Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Now That's a Book Bag!

I was listening to NPR today and heard an interview with a woman named Caitlin who made purses out of books. I gasped as I listened to her cutting the pages out of a book with her X-acto knife. It felt so wrong somehow. And then, as I continued to listen to her, I became curious. She clearly is an artist with a vision. She makes the purses from actual book covers, usually those she rescued from library discards, yard sales, thrift shops, etc. She then finds fabric and beads and hardware to complement the book. The results are truly beautiful.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Ex Libris

Not too long ago, I found myself on a quiet mission to claim ownership of all of my books. It started with one book -- a favorite book which I was about to lend out and didn't want to lose track of. I thought of simply writing my name inside the front cover but that seemed too casual, almost disrespectful for this particular book. So, I looked online for some bookplates I could order quickly. I ended up taking a wonderful trek through the world of bookplates -- from the history of bookplates to customization to collection (there are societies dedicated to the study and preservation of bookplates). I also found some beautiful designs. Too many for me to actually settle on one. I ended up making my own. If anyone needs a personalized bookplate, you now know who to call!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

What Just Left My Nightstand (just the good stuff)

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Nonfiction. One man's quest to live the ultimate biblical life, to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible. What results is both hilarious and reflective. A good read for anyone who has ever wondered about all those crazy rules in the Bible!

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis. Nonfiction. Chronicles the history of the landmark children's television program just in time for the show's 40th anniversary this year. A great read for anyone who has fond memories of Jim Henson and the classic Sesame Street years.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Grungeboard Creations

It has been a while since I have nurtured my creative spirit. In the midst of professional transition, personal challenges and an active 17 month old, Creativity was collecting dust on the bottom shelf. Well, a recent visit to the Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA was all the inspiration I needed. It was a smaller convention than usual but I didn't mind because it allowed me to slow down and actually watch some demonstrations. I spent most of my time at the Tim Holtz booth, watching the artists there and picking up some new tips and tricks. I learned how to make my own version of Tattered Angels' Glimmer Mist by mixing water with Perfect Pearls (which I already had at home but didn't know what to do with!) in a $1.75 mini spray bottle (saving myself about 8 bucks). My favorite purchase was Tim Holtz's Grungeboard which takes ink like paper but acts like leather. The night I came home, I made a series of tag cards celebrating Spring's arrival. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I had fun making a 20 page journal for a friend. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Anxiously Awaiting Amazon's Kindle

I've been patiently watching the life of the Kindle Reader for over a year now. This is completely unlike me -- I am an impulse buyer, a manifester of consumer destinies. Only with my car have I have spent this much time looking and studying (and that was a good buy!). So, I didn't buy the first generation because I wanted to see the world's reaction and allow Amazon to work out the inevitable kinks (Amazon is no Apple). I was ready to break down and purchase one for the holidays when I learned that they were back ordered for months and would not ship until the end of the 1Q 2009. What?! Were they crazy? How disappointed was I? Well, very until I learned that Kindle2 would be coming out early this year.

It is here and it looks fantastic. I'm saving up all my pennies to get one. Until then, I can pretend to have a Kindle on my iPhone. (Again, Amazon is no Apple, but at least it knows to befriend the technological behemoth.) My new favorite -- and free -- application on my iPhone is the Kindle App. It allows you to read any and all books you've purchased or downloaded on your Kindle or from the Kindle store and read them on your iPhone. So, even though I don't yet have a Kindle, I can purchase a book from the Kindle store and read it where ever I go. It is much better than the existing book reader apps simply because of the size of the book collection. Stanza has nothing on this. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The "O" Factor

No, I’m not talking about Obama. Although, I do find it lovely that we now have two renowned “O”s regularly appearing in our national spotlight. I am instead talking about the Original O.


Oprah.


When it comes to books, I am both drawn to and put off by her. Here is the attraction. It goes without saying that she has spurred thousands, if not millions, into reading – and I am all for that. She has made thousands, if not millions, of dollars for new and experienced (and sometimes dead) authors – and I am all for that. When I look at her list of recommendations, I see many of my favorite books. Here’s the put off. Once or twice a year, I will actually commit to picking up an Oprah’s book club recommendation (I don’t do this often because I feel like a “sell out” placing that book with the prominently placed “O Book Club” sticker on the counter, as if the Avid & Discerning Literature Reading Gods are looking down on me with furrowed brows (am I crazy?)). At least twice in the last two years, I have disliked the selection, including the current selection, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (how can you not love a book about dogs?). This shouldn’t be a problem, right? Books are like art. Books are art. Their beauty is wholly subjective. The problem is that I am in the middle of Sawtelle and, although I realize I cannot go on, I sense Oprah’s presence each time I put down the book (ostensibly for the last time). I wonder if there is something she “got” while reading the book that I am not getting. Maybe she is a card carrying member of the Avid & Discerning Literature Reading club and I’m just pretending???


No, of course not. But until I shake my illogical relationship with that O book sticker, I will continue on my quest to read every book that might end up on O’s list before it ends up on the list. But, this book Sawtelle, I am going to put down.

Monday, January 26, 2009

What Font Are You?

I am fascinated (read: borderline obsessed) with the form of letters. My fascination usually manifests itself in calligraphy. If I have the time, I may actually produce a piece of artwork. Usually, however, I am relegated to writing alphabets on legal pads or even “air writing” words with my fingers or in my mind. By no way, however, am I a calligraphy elitist. Words and letters are beautiful to me whether they are written by human hand, set by type, pounded by machine or printed by a Lexmark printer.


So, it should come as no surprise that I was completely transfixed by a recent Independent Lens documentary on the history of the Helvetica font. Yes, a documentary on a font. Without having to go into the thousands of years of history of typeface (not that I would have minded that), the filmmakers did a nice job in laying out the significance of font and graphic design in our daily lives, and especially the dramatic influence of the creation of Helvetica in the late 1950s.

The film puts graphic designers in two general camps: those who think Helvetica is the second coming (and font should not get in the way of the message); and those who think it is blasphemous to true design (and font is part of the message). I lean towards the latter. There is so much beauty in the letter that it seems a waste to use something as sterile as Helvetica (or Arial) to convey your entire message.


Just for fun, I took the quiz “What Font Are You?” on the film’s website. Can you believe my incredulity when the results revealed I am “Times New Roman?!” Because of its ubiquity, TMR is almost as sterile as Arial/Helvetica. Maybe I need to get out more....


Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Beginning of Now


I was inspired yesterday by a brief, yet wonderful, conversation I had with my dear high school friend who is now living in Alabama. She had sent a "blog" to some friends about her experiences over the last year and the culmination of that year in Tuesday's inaugural events. The problem was that it was just an email and not a formal blog (I know, a bit of an oxymoron). I told her the world would benefit from hearing her words in a real blog, that it was sooooo easy to do and everybody had one! Well, easy to say. I didn't have one.

So, here I am with my first blog entry in a blog dedicated to many of the things that inspire me. I intend to use this space to share my thoughts, emotions, ideas and creations when they intersect with the world of art, paper, pens, words and books. Please feel free to share with me your favorite things.

Today, I will share a piece that I created about three years ago. It is free italic calligraphy in blue and green ink (mixed with the genius of Parallel Pens). It reminds me that NOW is what is and nothing else. Enjoy!