Big achievement

 

I say big achievement - but what I really mean is that it is a big achievement for me. As you can see from the 'poetry in your pocket' booklets (What Remains, Farewelling the Light, and Flow Country ). 

Each of these A7 booklets contains 6 original photos and 4 original fragmentary poems by me. Each of the poems is a response to 4 of my photos. 

The booklets are printed on double sided matte finish 220gsm photographic paper. I have used the photographic paper to ensure the printed images are really crisp.  The paper had to be printed back to back - feeding from the back tray one sheet at a time!!! This however created a challenge. Because the paper is heavy and has a photographic finish it was almost impossible for Fiona to sew through the 4 layers of paper - and as you can see from the following image the end result was not attractive. 

The solution was to get Fiona to teach me again how to hand stitch the books. Process photos follow.

At the beginning I said I had'bound' the books - what I really meant is that each of the booklets are held closed with a band of photographic paper with a small image that repeats a key photo from the booklet. 

All in all I'm pleased with the achievement - from original photos, to original wee poems right through to the printing, cutting, sewing and binding. These will be heading to Scotland for the Pop Up Art Show.  

Progressing two projects - poem publication and workshop preparation

 

Whilst we are still in the latter stages of jet lag, both Fiona and I are progressing work that applies to our next visit to the cottage.

We have agreed to do another Pop Up Art Show in our local village hall; but we have also been asked to do a workshop each.

The opening and following photos show the progress I'm making on printing a 16 page A7 pocket poem book. Before heading over to Scotland in early April I had worked with our friend Kim Herringe to develop a template that could be filled in in Word and printed double sided; and once cut into appropriate pieces would become a small A7 booklet. As you can see I have managed to populate Kim's template; and printed a draft document. The good news in Kim's template worked - I just need to get her assistance on steps required to remove the grid lines before making edits and printing some final copies to take for the Pop Up Art Show!!!

The final copies will be stitched along the spine instead of stapling.

After some discussion with Fiona I have decided to offer a one day (really 10am to 3.30pm) of simple silver plate jewellery making - see the design options document etc below. I have also started to cut the silver plate blanks from silver-plated placemats.

 Whilst I have started the metal preparation there is still quite a way to go. I will grind all the rough edges off the blanks - don't want participants cutting fingers; and starting with prepared blanks means they will achieve more. I imagine participants will most likely finish 2-3 pieces - pendants and/or earrings.

Solution from a friend

 

I have been mulling over how I might present-publish my small Scotland photo inspired poems - and then out of the blue Fiona received the gift of a small booklet from her friend Annwyn - I was immediately attracted to the clever layered design.

The possible presentation of a photo and poem might look something like the  opening photo - booklet size A7. Annwyn gave me permission to base my booklet on her design - much appreciated.

As you can see from the photos below I had sketched and worked out the measurements for my booklet during one of my biblio sessions.

Then I did the cutting, printing, typing on the old typewriter and stitching - with Fiona's guidance regarding needle, sequence and thread size. Photos of the process below.

The closure I settled on was my design - a wee toggle made from silver-plate; and at Fiona's suggestion a typed end page.

The mock up has given me the chance to do a practical test of the design - there will be a few refinements.

It is likely that I will not get to publish any of the poems until later in the year - too many things to do before we head to Scotland.

Vintage type

 

I have been thinking about making limited edition publications using a vintage manual typewriter rather than setting up letterpress type. I'm thinking about typing on tea-bag paper - not a new idea I know but it is new for me. I want to be able to use my own words and achieve an outcome similar to the type in the image above and below. Of course I'm will need to focus on typing accurately!!!!

I brought a vintage manual; typewriter online. It arrived on time and it was well packed -  but as part of the postal procedure the carriage of the machine had been locked. Apparently this is the usual procedure when transporting older portable typewriters. The challenge for me was that there was no manual; and I knew nothing about carriage locks.

As you can see from the photos below I took the case off the machine after checking out online how one might free up a vintage typewriter - just not mine. I did manage to find and operate the carriage lock button; but still the carriage would not move.

I was just about to give up when Fiona and I had another look together and that is when I noticed that a small pin that would move the carriage on letter at a time had jumped out of its bracket - see below.

Once the pin was back in place we tested the movement - hey presto it worked. I put the machine back together and then we tried typing - a few of our efforts follow.

I'm happy that I can now test out this slightly dodgy old machine actually typing a small edition of a prose poem of mine based on fallen autumn leaves cascading over the local weir wall.