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Anna Hawthorne Bookarts

Measurable goodness winner!

I had lots of entries for my little giveaway and was so excited to see such exuberance for these humble brass rules. I really do wish I had a set for each of you. It was so much fun that have already decided I will have another giveaway soon--maybe paper. Or a handmade book. Or a kit.

The winner is... (cue cheesy drum roll)

ALEXA!

Congrats girl! Get in touch with your snail mail address at annahawthornebookarts at gmail dot com and I'll get them in the mail to you pronto. Then you must blog with photos of how you use them. (Well you don't have to, but it sure would be fun.)

In art, bigger really is better

These days in the art community there is a wonderful movement that strives to get back to handcrafted, placing a premium on pieces that are brimming with the artist's personality. I agree, I much prefer the one-of-a-kind over the mass produced. I prefer smaller pieces that are well done over larger pieces that lack detail. That said, there are some things about your art that are better bigger.

Bigger Dreams. Goal setting is important, but don't forget your dreams in the day to day. When you are afraid, reach even higher.
Bigger Quality. How can you improve on your quality?
Bigger Knowledge. Take a class. Call a mentor. Read a book. Get into the studio and experiment. It is amazing how learning will spark the creative juices. Learn something new already!
Bigger Reputation. What do you want people to say when your name is mentioned? Make every effort to keep your word, ship on time and offer value every chance you can get.
Bigger Body of Work. Keep on growing. Keep on reaching. Keep on working.The most successful artists are the ones who are faithful to work work work.
Bigger Circle of Friends. Get out there and make sincere connections. Not just for your career but for your sanity. Friends keep you honest, give your ego a healthy boost and make sure you keep some balance. But adding to your professional Rolodex doesn't hurt either.
Bigger Heart. Be generous with your information. Offer freebies. Donate profits or do work to sell for charity. People love people who aren't afraid to share their knowledge with them.

These things, added up, will add up to a fulfilling artistic career. And all that will translate into bigger dollars, but all the other "biggers" will ensure that your increasing profits are not temporary, but a natural, permanent growth. And that bigger is definitely better.

Measureable goodness giveaway

I am so geeky about all my bookbinding tools. I love my almond-scented Italian glue, my wooden bone folder, my Japanese punch. They inspire me every time I pick them up.

One tool I often reach for is my set of brass rules. They make measuring super simple, because I don't often plan ahead and have to do things one-handed. They are incremental and super handy for all sorts of things, from books to boxes to most any craft project where you need a standard measurement. I use them for drawing lines, spacing and folding paper.

Since I have two sets I thought I would pass on an extra set to a fortunate commenter. This set is still in the package from Hollander's.

To enter: simply leave a comment telling me that you that you don't already own a set and that you promise you will use them. One entry per person please.

If you promote this giveaway on Twitter you can leave a comment for an extra entry (making a total of two).

Deadline: April 30, 2009 at 9pm CST. Best of luck to you all!

You can judge a book by its cover

The cover of a book, especially an antique, determines its value. A great volume with an intact spine and flyleaves is sought-after by collectors the world over.

When you make a book, keep in mind that the cover is not an afterthought. It is not simply a holder for the title or something to keep the pages inside from getting ruined. Yes it is all that too but it's more.

It's like the front door. It's the readers first interaction with your work. It's the thing they hold and manipulate to get to the "good stuff." It's the first stop on a journey through your work. Why not make it really count?

An article to enjoy is this one on an exhibit of the Morgan Library and Museum. A limited collection of their books spanning 1400 years displays the exquisite detail of the covers. You almost hate to open them up for fear the text won't live up.

When you maker your next book I hope you will take the opportunity to make the cover a work unto itself.

Finding artist book inspiration

Creative block is one of the things I struggle with. Things are rocking along and then one day, without warning, it's like someone dammed up the river of ideas. Suddenly I got nothin'.

If you are stuck, lacking inspiration or just afraid to try something new, maybe you can try one of these:

• Found Magazine is filled with ideas and inspiration. It's all about old receipts and love notes and pictures of strangers just begging for their story to be told. It's fun to peek into the life of a stranger this way.
• Watch a video at TED.
• Leave your work, close the door behind you and take a walk. Clearing your head does wonders for the creative process.
  
• Check out these these packaging solutions. How creative!
  
• Visit Vamp & Tramp Booksellers to peruse all the artist book happiness they have available.
• Visit the Handmade Book Community's board to see what amateur and professional bookbinders from all over are up to.
• Zybooks also has a good variety of artist books to drool over.

There are ton of other book artist sites but these are a few that I enjoy.

My Etsy favorites

Thought I'd share some things I love from other artisans at Etsy. It's hard not to buy everything I love at Etsy--even things that have nothing to do with books!

vlog: make your own book cloth

Here's my first ever video tutorial--on making your own book cloth. Hope you find it helpful. Please understand, it is my first shot at this. Hope it's not too long!


Make your own book cloth from Anna Hawthorne on Vimeo.