My Traveling Zhen Xian Bao, wrapped closed

A friend of mine will be traveling to China at the end of the summer.

She is someone who has taken the full series of Zhen Xian Bao classes that Susan Share and I have taught. I am hoping that she will bring a ZXB with her, not as curiosity item, but as a workhorse

This is the unwrapped but mostly closed view, with twist boxes on top, holding needles and thread.

A number of years ago I was heading out for a few days to go adventuring with my friend and co-conspirator Susan Joy Share. I knew we’d be on a train for some hours and that we’d want to work. It occurred to me that a ZXB with some jumbo boxes and a worksurface would suit us just fine.

This jumbo box version worked out swell. We went on to further developed this concept and taught it in some of the later ZXB classes.

Look at all the stuff it holds!

Scissors, glue container, pencil sharpener, washi tape, bone folder, note pad, markers, folder, Olfa cutter, papers, pamphlet, straightedge/compass, marking tools and a selection of papers.

It’s wild to say this, but the ZXB still closes quite flat.

Here’s another one I’ve made, with proportions that are not traditional for a Zhen Xian Bao, but the spirit of the folder, which consolidates and organizes, is still intact. I use this for my Sashiko sewing supplies.

So nice to have my Sashiko supplies in one place. I even have a candle in there for waxing the thread.

I am glad to be reminded of this ZXB variation, as I have always been smitten by it. and also as I am wondering what I would like to teach in early 2027, I’m putting this at the top of my list.

Of course, seeing these folders in actions is simply the best. Watch here:

Published by Paula Beardell Krieg

Visual artist Paula Beardell Krieg has been teaching bookmaking to students in schools, to teachers and to other artists since the mid 1980's. View all posts by Paula Beardell Krieg