Monday, April 13, 2015

full blast

or as full as it gets for me...
 so before i left for portland and the big atlantic
 i tried several ways to make my envelope for the new book
even knowing it wouldn't be ready 
for the book arts bazaar
it felt right to keep that work going
 i pulled out some of my map fold samples
from learning with pam spitzmeuller
 and came up with something that might work
(the finished one won't be red)
 this book never got sewn
 before i left.
there were several of these not yet done things.
fortunately there were 
many things that did get done!
long winters are good for some things...
but leave i did 
on friday,
and made my way to portland,
to visit with hannah
before setting up for a whirlwind, huge workshop
full of absolutely delightful folks.
book arts people are awesome.
 portland has a 'bit' of that
maine wit about it...
i did also encounter two irate and downright annoying women
one in a vintage vw microbus with a license plate that proclaimed 
something like "strider" or "hiker" or "walker"
and bumper stickers that said things like 
"practice random acts of kindness"
and at the tool booth when the driver stopped and backed up 
almost into me
i beeped politely,
and got an irate holler, a fist raised and shaken.
anyway, it was just odd,
as was the table browser at the bazaar
who proceeded to tell me what i should do with my work. 
too much "you should"

~but~
 the bazaar was well attended and full of good work
lots of student work
and beautiful papers like katie macgregor's
 i obtained and was given or traded some loot!
 one of my 18 students, farrin, made me a gift
a tea book
a way to remember her,
and my wonderful students,
and full of tea. 
easily replaceable for traveling.
 todd and sharon brought me some leftovers
from their letterpress stash
for printing. 
 i found a dodo or two
 rebecca goodale, 
a professor at university of southern maine
(and book arts bazaar organizer)
makes wonderful work,
playful and connected to place.
much of it is about endangered species
(and the occasional extinct one...)
 she is an artist saying "WAKE UP"
quietly and with beauty in her bookworks.
 a lovely little book of photos
called finale
 a map fold book about 
slugs
 jill osgood's work also pleases me
 todd pattison and i did a little trade
 i have a nice tiny leather bound book
and he insisted that the paperbound one join it
 the paper is harvested from
the original papermaker-- 
a paper wasp nest
abandoned at the end of the season.
these two are precious and beautifully made.
when i was unloading the car
a huge surprise pulled up behind me in a pickup
carol blinn and perry smith.
so of course i finagled 
(with permission)
our tables so we could be neighbors.
it was such a gift to see them.
i met so many folks, 
including the amazing lee thompson
(who came for my class)
and saw many many friends.........
i can't remember all that i was going to write about, but i do know this:
all of this would have been
nigh onto impossible
without my amazing daughter
hannah's help.
portland, rebecca, book arts folks, hannah, my amazing students all
a HUGE thank you.
what a great weekend!

14 comments:

  1. wooohoo for all the sharing & treasures from the weekend...the teenie, paper-wasp-nest-paper-covered book is so dear. WOW. what a grand time you had ~ ...& your envelope for yer book...it's got rhythm....LOVE !

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  2. What a wonderful workshop, Velma - Todd and I had so much fun and I can't wait to try more contact printing! It was great to see you and see more of your wonderful work as well.

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  3. my turn to say that reading this makes me exhausted! :) amazing that you did this trip so quickly and packed SO much in and are still able to blog so cogently about it all!

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  4. therese, it was pretty fast and furious, happily so. yeah, rhythm except for that one wonky stitch...
    sharon, you two are back-great table mates, too. and i did correct your name (it's a long story having to do with riding lessons why i got it screwed up)
    aimee, you're my role model, you know! ha!

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  5. Wow I'm feeling excited and energised by all of that and just love it all!!! Spooky just noticed you posting a comment - snap!

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  6. your soul has been nourished
    may it carry you through the remaining days of classes
    to
    summer
    love
    claudia

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  7. Such an excellent day, and so nice to share actual physical space with you for a short time!! I am still turning my papers over and over, thinking about what they might become.

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  8. love your envelope explorations & the book art Velma!

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  9. full to the brim and overflowing, Spring has finally sprung. love the little wasp nest covered book.

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  10. claudia is the best of sisters!
    lee, it was amazing to meet you, truly!
    mc, well thank you, it was such a fine weekend.
    jean, yep. i was happily exhausted by it all, and enjoyed the amazing landscape on all of those driving hours.

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  11. am impressed at your confidence...it's all i can do to teach workshops, the thought of attempting to promote my work at a fair frankly fills me with terror.

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  12. Smiling! Smiling big, for you.

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  13. india, i still have huge qualms, hannah helps.
    melissa, maine!!!!!

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