Showing posts with label Alan Brignull. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alan Brignull. Show all posts

14.7.10

Wayzgoose 2010 - snippets

Decorative papers from John Purcell Paper


Stamps and assorted eclectic ephemera from Alan Brignull's Adanaland and the Hedgehog Press.

The Flagstone Press.

Type for sale.


Antique desktop printing press.

Blocks for sale.

Type set up on a proof press

First Folio Cards

The Incline Press

Wayzgoose 2010 organised by Oxford Guild of Printers



17.4.09

That was the week that was...



I thought it had been another so-so week filled with all day needle felting sessions, housework and the odd walk, but in retrospect, it has been rather action packed. My polar bear trio proved to be more exacting than I anticipated; trying to sculpt three almost identical white blobs is quite tricky, the simple shape brings out the worst of the perfectionist in me, and I am still tweaking infinitesimally small contours here and there.





I finally got round to designing a catalogue (well, a small poster really) for my card range. I've been a bit lazy about bothering shops recently, even the ones who've stocked me before. The first one I sent out had an immediate response, and I am really pleased that the gorgeous shop Ark of Cambridge - the Norfolk Street branch - now have a selection of my designs. I had some blushingly nice feedback from the shop manageress about the flyer, and apparently a customer spotted it, and said how beautiful all the colours were. It is good to have them all laid out like this; a bit more professional than a handful of samples and a 'please stock me' letter.




A fat little packet smuggled across the border from the mysterious Adanaland arrived in the post. Full of delightful letterpress scraps, which made me ache to have the space to get my own neglected kit out. (The adorable shire horse is printed by the
Incline Press: coincidentally, Sue of Mouse Notebook has just blogged about her day printing there, with scrummy closeups of type and nice papery things - lucky sausage).





Also enclosed were another batch of 'The Travelling Urchin', produced exquisitely and lovingly by Alan Brignull, the founder and benign ruler of Adanaland - I love these little A6 treasures, and am very grateful to him for my growing collection.

It was a welcome little diversion as I plodded on with the next trio for my trade order.




Jackie of Dog Daisy Chains and Karen of Moonlight and Hares asked about RSI and stabbing myself. Ladies, it is no and yes. No, I am lucky enough not to get RSI, just tired bits when I work for more than 8 hours a day. I try to do regular carpal tunnel exercises and I have a super-duper wrist support with two thumb splints, a hand splint and padded bead palm, which really helps when I'm on a marathon session.



Stabbing, however, is a regular occurrence. I frequently hold tiny bits of felt (for instance, beaks) and stab them into hard little shapes, often driving the needle straight down into the pad of my thumb. So I'm experimenting with using two thimbles for protection. It's not as sensory as using my naked fingers, but it hurts less when the needle slips.




I've probably mentioned at least a dozen times that I don't get out much. Getting out can be a bit expensive on a narrow budget, but kind Andy whisked me off to
Cotswold Wildlife Park this week, which, despite it being rammed (because of the Easter holidays) was utterly brilliant. The last big day out we had was at the Barrington ploughing match, last September. I get quite giddy with the sheer pleasure of new surroundings and experiences; I came away with my head whirring, over a hundred reference photos and two tiny glass animals...





Nobly, I have restrained myself from posting an endless line of yet-another-zoo-animal here. (Collective sighs of relief!)

BIG EDIT - I had awarded this big, sharp rhino horn to a certain large company who seem to be taking unpermitted advantage of one of
Little Cotton Rabbits lovely designs. At last they seem to be responding, but I'll save my half hearted cheer for when they actually do something positive. So the rhino stays.




Oh, by the end of April I will be able to stop thinking in threes!



12.7.08

Wayzgoose

Oh dear, look at the dust...and the cobwebs. This old place hasn't been taken care of for a while...let me grab a duster, hang on...there, that's better - get out spider! Days and days spent plodding away at this book job. I have taken the air twice in eight days, (unless you count collecting the bins). One tramp through the woods and a rare trip into civilisation to visit the Witney Wayzgoose. Yes indeed.

According to my Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, a Wayzgoose is 'an annual dinner, picnic or beanfeast especially one given to, or held by, those employed in a printing house. 'Wayz' ('wase') is an obsolete word for a bundle of hay, straw or stubble, hence a harvest goose or fat goose, which is the crowning dish of the entertainment '.



Anyhow, here we had a lovely collection of small presses and bookbinders, many of who I had seen and some of whom I had had the privilege of meeting at the Fine Press Book Fair, back in rainy, dull November last. (As opposed to rainy, dull July, now). My first mission was to find Alan Brignull, the Founding Father of Adanaland. I have it on good authority that they don't have websites in Adanaland, though traces of it can be found through the all-seeing Google. (Nearly) everything that Alan produces, including his wonderful stamps, is beautifully printed on an Adana 8x5 press.



We shook hands, I was introduced to his nice family and we exchanged gifts - I am afraid my offering was a m
ere jar of jam, from my plum-fest last year. I was thrilled to received a packet of goodies from the Rambling Urchin, the mini-sheet published by the Hedgehog Press. All letter pressed, with a gorgeous variety of ornaments and a miscellany of fascinating snippets.




The envelope was charmingly addressed to 'the Great Stabber' - (needle felt meets letter press!) Cotswold Gent asked if he was 'the only bloke who read my blog', and this is proof that he is not alone - although in a distinct minority. (I clumsily got a bit of red printing ink on the envelope. Bad me). And this time I just had to buy his latest stamp editions 'Women of Adanaland' - all the images are from original little Adana blocks. And purchased in a most satisfying way from the Adanaland stamp machine. Coin in, handle pulled - ker-clunk - stamps out.




And with them, a little box of Adanaland matches -




At the stall next door I spotted a booklet illustrated by my old life teacher, Annie Newnham. She grounded me in everything useful I needed to know about how to draw figures. The most important thing, which became ingrained in my own style, was how to sense the rhythm and flow of a body, how to really look and love the unconscious, graceful poses into which the most seemingly ordinary of people fall into when they are waiting for a bus or chatting over coffee. I soaked up her teaching in over two years and never forgot them. She pulled my figure drawings from being tight little pencil daubs sat in the middle of an white page, to being big, bold charcoal statements, full of expression and joy. Thank you for that, Annie. So I spent a little of my pocket money on buying the illustrated Ted Hughes poem 'Comics'.




And moved on to admire the working press further along. (This is where I picked up the smudge of red ink which besmirched my lovely Adanaland envelope).




And on to say hello to nice Graham and Cathy, down from the North with the Incline Press. While admiring some of their latest editions -




I sensed a 'personality' next to me. A small, beady eyed, lady of advanced years, holding herself upright with two walking sticks. Graham was talking her through one of their newest publications, beautifully illustrated by young artist Rose Harries.





Her opinions - for she certainly did have opinions - were being carefully considered. She was definitely someone.





When she slowly left the stall and was safely out of earshot I asked Graham who she was:
Beth Cooke, a well respected artist, still painting and exhibiting today. I can only hope that I am still wielding a paintbrush, if I am lucky enough to reach that kind of age.

I came away regretting that my time is so - squashed - right now. I know I haven't managed to get any of my Adanas printing as they should (my fault) and now I am all stocked up I could be doing so much. But a grand day out, and an opportunity to pick up a horde of little printed treasures; so many of the stall holders ask such reasonable prices that it would be rude not to.




These events happen more often than most people know, so if Alan would like to keep me up-to-date with when and where they are being held in the UK, I will advertise the dates here - and you too can visit Adanaland and other magical letter press kingdoms. With pocket money at the ready.


Confessions. I am not just illustrating. I am mainly - 90% - illustrating. On the edge of things I am also house-working, needle felting, gardening, cake making, meal cooking, eBay selling, Etsy-ing and occasionally sleeping. But all in small doses around the book job. I am weary, grumpy, and run down; I have to go to the dentist next week to sort out my gaping, niggling back molar cavity. So apologies for lack of returned emails, lack of blog visiting and comments. It's the juggling thing and I have picked up too many balls. But they are almost all up in the air...for the moment.

25.4.08

Eloise and Heinz

The days seem to be passing in a blur of needle stabbing; taking old designs (the simple Siamese cat card, did I really paint that...oh dear...) and tweaking them -



- taking them one step further and creating a pink-pointed Siamese.




Finding that it is one thing to design a sausage dog on paper...




...and another to make it in 3D. The legs went horribly wrong and some major surgery was called for - not a sight for the squeamish!




But with some careful study of what the structure of a Dachshund really looks like, I rescued him. He was named Heinz in honour of the only tinned soup I allow in the house. Because there really isn't anything quite like it. Run for the ball, Heinz!




Sit up and beg!



Dig for that bone boy!




Eloise and Heinz are off to their new homes; Eloise is going far across the Atlantic to America, and Heinz is just popping over the county border. Now I have to think about my first custom order...and finish another goose.

Delighted this week - as always - to receive greetings from Adanaland. The King of Adanaland had seen my link to goblin-artist extraordinaire, Jean-Baptiste Monge, and along with a choice selection of letter-press goodies -




- was this decorative goblin type, are they not delicious?




I have found a company which actually makes tiny wooden wheels and axles. Despite my aspirations, I am not an all-encompassing craft goddess, and I am particularly lousy at any form of woodwork, so making my own was out of the question. But wheels I must have, for ducks, birds, horses and - oh, anything really. Needle felt wheely toys, I cannot wait!


4.1.08

Little studio snaps

My studio, it has to be said, is full of many things - it is my creative nest, where I can surround myself with the treasures I have found and been given. Although I may not use many of them from day to day, they inspire and console me. Many tokens from blog and non-bloggy friends...spot the Lily Moon card from my friend Maya -

(for detailed notes, please go to the Flickr image)

The old year ended with the little people in 'Cat's Cradle' journeying far away to their first job. It is always a wrench to know I will probably never see most of my paintings again, but good to know that they are watching over someone, somewhere.



The new year started with one of
Rima's beautiful calendars. I cannot think of a nicer way of getting through the year - she still has one or two left I think, so if you hurry...




Entering January with some gorgeous letter blocks, with huge thanks to fellow illustrator Paula for her thoughtful gift...





...and my triple good luck charm, to keep bad things away from me this year, especially timewasters, as I had enough of them in 2007. White china heart from Tara, rosehip heart from Higgledy Piggledy, textile/embroidery heart from Border Tart - thank you my dears - I defy anything truly bad to happen with the combined love of these three friends.



A big red hand to point the way bravely forward to 2008 - there is something very commanding about this stern indicator. It arrived unexpectedly in the post this week, mysteriously unsigned...for a few minutes I felt like my all time hero, Tintin, receiving an anonymous signal summoning him to a new, exotic adventure. But then I remembered kind Alan Brignull of the Hedgehog Press, and his lovely picture on Flickr which I had fav'd. Thank you so much!




I am under the weather and feeling like this at the moment -



So I am going to retire for a few days, and bury myself in my sketchbook, as I seem to have got my drawing mojo back at last. Have a good weekend everyone!