GALION — Jenny Reagan is turning the pages of a new chapter in her life.
She transforms books into works of art. Intricate designs that literally pop out of the pages of hardcover books. Hundreds of pages precisely measured, cut and folded, resulting in messages, symbols and three-dimensional sculptures.
Reagan is the owner of Beyond Words Book Creations.
“Sometimes people think they’re actually made out of wood, and they also think I do it with a machine, like a laser cutter, and that’s definitely not the case of course,” said Reagan, a fifth-grade teacher at Galion Intermediate School.
Instead, Reagan uses a pattern and basic tools – a ruler, sharp pencil and a small pair of scissors – to measure, mark and cut pages in the center of the book or the entire volume, which are then folded one by one to build up the layers of the design.
It’s tedious, and time-consuming.
“There’s no efficiency to it,” Reagan admitted. “It’s just time, but it gives me something to do on rainy days and cold winter days. I have two teenage daughters that are doing their own thing, and I just wanted something to mess around with, I guess.”
Reagan, a Galion native, embarked on her newfound hobby just over a year ago. Her husband, Jerry, told her about a show he had seen on PBS about folded book art and, while shopping for Christmas gifts online, she spotted a book and pattern for sale.
In November 2018, she folded the layers of her first book. It was a Christmas tree, which she tied at the base with green satin ribbon. Then she made an owl and attempted her first cut and fold project, giving away early books as Christmas gifts that year.
“Then people would come over and say, ‘Why don’t you sell these?’ and then it just kind of developed from there,” Reagan recalled. “Word of mouth and then people I knew started buying them.”
In April 2019, Beyond Words Book Creations was born. Since then she has created more than 70 images, from butterflies and sunflowers to sports themes and messages of love, all by snipping away and folding, lap desk and clip-on light in tow.
She orders the intricate patterns online, then finds the perfect size and color of book to compliment the design. The books normally come from thrift stores or library used book sales, plus a friend’s mother is always on the hunt for her.
The 23-year veteran of the district has taken orders for coaches’ gifts and Harley-Davidson buffs. Wine lovers and wedding couples. But her favorites are the books where the tops of the pages are also folded down, making the images more three-dimensional.
“There have been some late nights,” said Reagan, who has recently ordered special computer software which allows her to create her own patterns. “I guess in a way it’s kind of a stress reliever, although everybody I tell that to says ‘Really? That doesn’t look de-stressing at all.’”
The folded book art master said it’s especially nice that her creations can be personalized. Mementos to be displayed – and cherished for years to come.
“There are tons of designs. It’s endless really, so if you give me a topic, there’s a good chance I can find something.”
