A Yen For Paper

INTERVIEW

You can find a short interview with yours truly on Marty Weil's blog entitled "Ephemera", regarding the joy of collecting French paper ephemera.

FRENCH PAPER EPHEMERA

Since I bound a very large book yesterday, I thought I would make a bunch of very simple pamphlet stitch books today, using some of the French paper ephemera I have collected over the last while - paper bags, old book pages and magazines. The lovely illustrations are set off by the very simple bindings. See what you think?

MON AIDE-MEMOIRE

Since I am always finding scribbled notes in my handwriting, that have a tendency to gather in odd corners around the house, but which magically seem to disappear when I really need them.  I decided the other day that, being a paper and pencil kind of a girl, I would make myself “un aide-mémoire”. A paper extension of my memory in the form of a nice chunky journal.

One that I couldn’t possibly lose - a collecting place for all of the haphazard and miscellaneous facts, quotes, definitions, ideas etc. that I am sure I will want to remember, but am equally sure that I will forget, if I don’t immediately write them down - a place to keep the flotsam and jetsam of a curious mind. Actually, since schooldays, I have always found that I am more likely to remember something if I have written it down - perhaps my memory is in my hands:-)

So from now on I am going to make a note in my aide-mémoire:
- of the fascinating looking book that I read the great review of, but can’t for the life of me remember the title of, when I am in the bookstore,
- of the times the movie is showing that I really would like to see, but probably won’t get around to going to because I’m not sure when it’s on,
- of the great quotation that I wish I had said, and am positive that I will want to use at some point in the future, such as “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”. (Sorry, but I forgot who said that. If you remember, do let me know and I’ll make a note of it).

The longstitch binding pictured here was the result of my creative efforts today - let’s hope it doesn’t remain blank for long!

A WHOLE HEAP OF CREATIVITY

Was lucky enough to spend last weekend in the Scottish Borders at the very lovely Heriot Toun Studio and the image above shows the happy results of my binding efforts - at least I feel happy just looking at it, since it conjures up the light in the studio, the green valley views and the red flash of the woodpecker outside in the trees.

Perhaps that is why several of the books have a flash of red too!

I love the texture of this nice woolly felted cover -

and of this gorgeous japanese paper with the long white kozo fibres.

Thanks to Rachel for making the weekend possible and for her friendly creative spirit. You can check out some of the fun stuff on Rachel's site, Hazelldesignsbooks, and her most recent exhibition which is currently showing at the Owl & Lion Gallery in Edinburgh's Grassmarket.