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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 mere 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.
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 -
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!
Feeling a little jaded, tired and grumpy, I have nothing of note to record and my hands are cold. Let me take you back through the mists of time, to far off November, when I escaped the village by coercing Andy to bike me over to the Fine Press Book Fair in Oxford. It was somewhat overwhelming; spending much of my time alone, and rarely going anywhere of cultural interest, I was staggered by the atmosphere of bustling bookishness. At the same time, I felt completely at home, and had a few pleasant potters round the hall with a big dopey grin on my face, for no particular reason apart from being surrounded by gorgeous books, prints, papers and letterpress stands. Several names I recognised, and I was hoping to say hello to a couple of contacts I'd made through that brash (but oh-so-invaluable-for-hermits) newcomer, the internet. I spotted Andy English at once, though not knowing him at all, I hung back from saying 'hello, I know you through Sue's blog'. Which might have sounded a bit - well, weird. When he was not chatting to customers, he was bent over his little cushion thingy, working on one of his blocks. That's him in the foreground, to the right of the lady in the maroon top. He has also done a very good blog post of his own about the fair, with much better photos. 
I eventually managed to find Alan Brignull, who runs the Hedgehog Press, (no website, alas) and produces his very own Adanaland stamps. After a few weeks of emails, we finally got to shake hands and say hello - I had bought him a humble offering of some of my cards, and he had kindly brought me some spare parts for my miniature Adana, which is sadly falling to bits. After a chat, we parted company, and I beetled off to find the Incline Press, another grapevine contact. One of those times when you have to say 'hi, we've never met in person but...' and so I became acquainted with the lovely Graham and Kathy who produce the most gorgeous books and whose stall was buzzing with a little crowd of admirers.
When they were busy with punters, I took the opportunity to take some pictures of their beautiful creations-
Some great advice was had from Graham and I realised not for the first time what a tiny and tightly connected world the UK letterpress community is.
Apart from learning the hard way how not to approach a print job, I now realise that what I want to do with my printing is a hundred years away from the kind of amazing craftsmanship I witnessed at the Book Fair. I am going off into the gift stationary side of things, which will involve such heresies as polymer plates and impressioning the card stock (which, believe me, can produce extraordinary - and even vitriolic - reactions in the extreme, traditional branches of the letterpress community). But I am more interested in the end product rather than the process, so I will leave the professional stuff to the professionals. In the meantime, I have found some lovely printing blogs, which are full of stunning work and useful tips - so if you are interested in 21st century letterpress and you don't get high blood pressure from seeing polymer block work or impressed stock, then pop over to - Snap and Tumble, Satsuma Press, Moontree Letterpress, and Poppy Letterpress. Enjoy.
(For this weeks DrawerGeeks! challenge)
I wish I could take credit for the copy on this... but it's straight from a 1974 Marvel house ad that introduced Wolverine.
Here's to you Wolvie...you've come a long way baby!
me
By: Paintgranny,
on 7/14/2010
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.
13 Comments on Wayzgoose 2010 - snippets, last added: 7/16/2010
By: Paul Conrad,
on 5/11/2007
My idea of heaven! How could anyone resist those papers?
Eeek! That antique table top printing press........ what a thing of beauty!!!!
Oh my, I'm drooling.
Thanks for the mention, Gretel.
That antique press is unique — made by Jabez Francis of Rochford, Essex, in about 1870. I didn't know a single one of them had survived.
You would never get me out of there, except if I was going home with it all : ) The paper Oh, the table press, double oh...
Temptations!
I love when I see things that I never knew existed on other blogs - thanks for the treat!
Wonderful stuff--wish I could have been there...
Mmmmmmmm! I can smell the printing ink! That antique press is dinky isn't it!And I love those decorative papers!
A remarkable post! Although too far from my professional interests, I'm glad I saw this virtual exhibition. I liked very much the link to the Shakespeare cards. I'll give it to my son when they begin to study Shakespeare's works at his High school. Thank you!
Such beautiful things . Lovely to see , thankyou !
Beautiful stuff!!! ^^
This all looks dangerously addictive. Wish I could have been there!