These things.

I've been going places, looking carefully, making things, and taking care.

So, what are you doing this summer?

"It could be like secret santa for book nerds." -Beth Schaible

My friend Beth, who made the book above, (which you may purchase from her Etsy Store) made a brilliant suggestion in response to my Summer of Books post.

I am certain Beth and I are not the only ones planning on binding books this summer...

Stay tuned for details!

On Saturday.

Photo by Vikki Cruz.

Summer of Books.

Here's the first batch of books for this summer. The top three were my demo books from Saturday.

So, while in preparation mode for last Saturday's workshop at Surface, I decided that my goal for the next few months, (one of em') is to make a book for each day of my summer. I don't intend on making one every single day, because there will be some travel (and laziness!) in the mix...but when I am in work-mode, I can finish several in a day.

And I'm not promising they'll all be pretty, 'cause I intend on teaching myself some bindings I do not know. This project will be good, satisfying practice/progress, and will help me build up an inventory of blank books in case I participate at any events like Unique LA in the Winter.

And...now that I've announced this plan to all you strangers out there who read my blog, I better get to work, huh?

Also, (speaking of books) I'm not sure I've mentioned that I am returning to Penland this summer to make books for a couple of weeks. Thank God, right?

Snailoftheday, Papernstitch, toomanykittens.

Say, I was feathered, (wait, I mean featured) as the Papernstitch shop-of-the-day today. Nice! I am an "Artist to Watch," seemingly.

Watch me.

Next on the agenda is a trek across town to Hiromi Paper in Santa Monica, to get some supplies for the killer-diller bookbinding workshop I'm teaching Saturday in Bakersfield. Odds are I'll indulge in fancy paper for myself too!

I worked at Sante D'Or this morning, and there are now 12 kittens hanging around in the back room there. And of course they're cute, and funny...but they also sort of weird me out. I am more comfortable with the grown cats. There are also two little dogs and a remarkable lot of bunnies. Come adopt someone. Or at least come give 'em some love.

Last week a nice couple came in with a hat full of newborn barely-open-eyed kittens they had found abandoned in Griffith Park. Fortunately they were able to take them home and foster them. Makes your heart hurt, right?

Update on Snails and Art.

So, there's finally work to look at in my Etsy shop, and I have my work on good ol' Papernstitch this month as well.

This coming Saturday I will be teaching a little bookbinding workshop in Bakersfield at Surface Gallery. I love my Bakersfield people, so I'm looking forward to running up there for a minute.

Here's a painting by my pal Vikki.

Snippets.