Deconstructing that artichoke and other bookmaking tales

The Obsessive Nature of Editioning

I've got ten (but each "book" is 12 books) more books to make for "A Contemplation on the Obsessive Nature of Time," my flipbook, which you can see at my Etsy site or my website. First, I'm folding the covers, after I've cut them down. I Gocco printed them three at a time, January, February, and March for one set of covers, April, May, and June etc. Then I'm going to glue the covers to the books.

I've been working on the project since before my stroke. Yowsers! Right now I'm on September. The problem is I really don't like doing it. This is the first time I'm actually not having fun making the books. So I would love it, if people over the blogosphere would cheer me on! I'll post more updates on my progress!

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!

Chapbook fancy

I'm working on a chapbook for the Daughters of Yam, Opal Palmer Adisa and devorah major. I definitely want it to be as good as I can possible make it, so I'm kind of nervous about it. I mean, Opal was on my English CSET exam (exams teachers have to take to be "highly-qualified," because, you know, tests magically impart the ability to teach), and devorah was poet laureate of San Francisco. So both of them are super famous. Opal was one of my professors in grad school.

I took it to the photocopy place today, and when the guy saw it he just sort of looked at me. He was probably thinking, "These crazy artists." It's going to be Opal's on one side; then you flip it, and then it's devorah's. Pretty cool! The poetry in the chapbook is luscious, and that's all I'll tell you. You'll find out more when you buy a copy and read it!

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!

Moving again!

Okay, so I haven't written much in the last couple of weeks. I think it's that feeling of it being summer. I've been printing out at Betsy's and teaching for 826 Valencia. I met Dave Eggers today! That was kind of exciting. Emilie, who's in charge of the summer program, introduced me to him. And I proudly showed him the books we were making. It was a great day for him to come by; we made tunnel books and scenic concertinas. It wiped me out!

But in other news, I'm moving. Yes, again. I've come to hate my apartment. It's too expensive for what it is, and it's not well kept up at all. So I decided to move in with my friend, Ryan. We found a two bedroom place that's a block away from me. I'll describe it in more detail later, because we haven't signed the lease yet. We're in the process of doing that. It looks good, but being somewhat of a pessimist about things like this, I'll describe the flat later.

Away from my post

Yikes, I've been a bad blogger. I think the summer vacation fog is hitting me. It's great; I've been printing out at Betsy's and reading all day. Aaah, summer.

Yesterday I want to the IndieMart at Thee Parkside with my friend, Cristina. It was a beautiful day out, and I think the open air makes those things so much better. It was great; and I had to keep from buying too many things. There wasn't a single doe or owl that I noticed! Thank god! I did buy a barrett though by Jim Dandy, I couldn't resist.

Summer Time!

Well, today is my first true day of summer vacation. I spent Monday and Tuesday grading third and sixth grade essays for the school district. I should clean the kitchen, but you know, I'm going to take Billie, my beautiful pit-boxer mix, up to Bernal Hill.

Tomorrow I'm going out to Betsy's to print the Tarot cards. I'm so excited!

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.