Making Tiny Books

 Greetings - 

Confession: I have a number of books on how to make books. But I do not use them. I read the texts, look at the beautiful illustrations, sometimes try to understand the instructions. But mostly I buy these books in the hope that they will magically make me a bookmaker.

(Insert laughter here.)

Confession: I am too lazy to be a book maker. 

Kind of.

What I like to make are small accordion books. Out of watercolor or printing papers. I like to cut the strips. I enjoy creasing the folds. I like that they can be carried in the art supply bag almost anywhere I go. However, in the way things frequently go, I neglect to fill the pages.

But sometimes books get finished.

These four artist books were part of a 2020 art exhibit at ArtReach St. Croix here in Stillwater, Minnesota. Pages are approximately 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" or 3" square.

There was no particular planning, though each one held some rules. The main rules were: 1) stick to one theme, and 2) dare to goof around. None of them are perfect. All were experiments. Each turned out O.K. I am happy with them.

You, too, can grant yourself a bit of book making time. There are many tutorials on YouTube on how to fold one piece of copy paper into a small book or 'zine. There are also many ways to make simple tomes. Grab scissors, glue, and papers. Make a collage. If you have a bunch of favorite quotes, add them to an accordion book, and keep it nearby. Give it to a friend. Put it in a Little Free Library.

Ever onward. Keep loving books!

- Sue

Instagram: surobear1

Facebook Page: Sue Rowe Studios

Just to Type

Today was spent attempting to finish the things yet undone on this week's Bullet Journal/SuperBetter page.

Close. Near miss. That sort of thing.

But other things got accomplished.

Priorities can change in the blink of an eye.

Baby basils are now transplanted - not on the list.

A book by Wendall Berry was purchased at Valley Booksellers on Independent Book Sellers Day. I did not eat any cookies. I did not win a door prize. I did see many other books that I could have liked to add to my odd and mixed collection. I took my new book out to the deck behind the store, lucked into a chair in a sunny spot, and watched seven large pelicans do pelican things in the St. Croix River. No one we know has ever seen pelicans on this part of the river. I missed the huge mass of them several days ago - pelicans and loons paddling together. I know some loons will stick around. I am guessing the pelicans will continue north. Yes, I am aware that this is a rambling paragraph.

Tomorrow morning I learn a bit more about working and playing with my new iPhone 7+. Yes, there will be those who will criticize this purchase. I miss the feel of the rubbery case enclosing the iPhone 5. I paid one dollar for the 5. This is not the case with the 7+. So it goes. I am really cheap in some areas of life. But not so with the stuff I treat myself to from that Apple company. Yes, there are detractors in my own family. I choose not to care. Thus endth the sermon.

Now it is time to get back to reading "Dune." Reading this book was to be a priority. I have to remember this. Goodbye, typing. Hello, stuff happening in "Dune."

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

PS - Still two days to keep sucking the life juice out of April. 

Books and Life

A simple Wanting to Do for 2018:

READ MORE BOOKS

Not in the surfing the waves of the waves of books here, but to actually take time to slow down and READ BOOKS. For, say, an hour at a time. I used to spend whole days inside books. Now they are more casual pals than serious teachers. Time to get back to school.

Here is a quote from "Steal This Book," by Austin Kleon:

"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life." - Jessica Hische

I am almost excited!

And, tonight, though it will be in going after an already lost cause, "GO, PACK!!!!"

It's time to feed the flooffy squirrels now. It's a small purpose, but better than none.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

This fuzzy one was enjoying a much warmer day 

than the days that are upon us. 

To Read, or Not to Read

Darned Books...

Just four of the books sitting mostly unread - just to my left - on endtable here in the living room:

1) "Inner Simplicity -  100 Ways to Regain Peace and Nourish Your Soul" - Elaine St. James

2) "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" - C. G. Jung

3) "How Can I Help? Stories and Reflections on Service" - Ram Dass and Paul Gorman

4) "Dime Store Alchemy - The Art of Joseph Cornell" - Charles Simic

Three of these were free for the taking, from a fellow artist. A group I am part of was visiting her studio two months ago. She had placed a goodly number of books culled from her library onto a side table. I tried not to be greedy. I did take more than three.

There were more than enough for all of us who "needed" new old books. By and by, I WILL pay attention to the ones I chose. And with so many Little Free Libraries here in Stillwater, Minnesota - many within walking distance, I will most likely cull some of own collection to make room for the newcomers.

Books.....

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Stuff - Nov. 5th

The November Ridding Self of Stuff number stands at 35.

No, you cannot tell anything is gone. But I can. Because now I know how dusty parts of the CD collection are. And some music I can part with. And some music I cannot. Yet. 

Simply the considering of Stay Or Go exercises the brain in the out-of-rut way we need from time to time. The "oh, I  didn't know we owned this." The "well, I liked this at the time, but but enough  to keep it now." The "I remember not owning any CDs because I just liked records (I still have to sort through records....)."

We shall not speak of letting go of books yet this go round. Though we have removed boxes of books in the past. Music can be had in many forms. Radio, on-line, humming. But books.... Books are my semi-cigarettes. I should be reading instead of typing. If read, at least a book can be considered for a Little Free Library. But the potential learning still on the shelf... (my stuff is almost all non-fiction), well, there's "Endurance," and "Rodin on Art" ( yes. I know there are you Rodin dislikers out there, but I still want to see what he says), and "The Findhorn Garden." And many others. The library here is only of medium size, but I do not bring home books lightly. Still, we always know there are "too many."

Now it's time to set back the clocks, listen to "On Being" on a public station, and see what adventures the day brings. Oh, that it would bring Sunshine, but that is a thing removed from our world here in this part of Minnesota.

It was 6 A.M. (to me) an hour ago - and now it is "really" 6 A.M.
Too much stuff? Not enough? Just enough? Perception is a tricky thing. We have to consider even our thoughts and judge them after thinking. Good Luck!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Grey Cold Wet

Grey.

Cold. 

Wet.

Seems to be forever so. And SO much more rain yesterday. Farmers' fields are ponds in low spots, and there is standing water in the rows that are already planted. Record set for metro rain amount yesterday.

I planted some spinach and tomatoes late last week - just for spite.

The other plants sit outside - wet, or inside - dry, with mixed but strained emotions. I feel most for the leggy zinnias. They are reaching for the non-existent sun. The basil seen to not care one way or other. the tomatoes are game to get going.

I've been away from "the Front" the past few days. Though our sloppy cold weather keeps mind going back to troops in trenches. No visible rats running around here. And no prisoners of war digging through meager offerings in garbage. No recent shellings. No shellings at all. Perhaps I will be thankful for current weather that only makes me recall a novel, and some of it's grey, wet cold facts.

********************

Today I plan to get to making art. The past weeks I have had  too many uncaring days. These are not good - if one is a professional artist. One must attend to business, work, create a good workplace conducive to creating. (I did do bookkeeping for an hour - sboo hoo.) I have ignored deadlines, getting orders out in a timely manner, and finishing drawings and paintings. This creates a backlog of guilt and stress - all self made. (It sucks Being Aware - hahaha.)

*************

So - on to more healthful eating, more mindful exercise, and an attempt at both waking up and calming the mind. "Simple" things - but hard for some (many) of us. Today starts a re-re-re-re-committing to the basic things I commit to. You know yours. I know mine.

*************

I forget that I'd vowed to have twenty-five percent of my greeting card offerings be "new" designs this season. Time to get crackin.'

It's strange to see these past years' art fair booths. Many bears are moved on. Others still pace around the space. We don't use the wooden trunk for tee shirts now. We should get a classier set up. We are cheap. And this system works for us and our customers.

I often think of our space as more "Mercantile" than "Art Festival Booth." I try catering to "the common person" and "art collector" alike. I do want a person to be able to afford an image I've created. I thrill when a large original is considered for ten minutes and then purchased. I understand when some people can't afford to pay five dollars for a greeting card. Baseline Hope is that most people entering this space are somewhat different - for the better - when they leave. 

Now I have to find a way to rev up spirit to make more live-affirming bruins. Yes, cranky bears CAN make a person smile. But too many cranky bears would not be good. Dance with fake smile while cranky? For now it's the way to go!

*********************

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Books - In General

Books

I love them

Even the sad moldy ones

that can't come into the house

and end up in the trash

I have too many

I don't have enough

Some that can be easily given away

Some that I could be covered with when I die

Listening to books is O.K., too

But it is not READING those books

Touching the covers

Turning the pages

Going Back to a place

Skipping ahead

Maybe, gasp - 

Reading the Last Page before its time

And when it is time

Closing the covers

There with one's hands on the tale

Where are YOUR books?

Ours are in, yes, every room 

in the house,

and in both vehicles,

and in the garage

We bring a box or two to Half Price Books

And get fifty cents or five dollars back

And then SPEND twelve dollars on BOOKS

from Half Price Books

And this is O.K.

Now it is time for the hands 

to 

get back to work

And the brain to get back 

to

 The Western Front

Many of us fight the good fight

Reading is that win-win battle

Carry on

Here be Books

Fare-thee-well,

Sue 

www.suerowe.com

Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Philosopher

This acrylic bruin was part of a threesome based on the same head template design. Amazingly, and from no particular plan, the bears are such individuals that they appear completely unrelated. One is small of eye and personality, one I consider a "business" bear, and this one has always been called The Philosopher. Sold some years ago he is one of the ones I sort of miss from time to time.

I don't think bears can read, but if they could they might enjoy pawing through a copy of HOW PHILOSOPHY CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE, by Marietta McCarty. Published in 2009, this lovely little paperback holds many tons of solid ideas and has kept me from putting in the solid hours with pastels in trade for lounging too long in the recliner while sipping tea and packing the brain with words. I'm sure new bears will come from Marietta's chapters. I don't know if they will be dealing with all her "big ideas" but they will be sure to reflect those of Simplicity, Possibility, and Joy. Flexibility, too, is a given!

Time to get away from the alphabet for a while and head off to the world of colors and shapes.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue