Scattered

The multiple to-do lists in my head are not as organized as I thought. Here are a few things I forgot to tell you about the last week:
1. After missing one week because of schedule confusions (I mean, I forgot)I made cream cheese brownies for seminar. Vegan of course. Please reference this most wonderful recipe book for information.
2. Coconut magic is in the oven. Same cookbook. I may not make all one hundred recipes but I sure am trying.
3. Did I mention I am studying in Milan for the spring? That is one whole section of the to-do list. So much paperwork.
4. The other night, while house sitting for Andy's sister, I took a relaxing hot bath in a giant spa-like tub, read the new issue of Harper's, and did not think about to do lists. Weirdly, the tub was lit by an overhead chandelier.
5. Even weirder was the cop who came to the open side door in the morning, gun drawn, concerned we were home invaders. That's what you get for having a big ol'van in a nice neighborhood. The cop took my id, put his gun away, ran the license plate number and did his job without apology. Not my favorite Monday morning. No more guns pointed at me this week is what I am hoping for. Thank you neighborhood watch. Good job, we were watched. We returned to our neighborhood.

Bits and Pieces

Ha! I don't even feel close to being on top of upcoming deadlines and then more appear like magic. So these photos are from a few days ago. First, a late night session with the C & P treadle-driven platen press at Blackbird Letterpress. Andy and coffee kept company while I printed the first layer of my show card, a shiny thin lilac layer that does not photograph well.



Sunday I went to school to build more for the army of handmade paper hot balloons. This paper always looks so nice lined up along the windows outside the shop. When they are dry, I cut them off the frames and add them to the balloons. But you will have to come to my show to see them, Saturday December 3rd at the Ephemeral Gallery, Baton Rouge.

"So, How's School Going?"

No joke, this is how I feel. Even after a day or two off for pumpkin carving, fancy cocktails, napping, and casual, meandering bike riding, I'm back to this. No complaints though. Trying to make time for friends, keeping things in perspective and remembering that in February I am going to Milan for 4 months of school! How's that for a last semester of undergrad. Of course, at the moment I should be studying for an Italian midterm. But it takes me so long to update y'all. Here it is:



These are posters I screened for an upcoming show in Baton Rouge. I will be there indeed. Even if I have to drive straight back from the New Orleans Bookfair, which I will. Andy asked me to do these before Circle Takes the Square was added to the show even though it looks like I should be getting parital credit in from them this semester.



But here are the goods. A detail from one of the panels I have been working on. Lovely. The image is something Lorraine sent me. I love it. Now back to conjugating verbs.

Busy Busy

I was starting to feel like I have been in the studio for twelve hours a day daily and not getting anything done. Sort of like running in waist-high water. But no! Here are things to share. First, I made these bookmarks for my friends in Circle Takes the Square, who are about to head out on tour. I made the paper with high-quality paper scraps, some abaca fiber, and embedded with bits from the magnetic tape with which they recorded their new album, Decompositions I.



Hopefully everyone has received Keep Writing number 34 because here it is. On handmade paper. The letterpress looks so good on it too, if I don't say so myself.
This postcard is a recipe card. Hopefully folks send some good recipes because I want to use some of them as refreshments at my Senior Show, Saturday November 5 at the Ephemeral Gallery in Baton Rouge. And Why Are We Building Such A Big Ship will be playing. Thanks, friends. See you there.

In the Mail

Yahoo! October postcards are in the mail. Keep Writing number 34 is printed in two colors on handmade recycled paper. But you'll have to wait a few days before I show them to you so the recipients can see them first. Now I can watch Twin Peaks.

From One LA to Another

My friend Jason is originally from Louisiana but he lives in Los Angelos now. He is good listener. Which is why it does not surprise me that he co-authored a book with Juanita Leonard called "Juanita's Hard Times Bus on Hwy 71". It is a collection of her stories and his photographs of the folk art wonder she created in North Louisiana. And now they are published and for sale. If you are in New Orleans you can get a copy at the Ogden. Or you can click on the link and purchase it online. If you do that, all the proceeds go to Juanita.



Cookie day again but things were so frantic at school (that is, in my head) that I forgot to share. So I guess I will share them tomorrow. Salted almond cookies with oats. Seriously.



Sunday I missed a lecture downtown because I was trying to photograph these five little buddies. I don't think I can use thisimage as a slide for a juried show but I know y'all appreciate it.

Old and New

While putting together a presentation about my first print making teacher, Eva Isaken, I realized I still have my first ever monoprint. Since at the time I fancied myself more of a writer than an image-maker, I left a space for text that I never filled. Twelve years later it is still blank.



While procrastinating on said presentation, I found the link to Strip , a chapbook of poetry by Jenn Nunes. She asked me for photographs for it. Photographs of driving and the sky? I can do that. I had plenty already. You can download a pdf for free with the text and the images. I won't comment on my own images but her poetry is amazing, sparse, well, you'll fell like you are looping around the interstate. I love a road trip. Now back to work.

Yet Another Saturday Night

How can you make everything hinge on a moment? My brain and body are working against logic right now so it's no coffee and no complex sentences. Which is going to make essay writing difficult. Meanwhile, there is this lovely pile of postcards on my coffee table awaiting addresses. I somehow forgot to mention on them that they are printed on handmade paper recycled from fancy paper scraps. It is soft pink and lovely to letterpress onto, once I was sure they were consistent enough and not harming the type. Also in the photo are three rolls of washi tape, because I have not decided on which to use.



Earlier this week I made these chai spice shortbread cookies with chocolate chips. We moved our outdoor table around the corner of the house and suddenly it is more inviting. Also, thanks to "autumn" it is now possible to comfortably breathe while sitting in the sun. Things are pretty good around here.