Newest Book...Knowledge

I'm still sewing books.  Accomplishing my goal of 50 books, slowed my pace a bit, however I still get that irresistible urge to create a book.
Here's my latest one I call Knowledge.  The dangling metal disk hanging from the spine has a large "K" on it with the word knowledge spelled around it.  I liked it.  I like the button hole binding technique.  I think I made the gutter in the spine too big.  I'm going to make some more.  Nothing like making a bunch to perfect the skill.  There is so much to learn!

The Loot

I had the chance to visit the very intensive Paper & Ink Arts owned by Brenda Broadbent yesterday.  Brenda sets up her amazing store in hotels, colleges and universities and any where calligraphers, lettering artist, bookbinders and the like have their special conferences.  This one is the 2011 IAMPETH convention, held at the Embassy Biltmore. I was not inclined to attend, but I wanted to visit Brenda and check out her wares in person.  I'm a calligrapher, a lettering artist and for many years, I attended annual conventions.  At least one each year.  For the past ten years, I haven't had the fortune to attend so was happy to see Brenda and do some major damage.  Here's some of my loot:
A.  Inktense pencils and sticks.  Have heard great things about them but here's my first purchase.  I chose some of the earth colors.  Will report back on my review.
B.  Three double ended nib holders
C. Schmieke Aluminum flakes.  I bought these to add to my paste papers.  Will let you know how it performs
D. Dr. Martin Bleed Proof White.  The ultimate white for lettering.  I go through this stuff more than any of my art supplies
E. Fineline Applicator.  Tiny applicator that I am going to use to apply my masking fluid.  Heard great things about it's performance.  Jury's still out.
F. White fabric retractible, refillable pencil.  A must for me now that I'm doing so much bookbinding with darker papers and fabrics.
G. Pilot Parallel Pen in a special, custom size, which is tiny.  Brenda has some dude actually shave off the tip of the nib to create a wonderful "mitchell size 6" nib size.  Hope it works!

Here's two books I bought...Donald Jackson 2011 calendar from the St. John's Bible and Making Room for Making Art.  Both look fabulous and priced right!

My greatest discovery on this artist excursion were these paints, like pearl ex but with much better suspension and brilliant color.  Run, don't walk to pick these up.  I can only imagine the possibilities!

It's not often I spend over an hour in any store, looking, contemplating, creating with my mind and soul.  But in Brenda's store, it's different.  It's been over ten years since I've roamed her merchandise like yesterday, and still it felt the same.  Something about the artist in us.  It knows no time.  A delightful day.  A long awaited spending spree.

New Doors.

Did you ever feel that something magnificent and much larger than you was awaiting?  It's kind of how I feel right now even though there is no concrete evidence.  I trust the body and what it delivers to me.  It's a large part of who I have become, where I came from and where I am now.  Trust.  It's a tricky little word. Very much so. My son has it tatooed on his wrist and now wants it removed.  Not that he devalues trust.  My take is that trust is most likely one of the top ten "loaded" words in our language.  Another post perhaps.

My life is complex and diverse and it serves me well.  I have been an avid "journaler" for over 35 years.  It is now in vogue.  Back in the day, it was only a documentation of feelings, events and processing both of them. It's still the same today, but now it is accompanied by lots of glitzy and artistic elements.  Nothing wrong with that.  Anything that engages folks in putting their thoughts in text gets my vote.

I am a calligrapher and lettering artist.  Here's a piece I did a few years ago that I kinda prize since it was dedicated to a very special person. You may recognize the song lyrics from the 90's and recently covered by Anthony David.

I'm also a bookbinder.  Recently big time. I just completed my goal of "50-completed-books-by-the-year-end.  If you'd like to peek, you can access the photos at my flickr account.  Visit
www.veronicaphillips.com and it should link you there. This is my amazing bookcase (two stacked on top of each other) that I found on craigslist for $5 each.  I had to put them somewhere and was running out of room.

But man does not live by art alone, so I do have other interests which include the fascinating study of yoga, ayurveda, spirituality, and books of all kinds.  I am a huge fan of excerise, juicing, eating healthy, music (several genres) and work in general.

I look forward to this new venture, online posting of my journaling.