Shibugami, star maps, continuous improvement

Earlier this year I purchased some shibugami, because it was described as the stencil paper used to make Katazome-shi, the beautiful stencil dyed papers:

http://www.japanesepaperplace.com/images/products/katazomeshi/bigkatazomeshi/124w.jpg

https://www.washiarts.com/katazome-shi/katazome-shi-152-hand-stenciled-japanese-paper

It is a stiff, slightly leathery paper, that the store in Toronto made sure to interleave with protective paper, to guard my other papers. I tucked it away, and just fantasized about the fabulous designs I would one day carve into it.

And then, contemplating the seven gold leaf star maps I needed to make, I remembered it. And putting it together with my Japanese hole punch...

https://www.hollanders.com/index.php/bookbinding-supplies/small-tools/hole-punches/japanese-hole-punch.html

...I realized I could stencil my gold leaf size right onto the metallic blue background! Combining three arduous steps into one easy step! I danced a little jig! I punched the air repeatedly, and did another little jig!

And here is the result:

I will be putting a couple versions into the Earlville Opera House sale in the next week. And, feel free to contact me if you would like to order one. 

Happy Holidays.

everyday i write the book

Really, Elvis Costello writes the book every day.

Every day I waste some time.
Every day I sit in my studio and look out of the window.
Every day I look around the studio and think, I need to get more organized.
Every day I glue some things together.

Today I went to a presentation given by John Freeman.
(Every Thursday I go to the Living Writers series at Colgate University.
I sell books. I listen to the lecture. I sit next to the author and sell more books.)

And, luckiest of all, I get to chat with the authors. They are a lovely bunch.
John Freeman is a poet, critic, and editor of Freeman's, a biannual fiction anthology.
So that was a treat -- to meet someone else who felt strongly enough about something
to publish it, to find the things, some excellent things, and publish them.

He talked about subscriptions. Which he does not take. And I understand why.

But, every week I am reminded that making and sharing are important disciplines.

So thank you, Living Writers.

time it was and what a time it was it was

photograph by Ralph Eugene Meatyard (1925-1972), an optician and photographer, who lived and worked in Northern Kentucky.  He is a hero of mine.