Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving and checking in post
Hi everyone. Just wanted to check in and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! I haven't had more time to address my project this week, as I had to go to Seattle to help out my family, but I'm back in L.A. now (and it's pouring here) and will get into my little books again after Thanksgiving weekend. And with Monday's packet 3 due date coming up, I'll have to wait to get back to my sewing after that. I decided it would be perfect to use this little metal pin kind of utensil that you stick through the turkey (you know, to lace it up after you stuff it?) and twist that metal pin to form perfect little holes in the spine of my chapbooks to facilitate the crochet needle going through my books with more ease. It worked well. I'd hammer the metal pin through the book and into a cutting board (I know, it's archaic, but it worked really well) and then I twisted one of those little plastic poker pins (that I found in my pumpkin carving kit) threw the holes to make them a little bit bigger. So, I applied a little ingenuity and some household tools to help me create how to work out my book binding step. Then, I tried several ways of putting the thread through to lace it. When I came up with a pattern that worked well, I wrote down which holes to go through in which order so I can replicate it for all my other books I'll be sewing in the weeks to come. That's it for me. Hope you're all doing well. - Nancy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Dear Nancy --
I love that you're choosing to invent techniques yourself -- that's wonderful! It will be fascinating, I suspect, for you to look online or in a book of bookbinding techniques to see (after the fact), which technique you've "invented." Based on your description and my own experiences, I have an idea, but will be curious to see what you discover once you're done with your sewing.
One technical note: the tool I usually use to poke holes in my books before I sew them (and yes, this is a crucial step for making it easier to slip the needle & thread through) is called an awl. You can get special bookbinding awls expensively at craft stores or online, or you can buy one very cheaply at Home Despot (that "misspelling" was on purpose) or another hardware store. I find the awl is easier to use than other tools -- and I too have experimented with re-purposing household objects -- simply because the handle makes it easier to press through multiple sheets of paper.
Best of luck! I can't wait to see what I'm sure will be gorgeous results of your efforts.
Jen
Nancy/Jen-
First, Jen, I just want you to know that about two minutes ago, I was able to get the attention of half the people in the library when I laughed out loud at your Home Despot reference. They dislike me enough here as it is, since I have established myself as someone who simply cannot return a book on time. It's a love/hate relationship, though, because I'm pretty sure I single-handedly funded all the purchasing of new library IT equipment in 2008 through my payment of overdue materials.
In all seriousness, though, your suggestion to go to H.D. for an awl is a good one, as I was contemplating the ways to pierce holes cheaply but efficiently. I am at the point in my project where I have my seed paper and some of the materials I will use for covers. The poems are basically done, though I'll likely spend some more time polishing them. I've reached the dreadful part of the project: the crafting. As creative as I may be, I struggle with crafts. My hands betray me and I can rarely cut in a straight line with scissors or fold something perfectly in half. Don't laugh, it's actually a huge source of shame/anxiety, and greatly effected my abilities to fit in as a little one at summer camp. I was in the unfortunate position of being unable to make something look neat and well-done, nor could I create something that looked so unique and unusual that it appealed on an abstract level. For this reason, I have decided to employ my girlfriend as a helper, she being a much craftier person than I, having put together scrapbooks and wreaths and summer hats with adornments of flowers. (Note: This doesn't mean she will be doing the project for me. Rather, she will be there as a reinforcement, if you will; there to step in if I start to struggle and waste my resources.
Nancy, I addressed this to you as well, because I wanted to respond to your comment about your method being archaic. I feel like that's sorta the point of the project, and I think you should revel in and be proud of your ability to create your art by using cutting boards and turkey needles. I have this image of you in the kitchen, frantically looking through drawers and cupboards for something with which to stitch your chapbook. You pause and examine several things: a spatula, tongs, an egg beater, a baster. I'm jealous of your inventiveness, as I rely on an idea's ability to come to me, rather than seek it out by rifling through the house. I hope this is a character flaw of mine, and not a result of simple laziness due to my living with a crafty person. Anyway, my point was that your ingenuity is admirable, and I'm looking forward to seeing your final project.
I must be off. Hope the holiday was enjoyable!
R
Rick - you are so funny and thanks for making me laugh out loud. By the way, that is precisely what I did and I pulled out the many items you mentioned in an attempt to get at those little poker kinds of instruments. And don't feel nervous about your chapbooks looking different because, in a sense, the way they look "unperfect" with your beautiful poetry inside them only makes them more unique, unusual, and more desirously collectible to me. I'm glad your girlfriend will support you in your creation. Just try to have fun and don't worry about being perfectly aesthetically pleasing!
Thanks for your note!
Nancy
Post a Comment