Ode to studio piles

I have a craft show in 1 1/2 weeks and I am stressed out. Anticipation of the first show of the season always makes me a bit wacky. The truth is, I’m in pretty good shape as far as inventory, but I’m not where I want to be.

And that’s located somewhere in the land of unrealistic expectations.

As my studio grows increasingly chaotic (I am not a neat worker during times of stress), I become more aware of the piles of papers that I’m not attending to.

Usually I like piles, but not these.

So I decided to stop and look around my studio for the piles I do like. Here’s sampling of the happiness I found:

Accordion book covers, basking in the sun

There's nothing like a precariously perched improvised press

Oh bookboard, you owe your existence to the Kutrimmer

Coptic journals, waiting for binding

Journal pages

Completed photo albums

I hereby declare a total ignore of all non-happy piles.

I encourage you to do the same.

20+ Years of French Paper Promotions

I’ve never been shy about proclaiming how much I love love love the French Paper Company. In addition to making fabulous papers that I’ve been using for years, they’ve also been an inspiration for branding. They set a high bar – their design is infused with a style and humor that I really appreciate.

This video documents over 20 years of the French Paper Company’s promotions. I have several of them, but I’m really hoping that one of their rocking snow globes magically shows up at my door.

Or a Cream of Meat poster.

Artisans Hand annual sale

As I’ve mentioned before, Artisans Hand Craft Gallery, located in Montpelier, VT, was the very first gallery to sell my handmade books. The gallery only features work created by Vermont artisans.

The staff at the gallery is so fabulous – they have always been very good to me. If you’re a Vermont artist and have thought about jurying for the gallery, go for it – you won’t regret it.

My work has been exhibited at the gallery for about 6 years and in Elissa years, that’s a long time!

Starting tomorrow, November 6th and lasting through November 8th is Artisans Hand’s 31st annual birthday sale. Everything in the gallery will be 20% off during the sale. If you are looking for a deal on my work, then this is the sale for you – prices will be lower than at any of my shows this season.

Time to get shopping!

So a 5 gallon tub of PVA walks into a bar…

…and says,

This is a stick up! Everybody spread ‘em!”

Yeah, I bought a big-ass tub of glue.

Now I can finally say something that I’ll probably never be able to say again:

That tub is a few inches shy of an inflatable Jerry French.

Trip to Taurus Bookbindery

The Guild of Bookworkers is presenting their annual event, The Seminar on Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding, in San Francisco starting today. As my trip to Taurus Bookbindery was one of the stops on my bookbinding spree in San Francisco this summer, I felt it necessary to finally write about my visit.

Taurus Bookbindery is owned and operated by Tim James, the mastermind behind the American Bookbinding Museum. Tim has been in business for over 30 years and specializes in binding editions of 100 and smaller.

When I arrived at the bindery’s address, I incorrectly assumed that this was a small operation. I warn you, the exterior of this building is very deceiving. There is a lot of super goodness in there.

As I mentioned in this post, I lost my notes from my trip to San Francisco (grrr…) so I can’t identify all of the machinery. I may not remember what it all was, but I do know that I want one of each for myself.

What follows is a photo tour of my trip.

Hello leather, I love you.

Lordy, I loves me some piles.

Now I KNOW that's a sewing machine.

Im-press-ive, right?

Seriously, don't try this at home.

American Art Therapy Association Conference 2009

Every now and then, I experience a bit of longing for my days as an art therapist. I’ve long believed in the healing power of art and my chosen career path as a bookbinder has definitely been influenced by my graduate training.

I remember when I proposed the thesis topic of using bookbinding in the expressive therapies – my thesis advisor told me that I wouldn’t have enough content to complete it. Well, my 100 page final product proved her wrong.

That was 14 years ago.

Over the past several years, the art therapy community seems to have caught up with me and has been offering book arts workshops at the American Art Therapy Association’s conferences. This year’s annual conference, held in Dallas, TX from November 18 -22, offers some interesting options:

The Use of Art Journaling as a Form of Therapist Self-Care
Kelley Brown
This presentation will focus on the use of art journaling as a form of self-care for the art therapist. The presenter will demonstrate her own use of art journaling in conjunction with her practicum, as well as report the results from her study into art journaling as self-care.

Altered Art/Altered Perspectives: Integrating Art Making into Clinical Supervision Using Altered Books
Jennifer Navarro MA, ATR-BC, LMHC
Making altered books in supervision enables supervisees to describe and contain their training experiences in a dynamic form. Altered books allow for a rich continuum of artistic and affective expression. Supervisees learn a wide range of art techniques, increase their visual vocabularies and skills repertoire and create a transitional object.

Star Tunnel Book: Revealing Inside Out
Linney Wix Ph.D., ATR-BC, LPAT
The triple-layered Star Tunnel Book presents itself extended or folded back into a four-pointed star. It stands, revealing parts inside, and also folds quietly. What wants to be seen, and how clearly? What remains hidden? A beautiful book, complete with surprising insights.

For more information, the AATA conference brochure is available for download.

Peggy Skycraft is so cool

I mean seriously cool.

Peggy Skycraft has been making the most gorgeous marbled and painted papers since 1970. She is considered a master marbler and if you look at her work, you can see why. I became acquainted with Peggy’s work when I worked at Paper Source in the mid-90’s. From the moment I saw her papers, I just wanted to dive into them, the colors were so rich.

Fast forward to 2 years ago. I was planning a trip to the 2007 Focus on Book Arts conference in Forest Grove, Oregon. As I usually do before I travel, I did a web search on bookbinding and paper resources near to the conference. It was then that I discovered that Peggy’s studio was within driving distance of the conference.

After exchanging some Emails, Peggy and I spoke on the phone. She told me that not only could I come for a visit, but I could stay overnight in the apartment above her studio. I felt that the offer was more generous than I could have hoped for and we set a date for my visit.

After my conference, I drove out to Peggy’s studio. She and her husband Jack welcomed us with open arms. They gave us a tour of their lovely rural property and fed us dinner. Then we got the tour of the studio.

Holy crap.

Her studio is so ginormous, I can’t even begin to tell you. I’m pretty sure that the square footage of  her studio exceeds the floor plan of my whole house. I was so in awe of just being in Peggy’s presence that I was too shy to ask if I could take pictures of her studio. I become suck a starstruck dork sometimes.

After the studio tour ended, it was getting late. Peggy told us that she and her husband would be retiring, but we could feel free to go through her paper drawers and pick out what I wanted and we could settle up in the morning.

I’m thinking – Are you serious? How could I possibly even deserve the chance to go through your paper drawers? I am not worthy!!!

So off they went. And I stood in the studio for a bit, stunned by what was happening. Then I came to my senses and looked at her paper.

Hardest.paper.purchase.ever.

I imagine that choosing amongst her papers is similar to being asked to choose your favorite child. It just isn’t fair. Unfortunately, a limited budget will always bring you to your senses. I made a pile of paper happiness for myself and went to bed.

The next day, Peggy and Jack made us breakfast. Even though I was there, it’s hard to believe that things like this really happen. Afterwards, I paid for my paper and we were on our way.

I will never ever ever EVER forget that trip. EVER.

Fast forward to June 2009 when I attended the Focus on Book Arts conference. Super-sadly, I was shut out of both sections of Peggy’s workshop New Techniques in Decorative Paper: Cold Batik Papers & Surface Magic (you snooze, you lose). I was totally heartbroken.

Although Peggy wasn’t part of the vendor fair during the conference, she did have a stash of paper in her car that she brought out for me. I bought 6 sheets of paper. Making choices was just as hard as it had been 2 years previously.

The one on the right, that's my hair

Yummy McYum.

Book Artists on Twitter – part 3

Alas, this will likely be my third and last post about book artists on Twitter (part one, part two). I have not, however, given up on sharing book-related Twitter peoples.

What is this crazy lady talking about?

I am one of the lucky schmoes chosen to test out Lists, a fabulous new feature in Twitter that allows you to organize the people you follow. Your lists can be public or private. You can subscribe to other folks’ lists.

You can come up with silly names for your lists, like “Damn you’re funny”. By the way, that wasn’t me. Okay, I’m lying. That was me.

Anyway, I’ve also created a list called Bookbinding (duh). Here’s the link: http://twitter.com/blueroofdesigns/bookbinding

If you don’t currently have access to Twitter lists, then I’m not sure if you’ll be able to see my list yet, sorry. Hopefully they’ll roll it out to everyone soon.

Note: I’m interested in book artists of all skill levels and the people I follow on Twitter represent that variety.

The first link will take you to the person’s Twitter feed and the second link will take you to his or her website, blog, or Etsy shop.

@_Shelbyville: Michelle Vandermeer
@Albyon: Veronica Silva
@Artisticaneum: Judith Stadler
@AwakenJournal: AwakenJournaling
@bowerbox: Val Lucas
@centerforbook: San Francisco Center for the Book
@Coccinellidae: Liz Conley
@corrupiola: Leila Lampe
@costurandolivro: costurandolivro
@djeneen: Dawn Anderson
@donnaseager: Donna Seager
@estasketch: esta sketch
@konyveszet: Könyvészet
@Kristine_LBS: Kristine Aubrey
@le_poulet: Carolee
@leimia: Mia Leijonstedt
@lisabethpress: Lisa Beth Robinson
@loulouloves: Louise Best
@Maalo: Sebastian Alvarez
@melanes: My Lander Books
@mrYen: Jonathan Chapman
@nightowlcraft: Sally Carson
@OTRBooks: Caroline Jackson
@paperandpearls: Paper and Pearls
@PatCarlsonMinis: Pat Carlson
@Pressbound: Melissa Gruntkosky
@redhydra: Steve Miller
@rhubarbella: Sara Bowen
@somavenus: somavenus
@TheanoN: Theano Nikitas
@tomboyink: Mary Sullivan
@WNYBAC: Western New York Book Arts Center
@WSBindery: White Sparrow Bindery

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Another note: Many thanks to kailoon of Loon Design for generously sharing his nifty Twitter icon.

Yep, you can follow kailoon on Twitter.

Bookbinding bad habits – a winner

And the winner of the bookbinding bad habits giveaway is…

Liz Conley!

Congrats to Liz and many thanks to all of those who were generous in sharing their bookbinding tips misdeeds.

By the way, I’ve got another one…

My understanding is that you’re not supposed to wash your glue brush with either hot water or soap.

I do both. And my brush has lasted me for 15 years.

More information on Paper and Book Intensive 2010

I was just going down the internet rabbit hole and I ended up on the Paper and Book Intensive website. It’s been a while since I last visited and I was happy to find that they’ve announced their instructors for 2010:

• Frank Brannon – books
• Carolee Campbell – books
• Melissa Jay Craig – books
• Tatiana Ginsburg – paper
• Deborah Howe – books
• Katie MacGregor – paper
• Emily Martin – books
• Jeff Peachey – books
• Yana Van Dyke – paper
• David Wolfe – I’m not sure, but there’s a guy from Maine with the same name and he makes paper dolls. I’m not convinced this is the guy.

Personally, I’d love to take a class with Emily Martin of The Naughty Dog Press. I love her sense of humor. And her appreciation for pie.

Many of these folks are new to me and I had to do a bit of searching to find out more about them. If you have any additional information, I’d love to hear what you know. Share!