Out of Practice Fingers

Today I filled a custom order I had for two guestbook type books (one for Flora and one for Wolf's Apothecary). It is often very hard for me to do custom orders. Mostly because every piece is one of kind and I'm always worried that the customer is not going to like what I end up creating. It's a weird thing to have someone see something I make and then want something a tiny bit more specific to them, but still have total trust in my style.

I had a plan when I went down to my basement studio this morning when it was still dark outside at 9am. I knew the binding I wanted to use, I knew the shape and size and color of leather. I spent an or so hour folding down paper (one of my favorite parts of the process) and took out a big piece of un-dyed cowhide. I worked. I cut and folded and sewed for three or four hours and when the book was finished, it was nothing like what I had planned in my head. I had unconsciously changed everything. The amount of pages, the binding, the orientation, the hardware. When I looked at the clock after I put the book in a press (ha! by press I mean a stack of really heavy books), I had no idea so much time had passed. Because the process is so clear to me and each step follows it's predecessor so beautifully I never feel like it takes me as long as it sometimes does.

I went upstairs for some soup and a smoke. While my tomato soup was heating up I was planning out what the next book would look like. I had even laid out the leather I wanted to use before I left my studio. But once again, after a few hours passed I looked at a second finished book that looked nothing like what I had planned.

This may not be surprising to most artists, but my work needs to be planned. There is math involved. The functionality of every book I make is imperative. The aesthetics and style come second. So today, to go in with a plan and come with something completely different is just... surprising. I feel like I don't experience very much surprise as an artist but I'm pretty pleased with what magically happened today.

I have been wanting to "mix medias" lately. Adding fabric and other textiles in with the leather and I unknowingly experimented with that idea today. It was pretty great and I'm feeling inspired. And since these books are being purchased (I've got to stop giving these guys away) I will get a little money to restock on some much needed supplies. Th wheels are turning and there will be more to come!