After teaching paper and book arts for several decades I’m confronting the fact that I have a pedagogical blind spot. It has to do with folding paper back and forth to make an accordion.
My blind spot is that I expect that all adults can fold paper accordion-style, then create variations with the structure.
My bad assumptions in this area are aided and abetted by people who, when asked, “Are you comfortable with folding an accordion?” say yes. I believe them. Trouble follows.
The thing is, being fluent with making accordions, then being fluid in ways of using them, is the foundation for countless, endless, infinite varieties of projects.
I need to get a grip. Either I stop assuming everyone understands accordions, or I change the world.
I choose the second option.
Until further notice, Starting on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 4pm EST I will teach free weekly short zoom classes dedicated to showing how to fold an accordion and present ways of using it.
My plan is to begin 2 minutes after the hour, teach for 18 minutes, then have some wiggle time.
I don’t have a paid zoom account so we all get kicked off after 30 minutes. My thought is to keep doing these meeting for three months, then reevaluate.
Each week will start the same, with folding a simple accordion, followed by a variation. I will show new things, and I will repeat things. These will be working sessions. Sometimes I will repeat things too much and it will be boring. Good. Learn this so well it becomes boring.
- Bring a few sheets of copy paper
- Scissors, pencil, glue stick, and ruler may or may not be needed. Have them nearby.
- Show up five to ten minutes early for chatting.
- Don’t look for recordings. There will be none.
- No sessions Christmas or New Years day, but something(s?) during Christmas week
Some weeks I may have to change the time. The best way to keep track of any changes will be to check my twitter profile https://twitter.com/PaulaKrieg I will keep a tweet pinned to the top so changes will be easy to find. You don’t need a twitter account to look.
Here’s the zoom link for Saturdays at 4 PM EST (unless I post something different at https://twitter.com/PaulaKrieg)
Paula Krieg is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73281685909?pwd=SUgwZGc2R096VndpSXpraVRPdURVUT09
Meeting ID: 732 8168 5909
Passcode: XBFUX2
This is a grand little experiment. We’ll see how it works out.
Playful Bookbinding and Paper Works 
This sounds wonderful, Paula What time zone is the 4pm session? Thanks, Sarah
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OH, I will add that in . 4pm EST thanks
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There must be something in the air! The first two posts of this year’s Byopia Press advent calendar —already partly written— will give instructions for several different ways to fold accordions. When teaching this in the past I have found that there isn’t a universally foolproof method. Different people find different methods harder or easier. Personally I am a big fan of the Japanese method (using a folding guide) or working from printer’s marks for pre-scoring fold lines.
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Thanks for such a generous offering, Paula! Hoping I can make most of them but will need to miss the first one. This will be fun.😊
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Thanks Roseanne, the point of doing short ones often is so that there’s not a whole lot to miss. I’m think learning things a little at a time is the best.
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What a wonderful way to change the world!
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Doing what I can do….:)
thanks for reading the post. That was my favorite part of it.
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But I will not get any family support if I tell them I’m leaving for accordion lessons.
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I tried to connect but the link said: “The host has another meeting in progress”. I guess it was because I didn’t connect at the right time but I would like to confirm this is the link, for next Saturday: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73281685909?pwd=SUgwZGc2R096VndpSXpraVRPdURVUT09.
Thanks!
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Hi Melena, the meetings end promptly at 4:30. From my notifications, it looks like you missed us by 3 minutes. Yes, you have the right link. Hope to see you next Saturday at 4:00 EST
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