Busy finding books to use!

I've been scouring the internet for original books etc to use for my project and I have several coming from America.  I'm looking forward to receiving them and allowing the content to dictate how I alter/add to the book.  Here are some images of the books i've chosen.
  

   


I intend to use a variety of media's ie printmaking, typing, knitting etc all things that relate to my collections.

I've done loads of research on Sophie Calle and  specifically her book called Appointment with Sigmund Freud.  I love the way she juxtaposed her collections into his personal space and how she documented the process and the text that went along with the imagery.  The text comes after the imagery which makes for an interesting read.

New idea! HELP

Well having been to a tutorial and feeling like i'm back at the drawing board I know need to knuckle down and produce my hand-in for January.

So this is roughly my idea, i'd really appreciate some feedback as it feels like i'm going a little mad talking and writing to myself :)

I am considering finding a 2nd hand and very old recipe/housekeepng book,

Fill it with recipes on how to survive modern life not make food

Recipes to create the perfect day

Recipes to ensure you leave home on time

To get children up in time

To get children to bed

To get students to arrive on time, be productive and stay on a course

Recipe for a happy marriage

Recipe for how to survive difficult work colleagues

Receipes for creative survival in the 21^st century

How to put your collections to creative use

I could use a variety of print methods but everything would be printed into an existing book or even paper added in  ie; like the way women write notes and tips into their own recipe books for improvements or shortcuts or cuttings from mags etc.

What do you think?  I’d be creating my own collection based on personal experience, creating a survival guide with the intention of handing down through generations as a means of not forgetting, after all we all collect as a means of not forgetting.  

 So I'd love some feedback before I go steaming ahead in this direction, i have so little time left :-(

Off to PARIS...

I'm off to Paris on Thursday for 3 days with my students, hoping to visit the D'Orsay and the Pompideu along with lots of sights.  Will be taking my 35mm camera to shoot some black and white films as i've never shot Paris in Black and White before.  Will be visiting Off Print Paris which is linked into Paris Photo 2012.  It will be full of self publishers and small publishing houses.  Very bespoke and 99% photographic books but I go every year and each year it gets bigger and better so i'm looking forward to that.

About to start writing up the book fair as my work experience and i'm also going to include all my bookbinding teaching aids that I have created for my students as I feel it's all relevant work experience. I'm starting to put my final books together for the January hand-in for my reflective project.  This one is based on my love letters zine and i've been busy on my portable typewriters again!

 

I could happily play typewriters indefinitely but more books need to be made so i'm finishing compiling the images into a final book, it's hard to decide if less is more or the more the merrier because i've still got loads of word play left in me but I may err on the side of caution and go with the 'you can have too much of a good thing theory!'

Made the news!

No Handmade & Bound fair table :(

Just received confirmation that I did not manage to get a table for the Handmade & Bound fair in November, shame as I was looking forward to it.  They apparently had hundreds of applications and only 31 tables!  Below is a photo taken from the Reading Post website of me at the book fair on Sunday. Apparently it will be in the paper next week!?

My stall

So this was my stall, I had one of the smaller tables and just about fitted everything on, I was really pleased with the overall display as it was colourful, interesting, well lit and despite the tiny space inviting.    I'd intended to use my collection of perspex risers but i'd left them at college so had to improvise with my ikea wooden drawers.  I took 4 drawers out, turned 3 upside down and fitted white card to the recess.  These acted as great display boxes and gave added height to the display to make it more visually interested.  I used the remaining drawer as a box to hold all the zines in, as a browse box and finally left the remaining 2 drawers in situ as a place to hide my spares of things.  The empty shelves in the cabinet were useful to fit the remaining books in that didn't fit on the table.

I made 60 business cards and came home with less than 10!

The feedback from my display was very positive with many comments on how professional it looked!! It's amazing how inventive you can be at 11pm the night before :-D

Bookface Success

The Bookface book fair was a resounding success, I sold quite alot of work but more importantly recieved lovely feedback and made lots of new friends.  It's fair to say that I had a lovely day with a constant stream of visitors and a super quirky venue that added to the whole day.  I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wanting to exhibit at a bookfair to show at Bookface at the Rising Sun Arts Centre in Reading.  Loads of photos to follow when I get home.

Exhibitors list etc

Getting so excited now, just finished making my business cards and putting stickers onto my funky paper bags should anyone wish to purchase my goods.

My business cards are 3 cm x 10cm, I printed them onto heuhnehnuele (wrong spelling) double sided 220gsm paper/card which makes them feel luxurious.  

I'm like a kid, totally in my element, couldn't resist the sweetie bags! Printed the stickers and cut to size. It all adds to the overall presentation and style.

Bookface reminder

BOOKFACE
Artists book fair - a book fair with a difference!



Sunday 14th October, 11am - 5pm

At The Rising Sun Arts Centre

30 Silver Street, Reading Berkshire RG1 2ST

www.risingsun-artscentre.co.uk


The one day event that celebrates the unconventional book!



A rare opportunity to see some exciting artists’ book creations.

Browse the book stalls, share ideas. Artists and writers will be exhibiting and selling their work.



On show will be artists' book creations, experimental and altered books, book binding,

small press, local authors, poets, sketch books, comic book artists, illustrators, sculptures,

installations, calligraphy, vintage books and book collectors.



Some are one off pieces and many limited editions. Come and see for yourself, you will be inspired!



Cafe Bar selling homemade cakes and savouries, organic beers and wine.



Artists:

Sarah Battyll, Sam Knight, Astronaut Express, Two Rivers Press, Wealden Manor Press, Move Up Project

Pipal Press, Lazy Gramophone Press, Will Conway, Alan Clayson, Think Lockhart, Chris Mercier, Tom Cartmill, Sara Davies, Hazel Bryce,

Mary Riley, Will Trevelyan, Eloise Curtis, Ellen Jewell, Hilda Davidson, Sue Carson and Neile Wright.



Poetry readings

Story telling by Will Trevelyan - 1pm

Book making workshop

Children’s activities

Vintage Books

Book Swap

Café bar



www.risingsun-artscentre.co.uk

Facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/466136020085040/



Please pass on...

Louise's cat zine!

One of my Access students from last year has made a cat zine for me to sell at the book fairs and I spent the last few evenings scanning it in and tweaking the pages before loading them into Indesign.  I've printed the first zine and it looks great, i'm hoping to print at least 10 for this weekends book fair and hope she's happy with my treatment of it.  Her original is obviously far superior but with time short it's fun to create a quick to print version that will hopefully start her a following.  I believe she is dropping me over a zombie zine at work tomorrow.

It needs trimming and stapling or stitching if there is time but I think printed on some nice paper (176gsm) and it should look pretty good on my table.

Making funky note books for book fair

To make my table at the Book Fair on Sunday more interesting I have also been knocking out funky note books using a variety of papers and funky covers from things i've found in the bin at work for covers to cyanotypes that I don't like but make great book covers.  The papers range from bright colours to lined and i've mixed the papers up in each book.  All are sewn hardback books.  I'm worried that my table will look a bit sparse so am working hard to make it varied and quirky.

Last 5 days work

An update of the last 5 days work.  I have been attempting to print a 1.6m long print as I want my concertina book to be made from a single sheet of paper.  This process has frustrated the hell out of me!!  I've tried both printers and after about 8 hours of fighting with programs, printers you name it I came to the conclusion that it was better to print on A4 sheets and join them with slim joins, it's not what I wanted but the final outcome looks fine and so I will continue with this method.  The main issue was with the memories in the printers not being able to handle the file, and yes I reduced to the bare minimum in order to keep the file size as small as possible.

  

The long image consists of all my books in the bookcases throughout my house, when you see it it will make sense.

I'm really pleased with the final outcome and have had really positive feedback from everyone that has seen it.

Bookface Book Fair

I've booked a table to sell my books and zines along with some friends from college.  The fair is in Reading which is perfect as its only 20mins up the road from me and a great introduction to selling work myself instead of just buying!  I've included the advert incase anyone ones to visit.

I showed my book 'n' bags and book 'n' badge collection to my students today, they all liked the typed love letters book because I had my typewriters in and I let them create samples for the zine project I've set them.

this is my favourite page from my love letters mini book.  I had such fun playing with my typewriters.

First Blog

Hi,

Today I had my first tutorial this Semester, i'm starting my 2nd and final year of my MA Book Arts.  I have created this Blog as a means to show those interested what I am doing and also a means of getting feedback.

As you know my teaching commitments limit my time on Campus, I am only available on Tuesday afternoons and Friday all day.

So here is an image of some of the work I have been creating recently for the BookFace Book fair which is due to take place in Reading on October 14th.  I have booked my table and am using the experience as my work experience part of my Reflective Project.

My work is based on collections, I am portraying the unseen collections that exist in my domestic space.  The examples above are single signature colour printed hand sewn mini books that have been marketed specifically for the zine fair customers.  I have also include button badges into the packaging that link to the contents of the books as my demographic of the average zine fair visitor is college and university students.

I'm hoping to update this blog at least twice a week with images of what i've made and what has inspired me, keep checking :-)