer – 20/30 minutes. https://tinyurl.com/y26lkobh
Following a squirrel pattern video I found that I would need to purchase the squirrel pattern from Maria’s Etsy
shop (the video gives the link to purchase). Patterns are around £5 each and can be downloaded as a pack
which includes pdfs to copy onto coloured card for end papers and labels to name/personalise.
The squirrel video gives all dimensions needed, with instructions of the squirrel set forward and also indented
for different effects. The instructions allow for different size books, although a beginner is best advised to
acquire as near to the stated size book as possible. The materials and tools needed are not specialised.
These demos include tips to make folding/cutting easier, however the whole project is not quick. It is fiddly
(but necessary) marking the pages, then folding each one separately. You cannot cut corners or it simply won’t
work.
I watched videos with every step explained. I watched videos with no words, but it was obvious how to do
everything. I loved a little mouse poking over the book where the explanation was in French, but I could
have given it a good go from simply the video. There are simple projects such as the hedgehog which could
be done in school. Angels for Christmas is another simpler project to try. As an activity for a book group
with children these could be attempted. But the detailed art of the carousel, or a guitar for a music lover
would probably be attempted at home as a display piece for your school library or a gift for someone. In
theory you could start with these as the videos are designed to make it simple, but it may be better to try
the simpler patterns first. I am tempted to generalise and say that with librarians’ attention to detail, they
will make great book artists. If you lose patience quickly, this may not be for you.
But for everyone who asks what they can do with their unwanted discards, book folding art is an excellent
green answer for an unusual, thoughtful gift or display idea.
Dawn Woods
212 The SL 67-4 Winter 2019