Erin Maurelli - Creative Explorer

Book binders and box builders. The time has come to talk about Davey Board. Who has advice or insights to share?
This photo shows light weight Eska board ( not my favorite) on top, “New Davey Board” purchased in March of 2026 and “Old” Davey Board purchased early in 2025. They are not the same thing.
The Eska (.069) is real plucky/ soft and has a tendency to warp if not dried under weight. It also swells with moisture. It is thinner than the light weight (.070) Davey Board. What I was sold under the label “Davey Board” is thinner and lighter than the Davey Board we are all familiar with, but it is stiffer and denser than the Eska board. What is it? Not sure. It will delaminate, which Eska does not do, for label wells and such.
What are you using? Please answer in the poll or comments.

See you MCAD this summer!

I will be teaching: Letterpress Posters Friday, July 17th, 1-5 PM.

Get your hands on MCAD’s collection of wood type and print your own poster. Students are invited to print their own 3-5-word message.

Registration is open NOW. More information and registration at mcad.edu/ce.

A wee sneak peek behind the scenes as my summer box building series gets started. Special thanks to who hosts this VIRTUAL series of four box building classes. Learn basics of box building in the first two classes. Then learn advanced techniques in classes 3 & 4. Please visit mnbookarts.org for more information on their education programs.

Art-A-Whirl is coming to NE Minneapolis, May 15-17, 2026. My studio will be open. Can’t wait to see you!

I did a thing yesterday. If you are out and about this weekend for the Yarn Shop Hop, please stop by my friends at the Yarnery The Yarnery . I had the joy of painting their windows with gold picture frames to fit the Shop Hop theme.
It was cold and paint was not drying the way I wanted it to, but in the end everything turned out great.

Hello Friends & Bibliophiles! Join me and fellow curator Heather Friedli on Saturday, April 18th from 5-7 pm for the opening of the 5th Annual Book Arts Show.
We would especially like to thank Open Book for generously providing an exhibition space for this show. With the closing of Friedli Gallery on West 7th last year we found ourselves without space to show. This partnership has signaled an evolution of this annual show and we are grateful for the support.

We are delighted to show the work of artists alongside the book-centric businesses who make up Open Book, Milkweed Publishing, The Loft Literary Center and Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Thank you for sharing this community.

Applications for the 5th Annual Book Arts Show are being accepted. Submit your fresh books by March 20th. This year we are exhibiting inside Open Book in Downtown Minneapolis. See the Call for Book Arts L1NK in my bio