Richenda Brim // Clementine Press

blanking

2011-09-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am slowly stripping down this space as part of my Align your Website work with Gwen Bell. If this is your first visit here, you won't even notice the change. If you haven't been here in a while, you wouldn't know that until this morning it looked like this:

unknown blanket project

2011-09-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

I started a knitting project this afternoon that may be a blanket. Or it may not be a blanket. I'm going to see what it wants to be as I knit along. It took me a couple attempts before I remembered how to cast-on and the process feels a bit awkward right now - not at all as effortless and meditative as I remember it being when I was knitting a lot a couple of years ago.

Let's file this one under in process.

2011-08-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

"Don't ask for free passes. If your friends won't pay to see you, who will?"

-Billy Vera quoting from an old sign backstage at the Apollo. (from www.billyvera.com)

before & after

2011-08-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

Work table- before (above) & after (below)

Ahhh - before and after.

There's a lot going on at the press and also in the rest of my life. I needed to make some space at my work table to think clearly, focus on the present project (moment) and just be able to get to work. Sometimes clutter is a boon to creativity, but recently it's been a burden. It had to go.

I'm feeling the same way about this blog. I want to change it to better reflect and share my different projects. So I have signed up for Gwen Bell's Align your Website program. Over the next 3 months I'll be looking at this space with prompts from Gwen. You'll see the changes as I work through them. But I will still be using this space for announcements about the shop, classes, fairs, gigs (yes, gigs!) and ...

So please pardon the dust and thanks for sticking around through the remodel!

a little personal inspiration

2011-08-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Thurston Moore (Blue and Silver)

A while back a friend of mine snapped a photo of a bumper sticker that read: What would Neil Young do? I told her my bumper sticker would read: What would Thurston Moore do? I thought about that comment during a bumpy patch last week and resolved to print up the slogan for myself. Oh, the joys of your own letterpress studio!

And I printed a couple extras for other Sonic Youth/Thurston Moore fans. You can find three different and very limited edition versions in my Etsy shop for $15 and free shipping.

Wishing you all a rockin' week!

palette inspiration

2011-08-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

These sheets of paper called to me from across the store yesterday. I am so inspired by the colors I painted my nails to match.

love you!

2011-08-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

This Much

Working on inventory for the International Printing Museum's Printer's Fair on October 1.

IN PROGRESS: Sunday, August 7

2011-08-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

In progress: coasters - Ukelele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere

Coptic Binding is back for 2011

2011-04-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open for the first Coptic Binding classes of 2011. I'll be teaching classes on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 from 1-4 PM at my studio in Koreatown. There is a 4 student limit on each classes and spaces fill quickly. Registration is available on a first-come-first-serve basis until May 18. I hope to see you in May!

Join the happy bookbinder club!

Case Binding class open for registration

2011-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

supplies for case binding

Happy 2011!

It's time to start making books again. This year my class calendar beings with Case Binding. This class covers the basics of bookbinding and working with adhesives. We make a model book for later reference when you are working alone and one quarter bound cloth and paper book. It's a lot of folding, sewing, and pasting, so I like to keep this class small.
I have two spots open on Saturday, February 26 and another two on Sunday, February 27.

Registration closes February 22.

Stay tuned for more class announcements including a Coptic Class at the International Printing Museum and a Paste Paper/Stab Binding class in June.

thanks for 4 years of support!

2010-12-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

I opened my little Etsy store four years ago today. It's been a wonderful experience and great exposure. As a thank you for all of the support I have gotten over those four years I am offering free shipping and 10% off all orders from today through December 31. Use this code at check out: 4YRTHANX

Best wishes for a very happy holiday! I will be back here in 2011.

final days of the Off the Mat Into the World Seva Challenge

2010-12-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

There are 10 more days to donate to the Off the Mat Into the World Seva Challenge for South Africa. I am offering two holiday cards in my shop to support Marianne Elliot's fund raising campaign. You can also donate directly through Marianne's ChipIn page.

Thanks so much for all of the support we've received already!

back from wandering

2010-12-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

I'm back from a gorgeous, snowy trip to Scotland. The shop is open again and soon to be updated with new work.

I will be setting my calendar for next year's classes. Please leave me a comment here if you have any requests.

the Seva Challenge continues: Hope & Love cards

2010-10-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

concentration...

The coptic bookbinding fundraiser class was a great success! I welcomed four very generous and enthusiastic students for a Sunday of paper folding, hole poking, fancy book sewing, and celebratory beer drinking. We raised $200 for the Off the Mat, Into the World Global Seva Challenge for South Africa! You can see more pictures from class here.

Successful students!

Now please indulge me as I remind you what a worthwhile program the Global Seva Challenge is because I am about to entice you to open your wallets again. Money raised for the Global Seva Challenge will support sustainable community based programs in South Africa. All of the funds will go to the Engage Network (the parent organization and 501(c)(3) of Off the Mat) to be distributed as follows (breakdown supplied by Off the Mat):

Direct Community Support: up to 80% of the funds raised will support creation and sustainability of partner projects in South Africa. You can learn more about the partners and projects through the following links:
EarthChild Project
Christel House South Africa: School Library
South African Whole Grain Bread Project
Gold Peer Education Development Agency
Linawo Children's Home
Baphumelele Halfway House

Seva Participant Travel for Tour: 5% support for air and ground travel, accommodations and trip facilitation for two weeks for each Bare Witness Tour participant.

OTM Administrative and Urban Seva Support: remaining funds support continued expansion and sustainability of the Urban Seva Project, as well as administrative support for all OTM programs and projects.

I am part of Marianne Elliott’s fundraising team. Marianne is a writer, human rights advocate, yoga teacher and the Regional Leader for Off the Mat New Zealand and Australia. All of my efforts directly support her goal to raise $20,000 by December 15. If she reaches her goal she will join Off the Mat, Into the World founders Seane Corn and Suzanne Sterling on the Bare Witness Humanitarian Tour in South Africa. I could summarize her reasons for accepting this challenge, but she can do it better herself

Love is the Key card for the Seva Challenge

With seven weeks left we still have $4000 left to raise. So to continue my fundraising efforts I am offering two of my letterpress cards to support the challenge. From now until December 14 I will donate $3 for every purchase of Love is the key (above) or Hope (below). Each card is letterpress printed on a 1920s Chandler & Price Pilot press on recycled paper. The text is hand set in vintage metal type. My press is entirely human-powered so cards may show slight variations in inking. The sentiments are simple and the inside is blank for your own words.

Hope card for the Seva Challenge

You can also support the Seva Challenge by donating via Marianne's ChipIn page. You can find that link on my blog's sidebar.

Thank you for all of your support!

something old & something new

2010-10-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

That was my table at last Saturday's mini book fair at the printing symposium at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. I showed prints instead of books since prints have been my focus for the last few years. There are two new prints in the minimal music series, Cowboy and Sailor, which are inspired by research I've been doing for broadsides of cowboy songs and sea shanties. These two prints, plus one more called Sound Check, should be in my shop soon. Well, as soon as there is good light for photography.

The symposium at the Clark focused on the tradition of literary printing in California. There were papers on William Everson, institutional letterpress programs, and the Woman's Building to name a few. Brian Kim Stefans wrapped up the day with a talk on conceptual writing and Los Angeles which was an excellent segue into the mini book fair. Follow these links to check out some of the small presses in attendance: Make Now, Le Figues, Eohippus.

Sunday session of Coptic Book Fundraiser now open!

2010-10-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

Coptic Book Fall 2009 by Jenny Ryan

I am opening up another session of my Coptic Bookbinding Fundraiser class on Sunday, October 24 from 11AM-2PM. Class registration is by donation and 100% of the funds go to the Off The Mat, Into the World Global Seva: South Africa. You can read more about the fundraising challenge here. You can sign up for the class here.

I hope you will join me to support these programs!

seeing red

2010-10-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is the face of a printer up too late proofing a new print with red ink.

Bookbinding fundraiser: coptic binding for a cause

2010-09-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

I am offering a special donation-based session of my coptic bookbinding class on Saturday, October 23 as part of a team effort to raise $20,000 for the Off the Mat, Into the World Global Seva Challenge for South Africa by December 15.

According to statistics from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) an estimated 5.7 million people in South Africa are living with HIV, roughly 12% of the population, and more than 1.4 million children have lost one or both parents to the epidemic.
Money raised for the Global Seva Challenge will support sustainable community based programs in the region. All of the funds will go to the Engage Network (the parent organization and 501(c)(3) of Off the Mat) to be distributed as follows (breakdown supplied by Off the Mat):

Direct Community Support: up to 80% of the funds raised will support creation and sustainability of partner projects in South Africa. You can learn more about the partners and projects through the following links:
EarthChild Project
Christel House South Africa: School Library
South African Whole Grain Bread Project
Gold Peer Education Development Agency
Linawo Children's Home
Baphumelele Halfway House

Seva Participant Travel for Tour: 5% support for air and ground travel, accommodations and trip facilitation for two weeks for each Bare Witness Tour participant.
OTM Administrative and Urban Seva Support: remaining funds support continued expansion and sustainability of the Urban Seva Project, as well as administrative support for all OTM programs and projects.

Money raised by my coptic bookbinding class will directly support Marianne Elliott’s fundraising challenge. Marianne is a writer, human rights advocate, yoga teacher and the Regional Leader for Off the Mat New Zealand and Australia. Her fundraising goal is $20,000 and if she reaches it she will join Off the Mat, Into the World founders Seane Corn and Suzanne Sterling on the Bare Witness Humanitarian Tour in South Africa. I could summarize her reasons for accepting this challenge, but she can do it better herself.

Why have I taken on a small part in this challenge? Because I believe in Off the Mat, Into the World’s holistic approach to activism. They view the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa as a complex issue requiring a “multi-dimensional response”, hence the support of peer education programs, housing and support programs for affected children and young adults, and my personal favorite, a school library. And I believe in Marianne’s purpose “to support and motivate others to find and own their own authentic place in the world and their own unique way to serve the world.”

My quest for my authentic place has brought me here: a pay-what-you-can bookbinding class.
Teaching bookbinding is one of the things I do that I can share with you. I know that there is magic in making something by hand and I believe that there is magic when people join together to help others in whatever way they can.

You can find information about the coptic class and the all-important donation button here.
If you would like to donate without the pesky learnin’, please use the ChipIn widget in the sidebar.

Many thanks for your support and good thoughts!

Someone's napping, but it's not me

2010-09-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

It may have been quiet here for the last month, but I haven't been napping. Nope. I've been experimenting with the idea that the busier I am, the more I get done. So, I've been saying yes to all the good things that have come down my path recently.

1. I am working on a book collaboration with the incredible and inspiring Christine Nguyen.
2. I am prepping for a symposium on independent and literary presses in California at the William Andrews Clark Library.
3. I am working on the preliminary program planning for the 2011 American Printing History Association conference.
4. I am organizing a special fundraising session of my coptic bookbinding class.
5. I am planning a trip to Scotland!

And going to work and doing laundry and getting cat food and seeing friends and going to concerts and doing yoga and playing guitar and on and on and on with daily life.

I've never been so tired.
I've never been so excited to see what's coming next.

Stay tuned for a very special announcement where you get a chance to learn a new skill and support a good cause.

Stab Binding Class

2010-08-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Stab Bound book class is now open for registration! Come on over and learn how to make three different Japanese stab bindings.
Paper, thread and power tools = bookbinding fun.

Love Your Neighbor

2010-08-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few months back I posted about Lift Up Nashville and the lovely work you could buy to support flood relief in Nashville, Tennessee. I got the Ty Mattson print above which is currently auditioning for its place on my bedroom wall - the wall I share with a neighbor.

Now Pakistan can use any support you can muster. I diverted my usual Kiva donation to Oxfam this month, so if you've bought anything from my Etsy shop recently or signed up for the Case Binding class next weekend a percentage of your money went to Oxfam's Pakistan Flood Relief.

If you've ever wondered about the effectiveness of aid at home or abroad I suggest reading Zen of giving and receiving. Yes, there is a Buddhist flavor, but I hope that won't scare you away from a thought-provoking post with excellent links that take you deeper into the subject.

And now back to posts about buying carpet tiles for my new studio and how to protect the walls from ink splatter...

Friday: work in progress

2010-08-06T14:20:00.001-07:00

reprint in progress, originally uploaded by Clementine Press.

'Hit Song' in production.
Phase One: typesetting.

Hit Song

2010-08-03T10:48:00.000-07:00


Reinventing Letterpress by Charlotte Rivers

I'm thrilled to be included in Reinventing Letterpress by British design writer Charlotte Rivers. It's a wonderful book filled with work from printers around the world. Letterpress printers are doing inspiring work with this "dying" technology.

The book will be released in the US later this month by Chronicle Books under the title Little Book of Letterpress. To celebrate the US publication I am printing a special edition of Hit Song, one of the works featured in the book.


Hit Song by Clementine Press

This is without a doubt the most popular print I've ever done. I print it on my Showcard Signcard proof press on opalescent cover stock. The text is hand-set wood type in black and red. The type is hand-inked with a brayer with both colors printed in one run, sometimes resulting in interesting ink bleeds between the black and red. No two prints are exactly alike with these slight variations in inking throughout the run.

I'll be printing this special edition throughout August and shipping out orders on Saturdays.

the studio project

2010-07-29T09:39:00.000-07:00


the new studio

I recently moved. It wasn't a big move - just across the garden into an apartment with some of the same charming features as my cozy little studio. But it was a big move because I gained a lot more space. Now I have room to teach and a dedicated press space!

I thought I'd share pictures and ideas here as I settle into my new printing studio. As you can probably tell from the photo, it's a little sterile and unorganized right now. The bicycle has been moved, but there is still a lot to do. I'm thinking about Flor carpet tiles and paper storage and inspiration wires and type cabinets and shelves and pegboards.

If you have any tips or suggestions I'd love to hear them. And I hope you'll follow along as the space transforms.

Case Binding

2010-07-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

The August 21 Case Binding class is open for registration. Join me for a fun day of paper and glue in Koreatown.

I heart Home Ec.

2010-07-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

coptic binding models

On Saturday I'm teaching my final class at Home Ec. in Silverlake. I would like to thank Jenny Ryan for asking me if I wanted to teach in her inspiring space. She created a wonderful environment to teach and to learn. I will miss the brick-and-mortar shop on Sunset Blvd, but I am really looking forward to Jenny's future projects!

So, this weekend I will end my tenure at Home Ec. where I began with a coptic class. But over the course of the past year I learned that I really like teaching bookbinding, so I will continue teaching to small groups in my own space. I will offer the three classes I taught at Home Ec: coptic, stab binding and case binding. Stay tuned for all the details on dates and registration.

therellbetypos

2010-07-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

A print of my tweet submission to Harley Peddie's therellbetypos twitter/letterpress event came in the mail last month. I like how it turned out and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the prints.

Lift up Nashville

2010-05-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

I took a vacation in Tennessee a couple years ago - a big road trip from Knoxville to Chattanooga to Memphis to Nashville to Gatlinburg back to Knoxville. It was a spectacular trip. Graceland! Sun Studio! Jack Daniels Distillery! One of the highlights for me was a visit to Hatch Show Print in Nashville. I am so happy to hear that Hatch has been one of the fortunate places not damaged in Nashville's recent flooding. I still dream of one day packing up my life for a couple months and doing a printing internship there. Can you imagine having that wall of poster type at your disposal?

If you would like to help those less fortunate than Hatch Show Print you can buy one of the terrific prints from Lift Up Nashville. All funds go to Flood Relief - Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund.
They are accepting design donations, too, if you're so inclined.

sketches

2010-04-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

The blog has been quiet but the studio has been humming with printing and project planning. Today I worked on some "sketches" for a furniture print project.

You can see the whole sketchbook here.

and now on tumblr

2010-03-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

I succumbed to the iPhone this weekend and it has already revitalized my under utilized tumblr account. Now I'll be using it as my mobile blog, uploading iPhone pics of inspiring stuff I see around town. Yesterday, I posted some pics of a couple favorite signs I walk by on my way to the post office. You can follow me at clementinepress.tumblr.com. There's a link in my sidebar, too.

Blog it Forward: Inspiration

2010-03-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hi - and if this is your first visit here - welcome! Clementine Press is a letterpress studio in Los Angeles. I share what I'm working on, what I'm thinking about, and what inspires me here a few times a week. Today, I'm going for the big inspiration picture as part of the Blog It Forward mashup. My first draft for this post was... well, it was a shorter than War and Peace, but not by much. So, I did some editing and I'm only focusing on my top 3 inspirations here.

Inspiration #1: the tools of my trade

1.Chandler & Price Pilot press 2. vintage type
3.type and hand-inked press furniture 4. ink

I love every part of the letterpress process. I love my presses, the way they look and sound, the way they inspire me to play within a fairly rigid system of rectangles and squares. I love the meditative quality of setting type and the miracle of pulling a first proof. I love the hiss of the brayer rolling out ink fresh from a can. And I love the progression of unique multiples, each slightly different than the one before and after.

Inspiration #2: informational graphics

Robert Fludd

from Visual Telling of Stories

from Bilder vom Menschen 1931

Some of my greatest visual inspiration comes from informational graphics: scientific illustrations, statistical charts and graphs, cosmological diagrams. It's inspiring to see the graphic solutions illustrators and designers have used over the years to make complex (and sometimes not so complex) systems understandable.

Inspiration #3: creative risk

Bob Dylan goes electric at Newport Folk Festival 1965

I'm a voracious biography reader. I'm fascinated by moments of risk, especially creative risk. I think I read biographies and watch documentaries to find that single moment where a corner is turned, a dream takes flight, something is risked. Of course, in reality it's not one single moment but a succession of choices, some large, some small, that forge a creative identity. But I'll still keep reading and watching and listening to tap into that spark.

Thanks to Clementine for leading the way for me yesterday. Today, I'm sharing the inspiration spotlight with automatism, Evenstar Art, Jennifer Squires, Making it Lovely, Old Sweet Song, Rearranged Design, Sass, the Parenting Myth, Where the Lovely Things Are.
Tomorrow don't forget to check in with Coeur de La as she shares her inspiration.

old meets new

2010-03-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hello there - I took a little blog break to refresh and renew, but I'm back to regular posting again.
And tomorrow I'll be here with my Blog It Forward inspiration post.

I'm so interested in the outcome of the therellbetypos project. On February 4, Harley Peddie launched "the world's first crowd sourced letterpress project" using twitter submissions as copy for a letterpress book. I've been noticing more and more letterpress projects inspired by 21st century themes, like twitter and texting. One of my favorite recent examples is the print series In Other Words by Patrycja Zywert. Using letterpress and silkscreen, she looked at the descriptive limits of LOL, BTW, IMO and OMG with interesting typographic results.

sunday picture: beloved work apron

2010-02-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

My apron served me well this week keeping me paste-free while I taught bookbinding and ink-free while printing and filming at the press.

a little creative experiment

2010-02-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

printing sunshine from Richenda Brim on Vimeo.

A little fun in the studio with my camera, but still so much to learn.
I think there'll be more of this going on.

beyond paper cranes

2010-02-19T16:52:00.000-08:00

"The process of making is the point of it. The object looks good if the process felt good."

- quote and image from the documentary Between the Folds

This recommendation is a tad frustrating because I found out about this documentary from one of the inspiration posts by sfgirlbybay's blog it forward group, but I can't remember which blog it was. *sigh* If I remember I will let you know, but my sincere thanks to that blogger because this is a wonderful film. There are some nice thoughts about process that I think apply to every art and craft. And some really awe-inspiring work.

sunshine!

2010-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Sunshine now available in my shop.

a little wear can be a beautiful thing

2010-02-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is my piece for a letterpress coaster swap coordinated by Cat at Visual Chemist. I want this to be a year of collaboration and connection in the letterpress and bookarts communities and a swap felt like a good way to start off. My coaster design was part of an experiment masking off a shape on press furniture. It took a couple tries before I settled on parchment paper as an appropriate masking material. I'm happy with how these turned out. I like the strong outline of ink. And I especially like the scars.

I'm looking forward to my package of coasters! And thanks to Cat for handling the swap.

2010-02-14T17:34:00.000-08:00

This week's picture is a screengrab of the February 11 Etsy Finds column. On a coffee break I took a look at my store statistics and found a surprising number of hits - in one morning I had more visits than I had in the entire last month. Then I found out my Books print (bottom left) was in a library-themed Etsy Finds email. I had been working on ways to advertise my shop more. And I also just put it out to the universe, turned it over, made a wish: bring buyers to my shop. Sometimes even I cringe at my cheesy-dreamy nature, but sometimes the universe answers. So, I say, make a wish. Ask the universe for help and you never know what may happen.

Oh, and make sure you tag, tag, tag all the items in your Etsy shop. ;)

2010-02-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

Out in the garden after the rain.

blog it forward

2010-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

badge by ez from creature comforts

Victoria, aka sfgirlbybay, has proposed a "blogging mashup" beginning February 10. She's picked "what inspires us most" for the theme and since that feels like exactly what I want to be sharing about here, I decided to join up. So stay tuned. It should be an interesting experiment.

2010-01-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

I've seen the rainbow spot in the clouds a couple times in the past month.

I was finally able to get a shot of it this week.

Can you see it?

This week I also got a shot of another elusive sighting: the guy with the light bike!

It's a terrible shot since I was on the bus and he was riding down the street, but you can probably imagine the spectacular light display on this guy's bicycle. It makes me smile every time.

printing & binding

2010-01-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

ideas in ink

If you're interested in the nitty-gritty of printing, including inks, paper and tools, you should check out PrintSpecs, a new blog from the talented lady behind jezze.

If you are interested in bookbinding, you should sign up for my February class at Home Ec Shop.

what's your metaphor?

2010-01-26T10:52:00.000-08:00

Books - available here

I recently hung a version of this print over my desk to honor the fact that one of my major life metaphors has changed - changed for the better, I feel.

My metaphor used to be juggling. I was juggling my professional life, my creative life, my social life. I was juggling a lot of balls and nothing could drop. Dropping anything would mean Failure. Dropping anything meant I would never be able to pick it up again, as if it was paper dropping into lava, instantly irretrievable.

Wants turned into shoulds at an alarming rate. Yes, I wanted to play guitar more. Yes, I wanted to spend more unstructured time at my press. But then I started telling myself I should be playing guitar everyday. I should be logging 8 hours a week at my press. Oh, and this all had to happen in addition to a full-time job and the necessities of health, hygiene, nutrition, and rest. The only thing I was creating was a giant ball of anxiety.

I was shoulding all over myself.

Well, it's taken some work and many conversations with wise people, but somewhere along the line my metaphor changed. Now, instead of juggling, I am shelving (an apt metaphor for a librarian.) My projects and creative plans are waiting for me, safely stored away until I have the time, space, and energy to take them off the shelf, dust them off, and dive in. There's no rush.

Do you have a metaphor? Is it working for you or against you?

2010-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

coming home from Camarillo

Reanimation Library

2010-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Do you know about the Reanimation Library in Brooklyn, NY? I've been thinking about the collection a lot lately, browsing the online catalog, and dreaming of a weekend trip to comb through the shelves for a possible art project. That's a big dream for this year, one of those if-a-bag-of-money-falls-out-of-the-sky dreams. (Or if I get a nice tax refund.)

The library's mission is "to assemble an inspiring collection of resources that will facilitate the production of new creative work and promote reflection and research into the historical, legal, and methodological questions surrounding the adaptive reuse of found materials. It strives to provide the necessary space and tools to allow these activities to flourish, and to foster a climate of spirited collaboration."

Here are just a few of the many intriguing titles:
The Curious Gerbils: a booklet for caring for them
Exhibiting Poultry for Pleasure and Profit
Far Out Factories: manufacturing in space
How do they get rid of it? (about pollution, refuse and refuse disposal, of course)
Nature's Way: how nature takes care of it's own
Potato Diseases (I don't know why, but that title makes me a little sad. Poor diseased potatoes.)
Sex Lives of Animals without Backbones

And I didn't even list my favorite titles.

You can learn more here. Go ahead and click. You won't be sorry.

understanding the short cuts

2010-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

book innards: text block sewn on linen tapes

I'm prepping for two new bookbinding classes at Home Ec Shop and thinking a lot about my working methods in the process. I'm especially sensitive to the whos, whys, and hows in my work. Who taught me to do it this way? Why do I do it this way instead of another way? Why do I prefer this thread, that paper, this tool? How did I originally do this before learning this shortcut? I want to share the shortcuts, of course, but I want to teach the full process. I want the students to work from the foundation of the craft. I want them to walk out feeling comfortable enough to find their own working methods. In this way I feel I honor my teachers and their shared wisdom. Having a shortcut or two is just a little extra gravy.

2010-01-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

the sunday picture is the image that I feel sums up my week best...
this week an image from my paper stash.

"It might get loud"

2010-01-14T22:37:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Page playing air guitar in his awesome music room. Screenshot from It Might Get Loud.

I scribbled down some quotes from It Might Get Loud. For the most part they are the same old sentiments that get me every time an artist talks about their work. But they resonate for a reason whether you're a musician, a printer, a writer, a designer ...

"The thrill was just being able to do it even if you did it badly." - the Edge

"Passion. Honesty. Competence." - Jimmy Page

"Sometimes I come in here and its not a great day, but there's always going to be something if you keep going." - the Edge

"We're all doing the same thing: attempting to share something with another human being." - Jack White

connect & share

2010-01-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Over the next 5 weeks I am indulging in the Mondo Beyondo experience. I'll be sharing some of the assignments here ... with you ... in public ...

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Over the past who-knows-how-many blog reading years I've been inspired by quite a few women who have been willing to share their stories, their work, their passions and their dreams with an unseen audience.

I've read along (and in many cases lurked) as their lives opened to allow their passions and dreams to take root and bud. It has been enormously inspiring to follow along as they embraced the opportunities at hand and trusted where those opportunities would lead. I'm sure that on the other side of the blog(s) there were doubts, second-thoughts and "why-me" moments, but I am so grateful to all of these women for having the courage to share along the way.

I admire their willingness. It takes to courage to share your life, no matter how edited, in a public forum. I am grateful for their courageous example.

I would like to thank 3 in particular with links to their latest online manifestations:
Marianne Elliot
Emily Ho
Eireann Lorsung

out with the old...

2010-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

and in with the new.

I'm talking about kitchen curtains as much as the new decade. My friend Shauna and her boyfriend screenprinted fantastical creatures on flour sack towels as gifts this year. I absolutely LOVE them and was thrilled when I realized they are the perfect size for my kitchen windows.

Isn't it lovely how the light filters through them? At night you can see them from outside the kitchen windows, too. Magical.

And I can dry my hands on them!

moving forward

2010-01-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

In honor of the arrival of my new gorgeous little camera, here is a recent picture taken with the dying camera. Thank you old friend. You were so good to me for so long. This is a shot of work at the press last weekend.

Something old up there and something new ...
I'm looking forward to posting pictures of the new work here and in my shop very soon.

option paralysis over!

2010-01-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

I finally decided on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 to replace my dead Canon Powershot. It's not the dslr that I wanted, but it's a darn nice point-and-shoot. And this means new photo posts for the blog again. Including a new Valentine's card...

Yippee!

Thank you 2009! pt.1

2009-12-18T00:59:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite things from the past year -- excellent ukulele + beastie boys = LOVE.

But seriously, this is an inspired and beautifully realized cover for the uke. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.
Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun: recorded original & ukulele cover.

tea

2009-12-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Image from Wikimedia Commons

I had been intending to write a couple of posts this month prompted by Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 project. But the days kept passing and I got further and further behind. But tonight, reading all of the posts on tea, waiting for my own cup to steep, I realized that this tea was a new 2009 habit. This was the year I discovered the beauty of valerian tea (or is it a tisane?) courtesy of my acupuncturist. It's now a staple in my pantry. I like how it softens my mind in preparation for sleep instead of dropping me into a dreamless void like a sleeping pill. And I enjoy the smoky, earthy flavor.

I think I'll sip this cup right now.

Good night.

Happy Holidays my dears

2009-12-06T14:27:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays my dears, originally uploaded by Clementine Press.

Handmade gifting

2009-11-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

Nothing makes me happier than making gifts for my loved ones. In past years I've knitted scarves, made books, chutney, marmalade and cookies. Of course, the making doesn't always happen the way I plan it out in the late summer. Y'know ... life gets in the way, fingers get burnt and I usually get a late-ish start. But I thought I'd share a few handmade gift-making and gift-giving sources of my own.

If you're as ambitious as I can be during this time of the year, you might want to learn a new skill for gift-making. My two favorite places to take classes in Los Angeles are: Home Ec Shop and
Machine Project. I've taken crochet at Home Ec and sewing at Machine Project and both places always have interesting offerings on their calenders (including a couple of my own classes at Home Ec.)

I would definitely take classes at The Workroom in Toronto, CA if I lived in that part of the world. That zippered pouch class would be #1 on my to-do list.

If you're not in Los Angeles or Toronto there are so many good tutorials and patterns online. My go-to site for knitting and sewing ideas is The Purl Bee blog from Purl Soho.

And, finally, if you're more realistic than I usually am, you can always support handmade shops for your gift giving needs. Jan at Poppytalk has a great list of deals for Cyber Monday. But even if you've missed out on the deals, Jan's post is still an excellent jumping off point for all the handmade goodness you can find on Etsy and Big Cartel.

work stoppage

2009-11-19T13:12:00.001-08:00

IMG_1829.JPG, originally uploaded by Clementine Press.

Life seems to be forcing me to slow down and reflect. First my camera dies right as I start planning to crank out new work for the holidays. I decide instead to not rush out cards this season. I realize I can take the season off.

Then I get a cold. No problem a cold is a cold. I continue to slowly prep for my first bookbinding class, write blog posts for NaBloPoMo, and plan handmade gifts.

Then I burn my fingers. Big problem I think. But everything is healing nicely and I learn something about myself in the process. I gain some clarity on the direction I would like to take with my creative life.

Now I am sick AGAIN. I couldn't keep up with my daily blog posting (though I learned something about planning out the posts for frequency). I've missed work and a concert I had been looking forward to ... but there is probably a lesson here, too.

I keep going back to my notion that something is shifting. The grace to let that shift happen, to trust in the current and flow of life, is truly a challenge. I feel as if I've been forced, gently, to slow down over the last month. I keep thinking I've figured something out and I want to act on the new knowledge. Then something happens that holds me back again and the lesson gets a little deeper.

I think I can trust this. I think. I can.

a wee class announcement

2009-11-16T22:15:00.001-08:00

Bookbinding Class, originally uploaded by Mrs. Jenny Ryan.

I'll be teaching two classes at Home Ec next month: bookbinding on December 3 and Paste Paper on December 8. You can see examples of both in this picture from the November 11 bookbinding class. Both the books are exposed spine coptic bindings. The one in the upper corner with the wavy lines has a paste paper cover.

I'll give so more history on paste paper after I recover from an excellent birthday weekend.

Photo booth #2

2009-11-15T13:20:00.001-08:00

against the stream

2009-11-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

This time last week I was at a day-long meditation retreat sponsored by Against the Stream. It was a great experience to practice awareness for so many concentrated hours, especially since I am contemplating some longer retreats in the future. I never feel better than when I follow a disciplined meditation practice. That is not to say that I feel complete happiness and joy. Not at all. But I do feel more connected to my life, more aware of the path before me and more trusting that things are happening just as they should. Ah, acceptance. It is a beautiful thing.

the weekend ahead ...

2009-11-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is birthday weekend!
Saturday: Don't know. The evening festivities have been planned by my friends. (See previous post about how I know I have the best friends in the galaxy.)
Sunday: Vegas baby!
Monday: wake up for actual birthday in Vegas (baby)!

Last year on my birthday I did Felt Club. Friends dropped by and brought me cupcakes, cake in a jar (awesome!) and presents. Plus I was at Felt Club which is always fun.

This is the first year that I haven't planned the hell out of the celebration myself, which is interesting considering this is one of those BIG birthdays. For the first time since I was a kid, I let the planning go and my friends took over. I can't wait to see what my weekend holds.

Bookbinding Class

2009-11-12T19:47:00.001-08:00

Bookbinding Class, originally uploaded by Mrs. Jenny Ryan.

Last night's bookbinding class was a complete joy. Six students learned how to wrap boards, prep a textblock, and sew in one 3-hour session. And just look at those lovely handmade books!

I can't wait until December 3rd to do it all over again.

healing

2009-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

2-3 weeks to go

and yet another add to the wish list ...

2009-11-11T16:03:00.000-08:00

Papa's Boxes

what I learned from some 2cd degree burns

2009-11-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday night I burnt my fingers taking a pan out of the oven. It hurt, but thankfully it happened right before friends came over for dinner. Bless them! They tended to my wounds and my worrying. They finished the little bit of prep and served themselves and me. Then they gently teased me.

And me? I took some ibuprofen, drank a glass of wine and got really bummed about my Wednesday night bookbinding class. Really. Bummed. Sitting there with aching fingers I saw no way I could finish the class preparations and do sewing demonstrations. Postponing the class seemed to be the only choice, despite my friends giving me other options, like accepting help with the preparations, or re-evaluating my class structure, or (heaven forbid) just waiting to see how I felt in 24 hours.

Well, here am I typing very slowly to tell you that 48 hours later I think this will turn out to be a valuable teaching lesson. I've come face to face with my desire to show off my skills and realized that showing off skills isn't the same thing as teaching. Tomorrow isn't about me demonstrating what an excellent bookbinder I am. Tomorrow is about me allowing others to discover their own bookbinding awesomeness. The lovely Jenny Ryan will be my hands and I will shift my focus to supporting the students as they learn a new skill, instead of just showing them how to do it.

I wish it hadn't been such a painful lesson, but I think in the end it will make me an infinitely better teacher.

p.s. I already knew I had the most wonderful friends. EVER.

healing means little typing

2009-11-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Dinner was delicious and fun last night, but it came at the expense of my left thumb and index finger. I won't go into detail, but I'm nursing some burn wounds. Typing at a minimum for the moment. Still not sure how I'll do the demos for the bookbinding class on Wednesday, but I trust that it will all work.

Think good thoughts for speeding finger healing - especially the index finger.

Sunday dinner #1

2009-11-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm about to embark on the first installment of the great Sunday dinner experiment: 4 friends, one roast chicken, warm butternut squash and chickpea salad, green beans, and a blueberry tart. The chicken and butternut squash recipes are courtesy of the Smitten Kitchen. The blueberry tart is courtesy of the Trader Joe's frozen section because I'm not crazy enough to make dessert from scratch, too - and I'm already a pretty confident baker.

Tonight I will definitely be drinking a glass of wine to my first sold-out bookbinding class at Home Ec., my first day-long meditation retreat, and my first full week of posting here.

Cheers to you, too. Hope you're having a lovely and restful evening.

printing on fabric

2009-11-07T08:00:00.001-08:00

...that's what is in my head a lot these days: printing on fabric. I have been so inspired by Lena Corwin's book Printing by Hand & of course Lotta Jansdotter's fabrics and books. But lately I've been most inspired by two of my favorite bloggers Mizu Designs and Jezze. I've done a little bit of printing on fabric myself, but I think there's more to do. I brought home two books from work this weekend (oh, the joy's of working in an art library): Textiles: A handbook for designers & Surface Design for Fabric. I've devoured both of them when I should have been focusing on some other stuff. And I'm quite excited about an upcoming fabric stamping class at Home Ec.

(But honestly, right now all I really care about is getting some of Jezze's beautiful cream pattern ladies fabric as soon as she posts it in her Etsy shop.)

and now for a few suggestions ...

2009-11-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Inspiring! Make Something: the blog from the Workroom in Toronto, Canada which looks like an awesome place to take a class and reminds me of my friend Jenny's beautiful little place Home Ec.
Word fun! All sorts: Collective nouns submitted on twitter #collectivenouns
Dangerous! Wishpot: online wishlist that sends you an email when something goes on sale

So you go check those out while I prep for my bookbinding class and plan my Sunday dinner. We can talk about them later. And tell me yours, please and thank you.

photo booth #1

2009-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I dig the way the print on my dress looks with this effect!

shop updates

2009-11-04T08:00:00.001-08:00

'Tis the season, so I'm updating the shop with holiday cards.
These are some favorites from previous years that I still have in the inventory.

Both of these and a couple more can be found right here.

so far

2009-11-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

2006

2009

Three years ago I started making limited edition prints on my Showcard Signcard proof press. At that time it was the playful side project to my small but growing commission workload. Earlier this year I stopped taking commission work and decided to just print "for myself." Now I know what I could only sense back in February. My creative work is in flux, shifting. I don't know where. Or what. Or how. But I do know that it takes some patience and faith to just sit back and let the energy move where it needs to move.

Today it's nice to look back and see where I've been as I wait to see where I'm going to next.

the kitchen project

2009-11-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is an outtake from my Design*Sponge Sneak Peek earlier this year. I love the pink counters and black and white tile floors in my kitchen. But this post isn't about my cute kitchen. It's about my goal to do more cooking in my cute kitchen. I want to become a more confident cook, so I figure the best thing to do is COOK MORE, especially for other people. This week I'm planning the first of I hope many small Sunday dinners at my place. But I'll write more about that later.

Today I made homemade hummus. It's delicious and ridiculously simple to make. I can't remember where I got the recipe from, but I thought I'd share it here. All you need is a blender or a food processor and ...

4 cloves garlic - minced then mashed

2 15 oz cans of chickpeas, drained & rinsed

2/3 cup roasted tahini

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

Blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, water and olive oil until smooth. Add salt to taste.

This recipe is supposed to make 3 cups of hummus, but I usually end up with at least 5 cups. I don't know why, but that's the truth. Lately I've just been making a small weekly batch using about half a can of chickpeas and all the other ingredients to taste. Luckily, hummus is pretty forgiving.

Happy November!

2009-11-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

November is shaping up to be a busy month. I've got a couple trips planned, a day-long meditation retreat, and the first of what I hope are regular Sunday dinners at my place. On top of that I'll be teaching bookbinding at Home Ec. in Silver Lake on November 11. The class has already started filling up, so get a place now if you are interested in learning how to make a non-adhesive journal in the coptic style. Jenny from Home Ec. took the picture above of the journal she made a couple weeks ago.

And I almost forgot! I've signed up for NaBloPoMo aka National Blog Posting Month. Let's see if I can actually post to my blog every day in November. This should be an especially challenging task since my camera has died.

life's a glitch

2009-10-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you make the best of a crappy situation and it turns out beautiful.
You can follow the slow death of my camera here.

official update

2009-10-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Camera is officially dead. Brain is officially fried. There's a whole lot going on, but nothing to officially announce yet.

first things first

2009-10-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Here's another picture from my recent vacation - a little snippet of Gaudi's stunning Parc Guell.

Back at home I've been so inspired by the fabric printing and sewing projects at mizu designs and jezze. I've been wanting to do more printing on fabric since my experience last year with screenprinting. Experimenting with printing type on fabric is on the project list, but the list is long. Not getting overwhelmed by my project list is definitely a challenge for me, but I'm trying to be realistic and practice the principle of 'first things first'. Today I really wanted to sketch out some designs, play with some wood type on fabric, but instead I took care of the pending projects (planning for my upcoming bookbinding class!) and made space to play around at the press later this week.

All in all this was an excellent weekend filled with friends and reading and bike riding and lovely fall weather. And now I read that we're expecting rain - yippee!

glitch #13

2009-10-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

I took the summer off from crafting and printing and generally doing anything other than just living and working. Now I can honestly say that I feel refreshed.

I've returned from an excellent vacation in Barcelona and Paris. I love traveling but not just for the sightseeing and inspiration and food. Traveling also helps me appreciate the simple beauty of everyday life, of routine. I am honestly looking forward to going back to work on Monday to dive into the next part of a big project. I am looking forward to my return to guitar lessons. I'm looking forward to my morning yoga and meditation routine (which sadly floundered while in Europe.) I'm looking forward to riding my bike around town. I'm looking forward to new press work, to teaching some classes at Home Ec., to my sewing, crochet, and knitting projects, to my cadavre exquis collaboration.

I feel revived. And most importantly I feel like sharing.

latest Kiva loan

2009-07-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I started earmarking %10 of every Etsy sale for a Kiva loan. I just made the third loan today to Griva Ex.

Score!

2009-07-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

One of my errands today was a trip to my local library to return Extremely Close & Incredibly Loud (which I loved - highly recommend), pick up some holds (looking forward to reading Outlander), and get information on becoming an adult literacy tutor. As a bonus, I picked up this little booktruck that was sitting in the lobby with a Free sign. I rolled it the short distance home and now I just need to figure out where the hell to put it. If you caught my Sneak Peek on Design*Sponge you know my place is, um, cozy.

I love the Science & Tech #13 plaque, too.

long holiday weekend

2009-07-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

yes:
sleeping in way too late everyday
lunch with friends
experiments at machine project
bbq
fireworks
hanging out with babies
reading
dvds
Up in 3D at El Capitan
popcorn & a black and white malt
picture taking

no:
work on projects of any kind whatsoever
no housework
no guilt

acceptance

2009-07-05T11:12:00.001-07:00

My camera is dying, but I've decided to embrace the possibilities.
I hope all of my American friends are having an excellent holiday weekend!

the weekend (dream) to-do list

2009-06-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling ambitious as this weekend begins. We'll see what runs out first: my time, my energy, or my money.
Here's what I'd like to do:

Get a haircut.
Work on the next part of my cloud series for submission to the Em Space Book Arts Center Juried Show. (That's the first part of the cloud series above.)
Use this pattern to make a seersucker skirt for summer. I already have the fabric, so I'm half way there.
See Moon.
Visit the Annenberg Space for Photography.
Pick up some sport-weight yarn and start these crochet potholders.
Watch some Sopranos season 4.
Play some guitar.

Not to mention some chores and errands and some long-overdue chats with friends.

Hope you have a relaxing and/or productive weekend!

Project Day

2009-06-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was project day and I decided to finally use some linen fabric that I screen-printed LAST FALL to make a little pillow. I printed some canvas with this guitar design, too, and I fully intend to make some bags for the shop ... sometime.

We are going through our annual June Gloom in LA, so it was pretty dark in my usually sunny apartment yesterday morning. But Dexter helped me with the sewing set-up.

The pillow turned out pretty cute. I didn't have enough pink linen for both sides, so I used some blue and green scrap linen for the back. I think next time I'll try and envelop style case.

Today I'm off for wine tasting and birthday celebrations. Hope you all have a happy Flag Day!

redirecting energy

2009-05-21T11:05:00.001-07:00

the Danalectro, originally uploaded by Clementine Press.

Lately, when I start to stress out or obsess about something I have no control over I visualize all the notes on the fret board in 4-fret chunks.

splurge!

2009-05-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

I had a little fabric splurge yesterday in the awesome Home Ec. section of Reform School.
I plan on making a sack for my ukulele with the vintage brown floral fabric. And I could not pass up the seahorses. I'm not quite sure what that will become yet, but I'm happy just knowing it is stashed away.

Tonight I'm working on more Combo prints for my table at Poppytalk Handmade.
Be sure to stop by and check out all the art and paper goodies for this month's Paper Pops show.

pilot press in Duran Duran video

2009-03-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Watch for what I can only assume is a C&P Pilot press (just like mine!) at the 1:26 mark.

Kiva donation

2009-02-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

I've decided to donate 10% of my press earnings every month to a Kiva loan. I'll make up the difference (up to the $25 minimum) during the leaner sales months.
You can check out Kiva and the January donation from the link in my sidebar.

ETA: The Kiva badge is proving unreliable. I've added a direct link to my lender page under the Kiva label instead.

goodbye little yellow print

2009-02-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

Combo no.1 (yellow/black)

I just packed this print up for shipment tomorrow. It's a bittersweet sale because I really love this one and considered not putting it in my shop. Truth be told this was one of those happy creative moments. I was already printing some yellow, so I thought why not see it with some black wood grain. Those lovely little instances when a whimsy becomes something lovely will keep me playing at my press. I know I will continue doing these 'combos'
(there are 3 more drying as I type this), but I am already very excited about my next series idea.

And what is it about yellow right now? It's getting some love on the blogs I read. I've never really considered myself a yellow fan, but I moved into a yellow home last year, so I am sure it is seeping into my consciousness. All of the yellow in my work right now is printed from a can I inherited with my shop 10 years ago from a man who probably hadn't printed anything in the 10 years prior.

Thank you 20 year old can of yellow ink.

new prints: Cloud series in pink and blue

2009-02-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to unveil the latest print series from my press in the upcoming Poppytalk Handmade Affordable Art Market. Inspired by clouds and spring colors, the Cloud series combines wood press furniture and vintage metal type. The entire run is hand-inked and printed on my Showcard Signcard proof press. The design stays the same, but each print is slightly unique. The pink and blue series will be available from my Poppytalk table on Monday.

cheers,
Richenda

Roni Horn : Bird

2009-02-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Roni Horn : Bird 2008

This gorgeous book came across my desk at work a few weeks ago. I was taken aback by the astonishing portraits of the backs of birds' heads. Roni Horn's gorgeous images are an excellent reminder of the beauty found when you simply turn something around or over or inside out.

the new message

2009-01-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

One of the new cards now available in the shop.
Don't forget to check out all of the lovely things at Poppytalk Handmade.
Back to the press for me!

a fresh batch

2009-01-17T13:00:00.001-08:00

I am so happy that this card is so popular. I love printing it. Locking up the type and rolling out the ink reminds me of how much I love working at my press printing my own designs. I have decided to no longer take commissions because of how they increase my stress level and take me away from my own press-time. In the end it wasn't a difficult decision at all. Right now I'm finishing up the last job and looking forward to my list of personal projects.

stripes

2009-01-16T11:43:00.001-08:00

The last day of color week. I'd like to thank Leya from Curious Bird for hosting and picking the colors. It's been a fun exercise. Today I opted for stripes over plaid. I was actually surprised to not find any plaid around my house. That needs to rectified tout suite!

I have decided that I am no longer sick. I am healthy as a bean. Yessirreebob. Now I'm off to the studio (which is just across the room).

pink

2009-01-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

a garage door

testing ink on pink linen with a wood ampersand

Not feeling quite "in the pink" yet, but definitely feeling better. I know I'm in the last stages of this cold because I sound ALOT worse than I feel. I'll be a day behind on packing and shipping Etsy orders, but that doesn't seem too bad in the scheme of things.

Looking forward to a weekend of friends, printing, a Monday holiday, and the Inauguration. Oh happy happy day!

yellow

2009-01-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

I made it to work today after some fluke burst of energy and health last night that even included some printing. Today I am functioning at 60% tops.

But yellow makes me happy. Both these pics are from my walk to get cold medicine Monday afternoon. I especially love the shadow from the driving range target.

Poppytalk Handmade!

2009-01-13T16:43:00.001-08:00

purple

2009-01-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

snapshots from the neighborhood

Color week is having the desired effect. I was so much more attuned to the colors and shapes on the street when I walked to the store for cold medicine. I can't wait to share my pics over the rest of the week.

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Poppytalk Handmade Valentine and Wedding sale again this year.
There are lovely things on offer and great new prints from Lisa Congdon.

blue

2009-01-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in the week of color posts hosted by Leya over at Curious Bird
I kept close to home, actually at home, for the first color of the week because I feel a cold coming on. (And I just don't have time for a cold right now.)

BLUE

1. my favorite coffee mug with its little wedge of blue
continuing from the body to the handle

2. a favorite figurine on the mantel

3. a glimpse of work in progress at the press

Happy 2009

2009-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

"The hardest part of artmaking is living your life in such a way that your work gets done, over and over -- and that means, among other things, finding a host of practices that are just plain useful. A piece of art is the surface expression of a life lived within productive patterns."

from Art & Fear

If I made resolutions the idea of "productive patterns" would be the foundation of the list.