Deconstructing that artichoke and other bookmaking tales

Codex book fair

I was talked into doing the Codex book fair. I was interviewing Lucy Childs of Another Room Book Arts for an article I'm writing for the Ampersand, and she talked me into doing the Codex book fair.

What is the Codex, you ask? The Codex "preserve[s] and promote[s] the art and craft of the book." The people who will have tables are other book artists, printers, bookbinders, calligraphers, and others. Who will be there? Educators, librarians, lovers of book arts, conservators, booksellers, and more (this according to the Codex website).

Why did I decide to do this (it's expensive and I'm going to have to take three days off of work)? I decided to do it, because I have to take the plunge sometime. The PCBA Book Arts' and Printer's Fair is a great event, but it's small fry. The people who go usually buy my inexpensive items (there are exceptions, of course), but I want to meet more people who will buy my more expensive items. Plus, I love to show my books to people, especially those who will buy what I show them. I want to meet librarians and collectors. And I think I will be able do that here!

Onward!

Onward

Yea! It's summer, officially. I have lots of plans for this summer: I'm going to finish the tarot cards (I know, I know, you're sick of hearing about them); I'm going to finish the chapbooks; I've got more paper for Disconnecting Constellations, so I'll work on that book (I'll never say that I'm going to do 100 of a book again); and then I'll do a few more small projects. But the exciting project that I'm going to start is (drumroll please), I'm going to start researching women bookbinding unions in California.

Yes, well, I've started to do some research on the Internet, and there are some places locally where I can start my search: Berkeley, I knew their library would have some information; San Francisco State, in their Labor Archives and Research Center; and the California Historical Society. And my dad, who's a Teamster, said all their minutes and such from meetings should be in an archive somewhere. So it's all very exciting!

The Printer's Fair is over!

The Printer's Fair was a lot of fun. I met a lot of people, I showed off my books (especially Collapse!), and sold a few things! So now I'm trying to recover and clean the apartment.

Book Arts and Printers' Fair

Alright, I'm cutting and sewing and pounding out finger holes. The Book Arts and Printers' Fair is Saturday, May 15 from 9-3, Fort Mason. Back to work!

Book from India

Betsy, whose press I use in Berkeley, went to India again. She's working on a palm leaf book, and so she went to the heart of things, Orissa in India. I guess back in the 70s, the government wanted to preserve all the crafts in the country, and Orissa was already doing palm leaf books. So they started a whole program, supported by the government. I was just impressed that the government actually supports the artisans. Book artists unite; we should get support from the government in the US (like back in the 70s!)!

And while Betsy was in India, there was an email on the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team from Radha Pandey about a "book" that she had seen. It's a cupboard that tells a story. You can see it here. I think it's so cool, so when I have time (eek, probably this summer), I'm going to make a dummy, which I will post.

Before that though, there's the project I've been going on about, which is due in May, and then there's the Printer's Fair, which is May 15, and then school ends June 4. And there's a bunch of shows to submit to before then. Better get busy!

A reading for Deconstructed Artichoke Press

We had a reading yesterday at Bird and Beckett Books and Records. I should have posted it, but I didn't even think of it.

Anyway, it went really well. Colby started us off, then I read, then Judith, followed by Opal. I thought the readings all went well together, even though they were really different. A friend of Judith's said to me afterward that everyone's poetry was very accessible. I agree, no one had that obtuse poetry where you're just like, huh! Although I do like that poetry sometimes too (I love Mei-mei Berssenbrugge!)

Miscellaneous things

Well, I'm trying to improve my website sales. Google sent me a coupon for $100 to use AdWords, so I tried it out. I've gotten some clicks, but no one's bought anything yet! I don't think my listing is very good, so once I get the chance, I'm going to do some research.

...but, right now, my time is completely taken up with those chapbooks I've been working on. I've got 25 left to sew together. My fingers are bloody from the needle, no, just kidding. But man, 200 is a lot of chapbooks to sew together in a short period of time.

I'm so excited, tomorrow is the release party for Good Mail Day, Jennie and Carolee's book. Yea!

Roadworks: Steamroller Prints and Street Fair

Back to blogging, I'm trying to be good.


Roadworks was on Saturday, so I went with my boyfriend, Colby. I had a good time, saw lots of old friends: Macy Chadwick, Carolee Gilligan Wheeler, Lucy Childs, and more. It is a little disappointing to me though how few book artists have tables. There are a lot of crafters with things like jewelry and handbags. I think there's a place for that at other venues, such as the Mission IndieMart and the Bizarre Bazaar, but not at SF Center for the Book. Ah, well. But I think Katherine and all the volunteers are doing a great job on Little Linos and the printing.

This weekend I'm working on a project for the Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Artists are supposed to respond to books in their collection with a book. The books all have to do with architecture, so I thought, perfect, most of my books deal with archictecture. So I'm developing a dummy to submit to them; they'll choose 6 artists; and if I'm one of the artists they choose, I have to have a finished book by February 2010. I figure, deadlines are good. Wish me luck!

"Marking Time"

I haven't written in a while, bad me. But I have some exciting bookarts news to report: I went to "Marking Time" at the San Francisco Main Library on Friday (more about that below); Roadworks: Steamroller Printing Street Fair is at San Francisco Center for the Book this Saturday; and my friends, Jennie and Carolee of PodPost, just came out with a book, Good Mail Day, and are having a release party on October 9 at SFCB. I'm going to try and figure out how to link their book to my page, but if I can't get it right, you can click here, and go to Amazon.

The Guild of Book Workers show, "Marking Time," was really something. The work was very high quality. The Skylight Gallery at the Library is a really amazing space--lots of sunlight and skylights (imagine!), very open, so it's always nice to go to a show there. Lots of books with goat skin. I was a little taken aback by that, being vegetarian and all, but that is what books are often about. My favorite book was A Short Course in Recollection by Susan Collard. It reminded me a lot of Joseph Cornell, one of my favorite artists. Looking at her website, I had to laugh; she's also an architect. It would figure that I loved her book!

School's out!

Today was the last day of school for the kids (for those of you who don't know, I'm a special ed teacher for a continuation school during the school year); tomorrow is my last day. Yes! Summer here I come.

I'm going to teach bookarts this summer at Redwoods Shores Library and at 826 Valencia. Then, I'm going to work on the tarot cards and start a new book, plus finish some other projects. I'm looking forward to it.