| Title | Hand Skills |
| Artist / Creator | Patricia Grass |
| Place of Publication | Forest Grove, Oregon |
| Publication Date | 2015 |
| Process / Technique | "Holy Cards" composed on a Macintosh computer and printed on a color copier; design on pocket hand embroidered. |
| Structure / Binding | Accordion fold with pocket in a silk wrapper; book attached to wrapper with Velcro |
| Medium / Materials | linen and cotton embroidery thread. paper needlepoint canvas, crocheted lace; cardstock and silk bookcloth for wrapper; mat board, cardstock, leather, silver foil for box. |
| Paper Stock | Somerset Book and cardstock |
| Number of Pages | 14 pages |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 3.75 x 4 x 1.75 inches closed. Extends out to 43 inches. |
| Edition Size | Edition of 5 |
| Box / Wrapper | Box is oval shaped and leather covered with silver foil tooling and felt lining, elastic closure. Wrapper is cardstock covered with silk bookcloth and Japanese style bone closure. |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed and Numbered Edition |
Sewing, embroidery, crochet, needlework have always come easily to me. I can not even remember learning to embroider—I feel as if I have always been able to do it. Is it in my DNA, a part of my Irish Catholic heritage? The book pocket is embroidered with the first basic stitches one learns—stem stitch, lazy daisy, and French knot. The top of the paper is edged in crocheted lace reminiscent of lace curtains my Grandmother loved. The "Holy Cards" contain text about my hand skill experiences, Irish needle work history, patron saints of needleworkers, and images of saints, equipment, and family crochet and embroidery pieces.
Artist Bio
Patricia Grass has taught bookbinding for 25 years. She has shown her artists books in various shows across the country--both juried and invitational, has her work in the collections of the University of Washington, Yale University Library, and private collections. She has authored a book, How To Make A Book Even If You Think You Can't, and currently operates a book arts supply store, the Accidental BookMaker and teaches from her studio in Forest Grove, Oregon.