Oxford and Beyond

A little archive song

2010-08-18T08:55:00.000+01:00

Courtesy of Derangement and Description. Unfortunately I can't load it any bigger (??) but do click through and read it. Especially if you love archives. And finding aids.

I'm back + Bodleian family printing workshops

2010-08-17T09:30:00.007+01:00

It's been some time since my last post...we've been in Portland, and finishing projects for work, and now packing to move...

Anyway, while I work on some proper posts and get ready to share some photos, I thought I'd throw this out there:

The Bodleian is running Family Printing Workshops, with instruction provided by our very own maestro Paul Nash (he of the Strawberry Press). I wish I had a child I could steal/borrow/coerce into joining me - anyone have one they want to lend? I'm so excited about introducing kids to letterpress...

Anyhow, details:

Times: 2 – 4pm
Dates: Saturdays 18 September, 9 October, 23 October, 6 November, 20 November, 4 December and 18 December

This exciting two-hour workshop is led by Dr Paul Nash, a specialist in historic printing presses at the Bodleian Library. Paul will give a short talk on the history of printing, after which participants will set and print their own names in type. Some of the historic printing presses owned by the Library will be used during the workshop. The workshop is suitable for adults and children aged eight and over. Adults must be accompanied by a child and vice versa. Advance booking is recommended, as places are limited. The cost is £13 per person.

For tickets, please contact the Historic Venues Team by calling (01865) 277224 or emailing tours@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. More information will be (but is not yet) available on the Bodleian's website.

Photo from kvanhorn on Flickr

That's because it's not a real book...

2010-07-10T12:56:00.004+01:00

Apparently Microsoft wants to patent the look and feel of digital page turning. One more thing they have that no one wants, or the greatest invention in digital books? I say the first in general...it's fussy, it's corny, and it's annoying when you're trying to read a modern book. But that's mostly because (for me at least), I don't read modern books online the way I read them in print.

That said, it's fun to play with the Turning the Pages feature at the British Library, and we had the Kennicott Bible featured via the same software here at one of the Bodleian's exhibitions. I still think it's corny, but when it's fast and simple, perhaps it has its uses...

Last weekend, in pieces

2010-07-01T21:30:00.002+01:00

Argh. So busy having fun and studying for things and teaching and...whew. Which means I cover last weekend on Thursday, and haven't posted in aaaaaages.

The past few weeks have involved driving ranges, First Communions, lots of sun, bbqs, family birthday parties, tearing my hair out over metadata issues at work, and other craziness.

AND.

I go home in TWO WEEKS. And Cathy comes tomorrow.
Excellent.

Zoe now has the best guest bed. EVER.

And following sleep on said bed, we wandered through Columbia Road to flower shop, followed by chorizo and eggs in a sunny Spanish cafe. So. many. flowers. :)

The things that made my week

2010-06-26T11:47:00.004+01:00

Well. It wasn't the best of weeks, in some ways - but there were redeeming moments. Hitting out frustrations at the driving range, for example, followed by a drink by the river on an absolutely stunning evening. Friends over for dinner. Amaretto on ice. Dipping my toes in the river in the company of friends. Best friends to be seen tonight and next week. The US through to the next round. And hugs from Dean.

Also, this...Nole from Oh So Beautiful Paper first posted this print from Bespoke Press, and I love it so so much. So much.

...and this: You HAVE to check it out, especially if you are or ever have been a research student. It's called the PhD challenge. Your mission is to get the sentence "I smoke crack rocks" into a peer-reviewed academic publication. Prizes may or may not include

1 Box of Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup (your choice of flavor)
1 Autographed 8×10 Photograph of Nobel Prize Laureate Paul Krugman (tentative)
1 Pack of Leather Elbow Patches

How fun does that sound? If anyone tries, let me know!

Dad Day

2010-06-20T20:17:00.001+01:00

My dad rocks.

Just saying.

I'm on Twitter (for the first time ever)...

2010-06-18T14:32:00.003+01:00

Following a piece that was published on my Library Routes in the CILIP Gazette:

PaulineRowson

Well said Liz Gallagher Library Assistant @ the Bodleian. 'Anyone can touch what has changed the world; it's hard not to be amazed by that.'

Time does fly...

2010-06-15T21:22:00.004+01:00

You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.
~James Matthew Barrie

And many golden moments recently - hence no posts!!!

Too much to describe, so a few things in pictures:

A first 10k race...don't I look excited. Also like I have a blonde mohawk coming out of the red.

A birthday! With a birthday cake made by two of my favourite people!!

Lots of various other bits. My sister is at home after a year in Chile - earthquakes, working in a foreign language, and more. We finally booked our flights home for July (HOME! the FARM! PORTLAND!). I am eagerly awaiting the results of my TCRG exam. And I've finally dusted off the press again.

So. busy. Must. sleep.

'The world’s most pretentious bacterium. After Quentin Letts.’

2010-05-31T18:40:00.003+01:00

So remarks Jon Day (quoting Charlie Brooker), former fellow MSt-er, bike courier and occassional blogger extraordinaire. Read about 'Stately, plump M. mycoides' on the London Review of Books blog.

Oh and....

2010-05-27T15:28:00.001+01:00

If you haven't already read Nabakov's Pale Fire because of its awesomeness, then you should probably read it because of its new Stephen Doyle cover. And all the rest of of Nabakov, redesigned.

Via Book Cover Archive.

Oh yes indeedy.

2010-05-27T10:49:00.005+01:00

Some book loving to top off a satisfying few days of old friends and Ingrid Michaelson. And ice cream.

Update!!:
Ned has informed me that this is the Stockholm Public Library (thanks Ned!). Lucky lucky Swedes. Image is from Book Lovers Never Go to Bed Alone, via You Are My Fave.

Melissa's Library Invites

2010-05-18T14:21:00.002+01:00

Oh so lovely, via You Are My Fave.

My dad goes amazing places...

2010-05-13T14:38:00.001+01:00

It's a tough life, this living in Korea stuff.

(Although in fact living in another country is tough. Amazing, but tough. And I am proud of my dad for doing it.)

In honour of the day after Election Day (on which the politicians start to worry..)

2010-05-07T11:06:00.004+01:00

This lovely finger puppet. One of the joys of working for a political archive is the lengths to which some people will go to make politics humorous. I was having a cranky morning yesterday until this came, then spent a good twenty minutes laughing (we also got a stress ball featuring Gordon Brown's head). There are four more finger puppets, all with catchy slogans ('Gordy', Nick, Caroline, and Boris), all available from Rubbish Mag's shop.

A few more amazing tidbits...

2010-05-06T10:17:00.000+01:00

Ok, seriously. These rock. Again, courtesy of Newhouse Design. Quite possibly my absolute favorite at the moment. I mean, they made Library of Congress look cool.

Another lovely thing...

2010-05-04T09:59:00.000+01:00

I do love this. It's all courtesy of the amazingness that is Newhouse Design.

Embercombe: Creating a sustainable world

2010-05-03T10:23:00.010+01:00

So. At Zoe's suggestion (cuz she's cool like that and had been before), we spent the past few days at Embercombe in Devon. Embercombe is a sustainable farming community located in the middle of some of the most beautiful rolling hills and forest I've seen, about half an hour outside Exeter. The community's mission is 'to touch hearts, stimulate minds and inspire committed action for a truly sustainable world,' and I think they're doing a pretty amazing job of it.

Embercombe itself is about 6 acres of land - it was started in 1999 as a place to live sustainably and to teach others about that process. It now hosts a small number of permanent residents/staff, who maintain the land and run Embercombe's many outreach programmes (ranging from high school 'outdoor school' type things to corporate weekends). Various volunteers and friends pop in from time to time, and every month or so Embercombe hosts a 'Friends Weekend,' which is what we attended.
I grew up on a farm, and I was laughing to myself all weekend, since I spent hours weeding and working outside and doing all the things my mom used to have to threaten and cajole us into doing on Saturday mornings. Embercombe grows as much of its own food as it can, and part of its mission (or a result of its mission) means that Friends weekends give those who may not have regular opportunities to work outside or be a part of growing things a chance to do so. They (and I) believe that it is crucial to see and create the process by which we are fed and sustained - that by removing it, we lose our connection to the land - and then it's much easier to ignore it and consume thoughtlessly.

Embercome is also about working as a community. I had various conversations with other visitors, and part of the reason they came was to be able to work together with others who shared a vision of a sustainable future. Not only that, but the way Embercombe operates necessitates a return to working together, in a way that has largely been lost (90% of people don't even seem to know their neighbours' names these days, much less help them out regularly). This morning, I read a Design Sponge post on work parties, a sort of return to the old barn raising type idea - I also came across a New York Times article on the same concept, although here called Crop Mobs. There are things that cannot be done alone, or that, perhaps more often, are a waste of energy if done separately by each and every person or household. Economies of scale mean that cooking for 70 people (which I did! Wedding, here we come...!) is not that much harder than cooking for 6. How much better, how much more sustainable, if we all get together and do them with our neighbour, or friend, or whomever? Then when something else needs to be done at our place, they come and help?

I don't think I am really doing justice to the work of Embercombe - there's so much to say, and it's too much for a blog post. I at first wondered why there wasn't more emphasis on taking away what we got from Embercombe and doing big things with it. Then I realized that part of the beauty of it is that it allows each person to come and to connect and leave with what they need. For Zoe, for instance, this may mean the energy to go off and make world-changing environmental policy (because she can). For others, that may mean going home and growing their own tomatoes, or organizing a neighbourhood party, or making sure that they continue to come back in order to provide their children with an opportunity to grow and work and play.

I'm still thinking about what it means for me - but it was refreshing, and intriguing, and it made me think. Plus I made friends with a 3 year old who sings songs, a 10 year old with a tool belt and the skills to build bridges, an incredible leader who lives in a library van, a small scale farmer/homeopath from Cornwall, a mental health worker who wants to stimulate political action among young adults....and I got to spend a weekend in a beautiful place with good food and my best friend. In a yurt. With fires and marshmallows and cats. And tadpoles. And treehouses. And tea. Um, yes please?

Pictures courtesy of Zoe

Words to live by

2010-04-17T13:43:00.000+01:00

The Aardvark Manifesto, from the Keep Calm Galle ry:

Wow

2010-04-14T13:07:00.002+01:00

I have grown flowers. Successfully. Ones that smell good, too. Even Dean hasn't laughed yet (I'm trusting that's because he thinks it's also truly impressive, not because of some super-hero-like ability to keep a straight face).

Does anyone want to buy me this?

2010-04-13T11:13:00.003+01:00

Oregon 'Home' print by Aruppel on etsy

In fact, I might have to get it myself. It rocks.

Sorry for the no-post-wasteland of the past few weeks - busy busy busy. More to come.

#loveHE

2010-03-27T12:00:00.007Z

I think that I would be happy to go to school forever (if someone took care of the bills), so perhaps I'm a little biased. But it makes me SO ANGRY (so angry it's hard to speak about it) to hear a number of the discussions going around at the moment on the supposed 'uselessness' of higher education. Because it makes me angry and I've spent too long thinking about it, this may not be a very logically argued post. Just sayin'.

I entirely agree with those who point out that higher education, both in the US and the UK, needs a lot of work. If Universities aren't paying for themselves, then the government either needs to make funding a priority (duh...I argue that degrees trump the Olympics, Mr. AHRC), or find ways to make them more efficient. Efficiency is a Good Thing anyway, but the way to achieve it is not closing Classics departments or leaving professors to founder. Nor is it churning out thousands of PhDs who will never find jobs in academia, although I very strongly disagree with those like Thomas Benton, who argues in the Chronicle for Higher Education that graduate degrees in the Humanities are virtually worthless (Master's degree in English because you thought it would get you a job and now all you have is debt? Bad Idea. Master's degree because you loved every minute of it and all you ever want to do is talk about English even if it means you have to work in a shop? Debt, schmet.). There are problems in the system, in the divide between professional studies and liberal arts studies, in the funding issues - so fix the problem - don't discount the system, please.

Education ROCKS. And I struggle to see why a rising number of degrees raises so much anger here in the UK. Is it a class thing? I think it's partially an educational structure thing - here in the UK, you don't get a liberal arts education; you study One Thing. In my opinion, that's stupid, unless that one thing can still teach you how to think. And how to write. And research. And speak. And read. And all sorts of things that may not be part of a plumbing course, but can still help you make an incredible plumber. Or baker. Or scientist. Or teacher. Those who argue against degrees forget that major employers more often than not leap at the chance to hire someone with more education. And it's not because they've studied Media, or whatever - it's because they have a more mature mind, not in the 'no longer things about fart jokes' sense, but in the 'able to think abstractly and work with others' sense (well. they should anyway).

The Times Higher Education Supplement has begun a campaign, based in Twitter, called #loveHE. Part of the problem, it claims, is that Universities have an 'image problem'. The campaign ' is an all-embracing and unashamed way to champion higher education in all its multifaceted glory, from inside and outside the sector. ' Woohoo!!!! Plus Patrick Stewart is one of their supporters. Double woohoo!

But seriously. We need more of this. Let's stop saying why education is useless (please) and begin talking about why our society rests on a foundation of learning. Stop railing on education, because it's one of the most important things civilization really has going for it.

Blog It Forward: Sources of Inspiration

2010-03-23T06:00:00.002Z

Some readers may know about the extra-special Blog It Forward project that sfgirlbybay is running. It features over 300 (!!!) bloggers in an interconnected mashup extravaganza of inspiration. Yesterday, Out and About Africa talked about sources of inspiration (and there are a lot to choose from when you blog about such a beautiful continent!); tomorrow, Paislee Press will wrap up our section of the event.

So. What is Blog It Forward about? Things that inspire! Although I care way to much about staying on time and getting things done, there are quite a few things that manage to sweep me away/leave me awestruck and full of a desire to DO things - whether that do-ing is printing, reading, writing, starting projects, or just thinking or loving. Some of the many include:

books. libraries. people who love books. reading. words.

Bookshelf art by Timothy Taylor, found on librarynotebook. Isn't it cool?

I've written far to many essays on how enthralled I am by the fact that tiny scribbles on a page can change the world. Seriously. When you think about it, it's awe-inspiring. Entire civilizations and many of the things that make me laugh or cry rest on the power of a few scratches and some sounds. And its all in libraries. You can go and TOUCH what changed the world. How amazing is that?

dancing. Photo by Dean McCarthy

I am a dancer. Before I started 'real' classes (which led to daily Irish dancing and world travel), I made my parents' dinner guests sit down and watch my performances. Dancing, really dancing, is incredibly freeing. And a truly gifted dancer almost always makes me cry from sheer...I'm not even sure. Emotion? Power? Sometimes it just that it makes me want to get up and dance with my whole entire being.

people who think. and are curious. and wonder at things.

image via Apartment 34

Because they constantly make me question my own ideas and values. Because they let me love them (some of them at least). Because they create our world.

These are only a small few of the many things that inspire me. Others might include Dean (um that's a huge one. Dean is always pushing me to be a better person) Or daffodils. Or pie. Or my dearest friends. Or TYPOGRAPHY (that's also a pretty big one, actually). Or smiles. I could go on...

Oh dear.

2010-03-22T23:33:00.004Z

When you've given up chocolate for Lent, Vosges' Easter line is enough to make you weak in the knees. And drool. Hickory smoked almonds, grey sea salt, and deep milk chocolate? Yes please!

Plus they're like the cutest chocolate bunnies EVER.

Best. Video. Ever.

2010-03-19T21:25:00.003Z

Happy Friday! This made me smile (and cry a little - it was so joyful)!

Found on Wide Open Spaces, who found it on A Tribe Called Treese

War of the covers...um...worlds

2010-03-16T20:31:00.003Z

A certain Dr. Zeus has painstakingly collected images of all (or at least very many of) the book covers of War of the Worlds and put them online here. The book has been in print for over 100 years (since 1898), and there are at 378 covers in this online collection. Brilliant browsing time, whether you're a bibliographical afficionado and get all misty-eyed at the eras they represent, or whether you just think they're cool (or both).

Some of the worst (I mean...best?):

What does Tintin have to do with War of the Worlds?

Or this Tin Can Alien?

Or, um, the USS Enterprise?

That Old Book smell...

2010-03-12T22:45:00.005Z

Sometime sniffers of the Radcliffe Camera air vents may be interested to know that scientists have developed a technique for dating old books that relies on what all you know and adore - that 'old book' smell.

Apparently, the scientists described the smell as “a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness.”

Visit the original Los Angeles Times article for (slightly) more info, or treat yourself to the original article in Analytical Chemistry - entitled 'On the Smell of Old Books' and full of tasty tidbits on 'material degradomics.'

Wedding photos done right

2010-03-11T21:07:00.005Z

Some words of wisdom from A Los Angeles Love (discovered via East Side Bride)...

(with the added point that I do believe that wedding photos themselves are lovely and that not stressing over the perfect look etc. doesn't have to mean eschewing them entirely - keeping in mind the oh-so-reasonable concept that your wedding is NOT a production and you are not a Hollywood star)

"[People say]...Wedding season is around the corner and you "need" to look bikini-ready for that dress. And even worse than the how-do-I-lose-ten-pounds-fast-and-entirely-unhealthily panic is the oh-[crap]-I-have-to-take-pictures despair...

Turn away from those blogs right now and reclaim your wedding. For yourself. Because your love isn't ordinary. It's rooted in your unique how-we-met story and your own we-snorted-soda-out-of-our-noses stories and your individual how-the-hell-would-I-have-made-it-here-without-this-partner stories. Your love is gorgeous and obvious and entirely personal. And it will shine through in the pictures. And it will illuminate your faces with complete and utterly stunning joy."

Photograph of sheer joy from Lillian and Leonard

Little things...

2010-03-03T10:00:00.000Z

I'm well known for killing plants, but I'm quite proud of the first bloom on this....

I'm lame....

2010-03-02T20:44:00.004Z

...Because I haven't posted in days and days. You might think that means that I have such a glamourous lifestyle that I am too busy enjoying champagne at midnight and meeting famous people (you would be forgiven for thinking this - I know I give that impression sometimes). Actually, I have just been working A LOT and applying for MANY scholarships and trying to learn THOUSANDS of dance steps that are all the same but called different things (seriously. WHO wrote the TCRG book?).

That said, exciting things have actually happened to me. Dean and I found Atomic Burger and have now been twice in a week (that's impressive for us, but they have peanut butter milkshakes and play Star Wars clips, so we're kinda hooked). Zoe and I went to look at some wedding dresses - and got some serious attitude from the woman at The Bridal Room at House of Fraser (don't go there) - but also enjoyed a night out in Brick Lane, some amazing chicken, and Olympic curling. We then ventured into the UK's first Anthropologie (I know, I know, I can't afford anything there, but they have card catalogues. Card Catalogues. Why do they get to use them to display unaffordable pretty things when I have ACTUAL stuff I could put in them. Like pretty things? Or maybe spoons?). Anthropologie has...dun dun dun...the most amazing 'wallpaper' ever. A beautiful growing green wall:

Ok, most random post ever. Sorry.
Image courtesy of Biotecture, creator of the wall

12 Reasons Why Librarians Rule the World

2010-02-18T21:56:00.003Z

A colleague sent this today, and I thought it was eloquent and insightful while still containing some of that 'Yeah, I'm a librarian. I rock. Ha!' quality. Take, for instance, this excerpt:

"...Librarians often contrive for themselves this Luddite image. But they are in truth the most progressive and visionary figures in the whole university: like bloodhounds, always hot on the trail of the future. Their demure appearance is a cunning disguise which allows them to perpetrate their radicalism all the more effectively. It is a camouflage net thrown over an armoured vehicle...

...At the same time, there is nobody more conservative than a librarian. Their enthusiasm for constant change and reinvention springs from an even deeper commitment to what has been received from the hand of the past. The library is an angel whose wings are spread out in fierce and loving protection of the past, while its face stares deep into the eerie light of the future."

Um, see why I have the coolest job in the world?

Image of Denison Library at Scripps College - my alma mater and first library job...

He sent me ROSES :)

2010-02-13T14:02:00.003Z

Dean and I have the amazing luck of celebrating our anniversary (yeah, I know we're not married yet, but when you've been together six years (!!!!) you have to celebrate it because it's a wonderful thing) two days before Valentine's Day. So we have a whole weekend to celebrate us!

Last night we ate some lovely fish and salted caramel chocolate mousse at the Ashmolean Dining Room (current favorite restaurant font, by the way), and Dean is now the proud owner of a poster that reflects his outlook on life:

I know lots of people think Valentine's Day is stupid, but I don't. I even loved the cheesy Cinderella valentine's we gave everyone in 2nd grade. I know, I know, all the commercialism is crap and we shouldn't have to buy things to ensure that our loved ones know we love them...but it's a day for brownies and candy conversation hearts and paper goods that are lovely to look at and snuggles and all that is good - what's not to like? Seriously. Chocolate, paper and snuggles. Think about it.

Muffin Love

2010-02-11T20:07:00.003Z

So, when I made those muffins on Tuesday, I didn't realize that I was launching total muffin amazingness. No offence to those of you who may believe yourself the blueberry muffin queens, but Martha Stewart pretty much has it. All of it. Her recipe rocks. It is so so so yummy. Go make it now.

What are you waiting for?

Now.

Makes 1 dozen (yeah, well - 10 in my case)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter a standard 12-cup muffin pan and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Working over the bowl, toss blueberries in a fine sieve with about 1 1/2 teaspoons flour mixture to lightly coat; set aside the flour mixture and the blueberries.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a handheld mixer, beat butter and 1 cup sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. Mix in vanilla.
With the mixer on low speed, add reserved flour mixture, beating until just combined. Add milk, beating until just combined. Do not overmix. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the blueberries. Divide batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. If desired, in a small bowl, mix together remaining 1/4 cup sugar and nutmeg. Sprinkle sugar mixture on top of muffin batter.
Bake, rotating pan halfway though, until muffins are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of one muffin comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Turn muffins on their sides in their cups, and let cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PS. I am liking my new office vibe - we're creating a new team, and we've all been on a coffee muffins flowers in the office trip - lovely.

Image and recipe from Martha Stewart

Tuesday Night Muffins

2010-02-09T20:50:00.002Z

A quiet Tuesday night - it feels so good when I'm actually getting things accomplished. Especially when those things involve working out, baking blueberry muffins and making risotto, working on cards and filling my brain with typography - although I am also studying for my TCRG (Irish dance teacher's exam) and doing yet more scholarship applications. But Dean will be here soon to help me eat risotto, Regina Spektor is on Spotify and I have tea, so all is well.

Um...

2010-02-06T09:46:00.003Z

WHY do we have to have a groom's cake?! Can't a groom like a big cake? I'm pretty sure this goes into the category of wedding industry 'if you don't have this your wedding is not going to be as good as Jane's wedding and everyone will hate you and you will be so uncool and no one will ever like you again' scams.

Is it totally impossible to choose a cake you BOTH like? Is that so hard? I'm pretty sure Dean and I are both excited about our amazing secret cake plan.

Although, if he did want his own cake, he could have it. And I would make it for him.

PS. The amazing secret cake plan? Well, it's pretty amazing.

Image from Smitten Kitchen

Blah

2010-02-05T23:10:00.002Z

Having one of those Fridays...wish I could spend my weekend like this:

Photo by Pamela Hanson

Life is good

2010-01-30T19:44:00.003Z

So. While in London for a very important mission (more when I find out the result of said mission), I got to spend an afternoon with Zoe!!! (!!!!)

Can I just point out that it makes me so very very happy when I get to spend time with my closest friends? I am so so glad that Zoe moved to the UK. Who else would eat cupcakes with me? And let me just point out...that is no normal cupcake. It is a MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKE. Which makes it incredibly cooler.

Dear friends. Why must so many of you live in far away places?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

2010-01-25T12:55:00.003Z

They had a CARD CATALOGUE. And LIBRARY CARDS. At their WEDDING.

Too cool for words.

All from 100 l ayer cake

I mean, yes?!

2010-01-24T20:20:00.003Z

The League of Moveable Type. Dedicated to open source fonts!

Definitely on my exciting list. Especially after a day spent trying to move type around with frozen fingers. Having your 'studio' (I am calling it that now) outside is not so hot (haha literally) in the winter.

The things they should really teach you in school

2010-01-17T22:01:00.007Z

According to East Side Bride:

The groom will get bored with wedding planning. There will be entire days when he doesn’t want to talk about it.

What?! Really?! He's not going to be jumping up and down every day like this guy every time I bring up flowers?

Haha. This is going to be fun.

Picture from Snippet and Ink.

Typeface: The film

2010-01-16T11:59:00.006Z

Anyone in London next Thursday? How about Boise? Or Chicago later in the month? Love type? Then this is for you...

Typeface

The film.

I think it rocks. They have amazing posters (unfortunately my favorite is selling for $1000). I want to see it (if only it were the NEXT Thursday, when I'm in London anyway!).

I can't decide whether it's amazing or slightly bothersome that printing has become the new hip thing. On the one side...I stumbled upon it in part because it is (well - in part. Scripps and Scripps College Press, in combination with the Mills College program and Southern California fine press printing in general, formed a large part of my printing education. I spent hours archiving Scripps College material and learning about it as part of my work in the library there, and that's where it started. And I don't know that my learning about printing at Oxford, where the bibliography room has been going for decades, falls into the new hip and trendy category). The fact that it's new and cool makes it easier to find material. It means there are more people to share ideas and experiences with. It means when I go home to Portland I have exciting things to do. It means when I make stuff people admire it and will potentially (one day) buy it.

But it also means it's not the same small community anymore that I think it had been in the past (again, well...it's still small. Just not AS small). Not that I can claim to be a huge part of the community yet, but I'd like to have a little edge or corner one day. I don't want it to be the thing that EVERYone does. Maybe I just feel that way because everyone does it in Portland? Am I just being silly?

I guess it's the same as everything...you find a band no one knows about, then they're the next big thing. You start Irish dancing, then Riverdance comes along and everyone does it (ok - that's kind of specific to me, and it was because of Riverdance that I got to tour the world with a professional dance company). But you know what I mean - it's not your thing anymore, it's that thing that everyone does.

Anyhow.

Preview here:

Cheetos and all that

2010-01-14T09:02:00.003Z

At home, I'm not that big a fan of Cheetos. Or Fritos. When I can't have them 99% of the year, however, they rock.

I brought Dean a bag (Dean...hahaha...secretly me....) and we ate half of them at midnight last night. I love this man.

by the way who EATS Natural Cheetos? Either do it or don't....there's no healthy in between!

Miles and miles and miles....

2010-01-11T19:23:00.004Z

I HATE having the things I have most spread out over the world. I am very selfish and want them all in one place (and if that place were Portland I would be happier). Sigh.

That said, I am excited to be back with my man and also back at work (new projects ahead! what fun!). I had a lovely time relaxing in Portland, including wedding planning with Mom and seeing old friends. Highlights:

*Trying on wedding dresses with Mom and Cathy. We started with the new Elizabeth Dye dresses. So. Pretty. And Clara, who works there, was brilliant. When we stepped into a typical bridal shop I nearly turned and ran - they were all so...poofy. In the end though, there were some lovely ones...
*Cooking dinner with the guys, later joined by Steph and Ariel
*Catching up with friends I hadn't seen in years (!)
*Spending hours looking at paper and stamps and ribbons and other such printing geekery
*Seeing my brother and meeting his girlfriend
*Powells!
*Mexican food!
*Andrew's gig
*Dancing girls and coffee
*Reveling in the weirdness of our cat, Columbus

Images of Powells by Hunsonisgroovy

Home Sweet Home

2009-12-28T12:19:00.005Z

Ahhhhh, Christmas.

Zoe and I rocked the Christmas socks at 4am for the annual Christmas concert via webcam. It was so much fun!

And I finally managed to make properly heart-shaped pancakes!

I hope everyone had a wonderfully merry Christmas. I'm off to London for Dean's birthday celebrations, then home to Portland for 10 days (I can't even begin to explain how excited I am...as my little godchild Erin would say, Portland is my home sweet home).

Of White Christmases and Holiday Inns

2009-12-22T13:56:00.004Z

I was watching Holiday Inn while I got ready for work this morning, and it put me in a Christmas-y mood (especially as I'm not working tomorrow - oh how I wanted to sleep in today!). Don't be deceived by my photo - that's last year on the farm. There's snow all over the rest of the country, but at the moment Oxford is determined to produce only

ice.

Sadness.

Dean and I wrapped presents last night for his family. We used my new gift tags, and brown craft paper, and it was lovely. Tonight is more wrapping, printing, tree-trimming, holiday-movie-watching, perhaps popcorn or cookie eating loveliness.

Tomorrow Zoe comes - we're getting up at 4am to watch our best friends' annual Christmas concert via Skype. Speaking of Christmas traditions...this is the best one.

EVER.

It all started 10 years ago with a penniless college student...now those students are professional musicians of some pretty high calibers (Andrew Oliver, of Sextet, Kora Band, etc. fame, Scott Kennedy, of Bridgetown Sextet and others, and a few other people always thrown in for good measure and more fun - last year we had an organ in the instrument line-up!). The concert is a gig for friends and families, in someone's living room (usually barely containing everyone), and with lots of food and drink. It's the best thing ever, and I HATE missing it. Last year we drove three hours through snow to get there.

I love my friends.

2009-12-21T15:11:00.003Z

The first rough production from my printing press - Dean's idea, actually! We had to do it on the kitchen table instead of in my shed (TOO COLD - hasn't passed about 34 in days and it's supposed to snow again tonight), and it was all very cozy and fun. My Adanas don't have rollers yet, so we did the whole press-the-ink-pad-up-to-the-type thing...I taught Dean about leading and spacing, and he told me to relax about the rough printing :).

I do love Christmas!

It's Tuesday!

2009-12-15T23:10:00.007Z

So. Tuesday's not usually an especially amazing day, but it marks the almost end of a crazy work month...from here til Christmas things will be a lot more relaxed. You wouldn't beLIEVE how hard it is to think of funny Christmas jokes.

I heard Philip Pullman read tonight at the Bodleian, as part of a the A Outrance book launch (more here - it's a charity publication from Oak Tree Fine Press, and it involves woodcuts and designer bookbinders and it's cool). Pullman was reading bits from the bear fight in the Dark Materials trilogy, and he is an AMAZING reader. He ROARED like a bear. Seriously good.

In other notes, I had the best cheesy heart-killing pasta with Will tonight and received my first Christmas present before baking gingerbread and listening to Bing Crosby's Christmas music...

By the way, above picture is from The Rabbits, written by John Marsden and illustrated by Shaun Tan. It's an award-winning kids' book from Australia, a sort of allegory on colonisation, and the illustration is SO GOOD. Lots of words and image play, and so witty (while remaining quite serious...it's a serious subject...).

image from Shaun Tan's website

Doing the happy (sleepy) dance

2009-12-14T17:15:00.004Z

So. Clearly I have been remiss in my up-to-date-ness here, but things have been rather busy (but exciting. I photographed PD James. I did a very important work thing. I will photograph Roy Strong. I am not a photographer, but I am learning.)

But

I have BIG news.

I got not one...but TWO (two!!!) printing presses. Thanks to the eagle eyes of a friend, we came away with an ebay lot that equalled an entire vanload for...£130 EACH!!!

Unfortunately my focus has been on sleep, Dean, and Christmas presents more than printing recently, but I have had time to go ooooh and aaaah. Huzzah!

In other news, old friends have been to visit, I've hit about a kazillion Christmas parties (more to go!) and I can't wait for the libraries to close so I can sleep. But I am very happy with myself!

PS. Christmas is so soon....I love Christmas.

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

2009-12-01T19:27:00.005Z

(Zoe and I after a successful afternoon of cooking)

(Yes, that ivy is from the park. And it was free. Woohoo!
But we do need matching plates...)

(this isn't even everything...yum)

Ok, I did miss my family (a LOT), but I had Dean and Zoe! And Zoe and I successfully stole greenery, roasted 15 pounds of chicken, and coordinated seating and LOTS of food for 10 people. It was much much fun (and was made even more so by Thanksgiving Part Two on Sunday at Kim's).

all pics courtesy of Zoe

Tube love

2009-11-29T23:21:00.005Z

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving full of pie! Exciting things (hint...printing press progress and Thanksgiving pics) coming soon, but in the meantime, join me in my love of old maps and London stuff. I'm always amazed at how early London actually had an Underground! As the maps are now changing (even more than in previous years - the maps actually change a little bit every year), the Guardian did a little piece on the history of the Tube map - enjoy it here!

Image from The Guardian

Typography loves

2009-11-23T11:47:00.004Z

I've been holding back on (who I am kidding, I've been forgetting to post) some typographical/printing happenings of recent weeks...so here goes!

One: If you run across Sinister Bird press, it's cool. It's run by two girls from Dartington Art College who basically spent two-three months living out the back of a little van and driving around the country, staying with friends of friends or sleeping in the van and printing a page on an Adana in the van in just about every place they stayed. Coolio.

Two: Even Dean thought this was cool. And he's learning more about printing! PS. If anyone wants to get me this book for Christmas, go for it. I'll be hurt but I'll understand if you only get me the mass market edition.

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

Three: Check out this article on typography, courtesy of Paul Nash (world's coolest printer and wearer-of-the-Bodleian-printer's-hat) via the NYTimes. Best line: “I think sometimes that being overly type-sensitive is like an allergy.” Well said.

Ughs and Yays

2009-11-21T21:47:00.002Z

Things that do NOT rock:
The flu
Tough days at work
Creepy guys

Things that definitely DO:
Seeing old friends
Little kids looking up to you
Working on Christmas cards and presents
Finishing grad school applications (AGAIN)
Fiances rushing back from work because you're ill (even when they can't do anything but be there. There's a reason I'm marrying this man)

Also. A plea: I am theoretically working on a blog for one of my jobs...this blog will be to market and highlight items from a political archive. I'm researching various blogs, but what I really DO NOT want this blog to be is an oh...well...look we got this thing today...sigh...boring. Anyone seen any really snazzy library/archive blogs? Anyone have any advice?

And more books...

2009-11-13T16:15:00.001Z

From Emily Dickinson-

There is no Frigate like a Book (1286)

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul –

Library Routes

2009-11-11T15:15:00.003Z

Since it kept cropping up in various places (a comment here, an article there, and then I profiled it for our staff newsletter), I decided it was finally time to write my own post for the Library Routes Project.

A bit by way of explanation: The Library Routes Project is trying to encourage librarians, or those in the library and information sector, to write about their ‘library roots’ and ‘library routes’ – how they got into the profession and why they’re there. If you haven’t had a look and you’re in or interested in the profession, please go visit! I’ve spoken to the creators, and they’re so excited about the project and way it’s taken off.

So. Off we go…I’ll take a cue from Ned Potter’s post and do a roots/route thing…

Roots
My family loves books. Seriously. You have no idea. Our attic (where we put all the books that don’t fit on our shelves downstairs) is causing the whole house’s roof to sag, because there are too many books in it. We took “adventures” to Powell’s when I was little, because we loved it. Books were important because they were beautiful, but also because of what they contained – words were important.

When I arrived at Scripps for college, I popped into the library with my family. Within five minutes, my father had charmed the librarian into giving us a tour of the rare book room, and I’d applied for a job. I didn’t realize it until much later, but it was that job that did it for me. Not only was I working in a beautiful library, helping people find what they needed, but I got to spend one day a week working in special collections. I catalogued two archives (one related to a former dance professor with seriously deep ties everything that was going on in modern dance), and I discovered artists’ books.

I left for Oxford to do a Master’s in English, with plans to go on to journalism/academia. But we had to take a bibliography class, and I got to take a letterpress class, and I did more research into artists’ books. Then I happened to meet someone in conservation who was so excited about library work that he got me thinking. THEN I met a member of special collections at a dessert, and he told me about trainee opportunities in the Bodleian.

Routes
That’s when it suddenly clicked – although I loved journalism, and I loved academia, I loved libraries more (And what am I doing now? Helping academics, researching book history, and writing for a library-based newsletter. Funny how things work out). I began speaking to more people in the Bodleian about their jobs, and I started volunteering in Rare Books. I applied for and was offered a trainee job at the Bodleian, and spent the year working in all of its departments (very whirlwind, very amazing). I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be in special collections, but I realised what I hadn’t really grasped before – that I loved (LOVED) helping readers.

At the moment, I work in a number of positions for the Bodleian – in a political archive, in the communications department, in the reading rooms on the weekend, and in other capacities on my own time (I’m doing some work with 17th-century library records and bindings and learning Latin for it). It gets a bit hectic going from job to job, but I’m extremely happy doing it. I’m combining the best of all my worlds. The library world is changing, and rare books/special collections may seem like the “old” kind of thing, but they actually offer so many opportunities to find new ways of presenting material. And who am I fooling…they’re just cool (OK, keep in mind I’m the kind of person that has been known to jump up and down because she bought some type for printing by hand or touched an amazing binding).

Anyway, the gist of that is that you have to keep your eye open for opportunities these days, but they’re there…you can be involved in libraries in so many different ways, whether you’re interested in computers or books or people!

Image of Ulris Library Stacks via eflon's Flickr

The oh-so-continuing obsession with card catalogues part 1 billion, plus an amazing chandelier and my new favorite outfit

2009-11-05T17:09:00.005Z

Whew. What a title.

As for the card catalogue - I was watching The Big Bang Theory last night and noticed that Leonard and Sheldon (TV's geekiest pair) HAVE A CARD CATALOGUE IN THEIR APARTMENT. If I don't get one soon I might...I might...I don't know, but it will be scary.

I need to get a printing press soon as well. If anyone knows a of a cheap Adana or the like, let me know.

Now for the chandelier:

Nole of Oh So Beautiful Paper posted this chandelier from Pottery Barn. A little out of my price range, given our rented house and lack of desire for rewiring anything, but I could do something with it that didn't require any actual wires, couldn't I? Because I kind of love it.

Also, I do so love this outfit. I found it on i am a greedy girl. Enough said.

Photo of dress from Nadinoo via i am a greedy girl. Photo of amazing chandelier from Oh So Beautiful Paper, originally from Pottery Barn (links above)

Halloween and Hargreaves

2009-10-31T18:02:00.003Z

Isn't Dean's pumpkin cool? We just put it up in the front window. We're not expecting many trick or treaters (it's the UK...they've been a bit slow on the Halloween uptake), but I insist on having treats and decorations!

On to other things...a most productive day including bulb planting and Christmas baking (for the freezer). On the continuing subject of my family rocks, my mother makes things grow from nothing and knows how to plant anything at any time. I don't. Argh. (Other things she can do that I did NOT inherit: sewing things that require spatial awareness and striking up conversations with total strangers).

And as I mentioned at some point, I won Frank Baker's Miss Hargreaves in a giveaway on Simon's blog. He's reviewed it, as have many others, but I'll say again that the book is a quick read and especially sweet. 'Droll' may be a bit of an old-fashioned word, but it suits.

Norman and Henry are on holiday in Northern Ireland and are trying to get into the village church. When the vicar proves dull and rather un-encouraging, they invent Miss Constance Hargreaves - an old woman they claim as a common acquaintance (Surely you know Miss Hargreaves?). Their little joke continues as they invent her cockatoo, her lap dog, and her bathtub. For kicks, they write to her at her hotel and invite her to visit.

The 'Spur of the Moment' (I appreciated the books judicious use of capital letters), however, is a dangerous thing, and Miss Hargreaves herself arrives to see Norman shortly after his return from holiday. He can't get rid of her without turning the whole town against him, but she just won't go away...

Thanks very much to Simon for the book, and I recommend it for a quick read or a Christmas present!

Oh yes.

2009-10-29T23:44:00.003Z

It's amazing. AMAZING. I'm actually not sure if I'd hand it out...is it too over the top? But still AMAZING. And clearly suitable for my industry. It's designed by Eric Stevens of Tower of Babel, who I now believe rocks.

Image from simple + pretty (and courtesy of eric stevens; tower of babel design)

My family rocks

2009-10-27T18:37:00.003Z

If any of you ever read the comments on my posts, you'll have seen that my Dad mentioned he may get to visit the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Why is this cool, you ask? Well. TINTIN. Enough said.

My dad is also travelling the world based on certain famous anthropologists. Accidentally, maybe, but that doesn't matter.

Also, my uncle sent my sister an email from his cat. It was amazing. So is she. She's Woofing in Chile. And my brother is working for the SW Conservation Corps in the Arizona desert. Argh it's cool.

Image from Raffles website

Explain to me again why I'm not there?

2009-10-22T07:45:00.005+01:00

AND they have a card catalogue as shelves. Remember that obsession? Yeah.

Even though it would be kinda silly to get a hotel when I go home when I have my mom's beautiful farm to go to (plus a billion friends' houses), I really want to stay at the Ace Hotel. It's just that cool.

Going to get my ring sized today.....!!!!

Image of the Ace Hotel from SFgirlbythebay via gruber

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-18T17:04:00.003+01:00

I'm engaged. Yup. I'm doing a little engaged-person dance right now (it's kind of funny and would probably make Dean reconsider. But hey).

We were out at Dean's students' end of year deal, with all the staff and our friends as well. And he gave a big speech to the students about how they have done well, what they should do to keep doing well...and then said that they needed a 'me,' and loads of lovely sweet things about us. And then he proposed.

It was so cool. I am the luckiest girl ever.

Read All Day

2009-10-17T16:03:00.004+01:00

I'm torn...part of me says, "How cool is this woman?" She's Nina Shankovitch, and she's reading book a day for a year. She gets to spend all year doing what is one my absolute favorite things in the world, just because. She will emerge after 365 days with so much more understanding, although maybe some eyestrain as well. And she's clearly doing something right with her kids as well; according to this New York Times article, "Peter, her 16-year-old, is reading Pynchon; the 14-year-old, Michael, reads Ayn Rand and political screeds like those by Al Franken; and asked what kind of books he likes to read, George, the 11-year-old, replied, 'Long books.'"

At the same time though...she's having to give up just about everything else in order to accomplish her goal - by her own words, "the garden, The New Yorker, wasting time online, ambitious cooking, clothes shopping, coffee with friends" (from the above article). No friends? And as far as I can tell, no job? No baking cookies? Hmmmmmmm.

I would LOVE to have more reading time, and I read pretty quickly, but I think even I would find myself frustrated with trying to finish a book a day. And although I'm pretty sure reading is one of the most enriching things in life, there are other things it would be a shame to miss...

That's my take anyhow. Regardless, it's still cool. And she's got some pretty interesting choices. Check it out!

Image from Iguana Joe made available under a Creative Commons licence

Random Find: Eye-Pod

2009-10-13T19:29:00.003+01:00

So. Will and I were sitting on the front steps of the Clarendon Building having lunch, and all of a sudden about 30 steampunk-ish dressed people came wandering by. Steampunk is not really a typical Oxford thing (somewhat surprisingly...it would fit quite well), so we were both a bit bemused.

Five minutes later, I was walking down Broad Street, and realised that they had all come from the Museum of the History of Science, which is hosting a Steampunk art exhibition. Somehow I missed this (was there press? I didn't see it!), but I had a quick wander through and really enjoyed it. It's not particularly large (I spent about 15 minutes there, and even a sloooow wander would probably only take about half an hour), but it's curated well. I don't know a lot about the steampunk scene, although it theoretically combines things about which I get very excited (fashion? science? Victorians? yes, please); even if you're not into it so much, the artwork is amazing. My particular favorite was the Eye-Pod, by Dr. Grymm, which got me Googling...needless to say, there's a lot of incredibly talented stuff out there, and I would really like this clock by Eric Freitas:

The lineup of events surrounding the exhibition sounds great (lectures on Science and History of Fashion, learning about clockwork, craft days, and film nights -- see the Museum's page for details). If you're in Oxford, have a look!

Eye-Pod image courtesy of Dr. Grymm's blog, clock image from MHS Steampunk blog

MMMMMM

2009-10-10T19:42:00.003+01:00

Excuse the rubbish picture, but PhotoBooth seemed far easier than camera right now! Last night, when I should have been going to sleep to be ready for work today, Dean read my mind and asked if I would "pleeeease bake something." The staff canteen at work had these new lemon muffins yesterday, and I kept staring at them and thinking of the jar of lemon curd in my fridge...and then Dean asked...of course, I had to make them. Lemon muffins with lemony cream cheese frosting. They made a great breakfast!

Anyhow, in other news:
my Dad had breakfast with koalas today
a high school trio of friends reunites tomorrow morning
I got a new (half) a job (my other half stays the same)
and I will be posting soon on this Noble Peace Prize business...

Huzzah!

2009-10-07T12:53:00.002+01:00

I acknowledge it's sappiness, it's possible misogyny, and all other flaws. But I still LOVED The Time Traveller's Wife (although not so much the film). It might have something to do with the fact that it pulls at all the right heart-strings, or that it was a present from my best friend, or that Henry is a rare books librarian, or that Audrey Niffenegger already rocks because she's a book artist (yes she is. She is COOL).

So I've been waiting patiently for her new book to come out, something I don't usually do quite so expectantly. And it came. To me. Yesterday. I started it this morning, while munching on blueberry-muffiny goodness. And although I can't say much yet, I can tell you it's off to a good start. One character is (was) a rare books dealer. Another gives tours in Highgate Cemetery and writes on Victorian death rituals. I am so excited.

Review to come. Plus my take on Miss Hargreaves...

PS. My sister is spending six months in Chile working on organic farms. How cool is that?

image from Amazon.co.uk

Words for the Day

2009-10-05T21:15:00.004+01:00

I went searching for a quotation I think of from time to time, and decided it was posting it here...

stay together
learn the flowers
go light

-Gary Snyder, from Turtle Island
1974, New Directions

Card Catalogues

2009-10-03T15:30:00.002+01:00

So. As Dean knows, I've been lusting after a card catalogue/apothecary table for the house. It wouldn't aaaaactually fit anywhere. But I still want it. And Uppercase read my mind. Sigh.

Other things I'm thinking about:

-getting over this stupid flu
-seeing Zoe tomorrow for the Chiswick Boot Sale
-seeing Dean's family for the first time in what seems like aaages!
-finishing the latest Holmes/Mary Russell book!

photo from Uppercase

Ahhh, cheese

2009-09-27T22:45:00.002+01:00

Great day. Great weekend. Great visit with Zoe all week, in fact. Highlights of weekend:

-Motown karaoke with a five piece band (well, we watched). Getting back from London on the Oxford Tube at 6am. Making breakfast, then going to bed.

-Lunch in the sun on the grass by the river in the Botanic Gardens (whew! prepositions galore)

-Lots and lots of catching up with Zoe

-THE GREAT BRITISH CHEESE FESTIVAL!!!!!!
-8am. Yummy omelettes with Zoe. Tea.
-8.30am. Walk over the river to Will's house. Mist rising, ducks swimming, silly rowers rowing.
-9am. Will's house. Get in the Peug.
-9.40am. Try to stop at Halfords. Not open yet. Employees...drinking...outside.
-10-12.53. Car Talk. Rest stops. Amazing bridges. Wales. Cardiff!!!
-1pm. Planning meeting. Decide cider is a must. Enter cheese line.
-1.20-2pm. EAT CHEESE. ALL KINDS. Favorite: Blacksticks Blue
-2.10pm. Eat amazing chickpea burger. Lay on grass in sun. Amazing.
-2.30pm. CHEESE MASTERCLASS. Sample more cheese. Get loads for home. FREE.
-4.00pm. Buy cheese. Watch cheese tossing contest. Lay on grass.
-5-8pm. Drive home. Play Cheddar Gorge with cheese theme in car.
-Rest of night. Eat soup. Snuggle. Contented cheese exhaustion.

Horoscope

2009-09-25T00:25:00.001+01:00

According to WW's horoscopes, I "currently have a certain resemblence to a vacuum cleaner or a hungry baby or a mini black hole." Woohoo.

Things About Which I Am Very Excited

2009-09-21T22:10:00.000+01:00

ZOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOMORROW!!!! (one of my closest friends is moving to London, which means we will at long last live in the same country)

Kids who don't know how hair changes colour (3 year olds who say, "how did you DO that?")
My sister, who is going to work on a farm project in Chile
The bottle of champagne that may get opened to welcome Zoe tomorrow
Nina Simone (constantly recently)
Chili chocolate from Hotel Chocolat
The doily garland/pennant thing that is now hanging in my room
Last but not least...my new hair. Well, I am still deciding whether it really excites me, but it definitely does something. The pic makes me look slightly scary, but Dean's been working too hard to take any more and I'm not so hot in the self portrait department.

Procrastination

2009-09-20T14:03:00.004+01:00

So. I am, once again, writing grad school application statements. For another Master's. People look at me skeptically when I say that. And it's amazing how much you forget about school apps in one year off... And I have to write about how my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE is one big happy ball of diversity. Pretty much, anyhow. When all I really want to write about is how much I love library work. I know I can make them come together, but while I (pretend to) think about it, I'm doing things like making the above card and downloading the 500 Days of Summer playlist onto my Spotify. And drinking tea out of my new teapot (yay!). And anticipating reading Miss Hargreaves, thanks to Simon of Stuck In a Book!

PS. My hair is now red. Dark red. Will post a picture later, since Dean has promised to take some nice ones.

Happy Smile!

2009-09-09T21:51:00.001+01:00

I love libraries.

image from Lis News

This Makes me SO MAD

2009-09-07T19:21:00.002+01:00

Argh. Seriously. I was shaking with disbelief after watching this. I am not trying to offend anyone, but I simply cannot believe that at some point it stopped being ok for our President to encourage children to work at school and have a little awe of the work of our politicians. And how can they possibly claim that this is the first time a president has ever addressed schoolchildren? I'm hesitant to have even embedded it here, but....splutter...argh...grrrrrrrr:

But then I did laugh after reading the Guardian's take on it here.

Abe Books and the Weird Book Room

2009-09-05T13:21:00.002+01:00

Check it out here. 'Nuff said.

Image from AbeBooks

We all live in ... a great big ship?

2009-08-28T16:56:00.000+01:00

My Dad rocks. After a full law career and a few years teaching locally (he taught law stuff, history, ethics, literature, writing, and even Spanish to college students), he's off on THIS SHIP to Asia as a part of the Naval College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE). He's teaching history and seeing amazing things. Dad is always one for meeting people, so he's been touring with local college students, having intelligence officers give special presentations to his classes, and helping with immigration cases. A VERY different experience, but pretty cool.

Picture from wiki

I'm supposed to be saving money, but...

2009-08-27T17:14:00.002+01:00

I had to buy this because it ROCKS. Please check out Catherine Deeson's other work, because it's pretty amazing!

I know that spending money isn't supposed to make me happy, but this did. It was only £2!

Other things that are making me happy:
-the homemade jam I made!
-a long run
-my new job
-Zoe coming SO soon!

Image from Catherine Deeson's website

Wow.

2009-08-24T20:04:00.000+01:00

Mad Hatter (copyright Su Blackwell)

The Story of Peter Pan: The Pirate Ship (copyright Su Blackwell)

Knowing my tastes in book art and beautiful things (and sharing them herself), a friend sent me a link to Su Blackwell's work. Seriously lovely. And the fact that she uses books like Peter Pan and Alice...even better!

Mmmmm

2009-08-21T21:53:00.003+01:00

This is why I love him. I called Dean to say, "What should we have for dinner tonight because I've just had cocktails and looked at rare books and don't feel like the dinner I had planned?" He said, "Let's make our own In-n-Out burgers. Veggie-style. With animal fries." And we did. THEN he made milkshakes to go with them. Although I feel about a million pounds heavier, it was soooo good.

PS. Do you like my new tablecloth? I think it rocks. It's all a part of my new obsession with Cowley's retro shop.

Triffid Love

2009-08-20T21:20:00.003+01:00

Ok. I'm really tired, and have had a busy two weeks, and I'm struggling just to finish work and living things, so blog posting will be short. More to come, because I'm super excited about what my Dad is doing right now. But as a short in-betweener, I'll say that I just finished John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids. In addition to all the brilliant Soviet-hating, oil-crisis-fearing, civilisation-is-bringing-horrible-things-upon-itself (including satellite warfare and biological terrorism), look-we-can-rebuild-humanity-but-even-better stuff going on, it's just an entertaining science fiction read. The type you know makes a great cheesy 60s/70s sci-fi film (and it did...). AND it had a great book cover.

Image via Wikipedia

And the cat came back...

2009-08-18T20:51:00.002+01:00

While sifting through and cataloguing soap advertisements today (some of them highly amusing), I found what I think might top a whole year's worth of such things: An ad for Johnsons' Dyers and Dry Cleaners from the 1920s, cut into the shape of a black cat, sporting tears, bandages, and in particular a cloth bandage over one eye. The cat was supposedly injured trying to leave Johnsons' for another drycleaners (gasp!), and the back warns other customers to take note, or face a similar fate.

Don't you think the customers thought it was a bit odd....??

Image from here

Health Care Fun

2009-08-12T22:45:00.004+01:00

Right. Maybe I'm missing something? Except I don't really think so. I've been absolutely shocked by the vehemence, rudeness, and violence with which many Americans are greeting Obama's healthcare proposals. Although the proposals themselves haven't had much press over here, the violence has (see the Times here, and the BBC here (a little more out there), and the Guardian here). And it's generating what has become a concerted movement by the UK government, who feel they now have to defend the NHS against American criticism, both to the US and to UK citizens themselves (see Will's blog entries here and here for commentary and links to media reactions). There's even a "we love the nhs" twitter campaign.

So. I know that free healthcare is not perfect. I live in the UK. I use the NHS. It takes two weeks to get x-rays back. It takes a week to get the results of mono test (what if it had been mono? um...well, oops). But. It's free. FREEEEE. And although it's slow and has lots of things wrong with it, I'd argue that it's no more messed up than the US system (although I did love Kaiser...sigh...30 minutes for blood test results) -- just different and wider-reaching in a wonderful way. If you're interested in what I feel is a well-written quick account of an American's experience with the NHS -- that is, decent and adequate but not always perfect -- see here.

I suppose that I'm puzzled here not by the particulars of the new health care proposals (which could probably use some work -- although what many people are failing to realise is that there are many points in the bill that have bipartisan support), but by the insane shouting match that's followed. Since when has opposing the right to basic health care, whether provided by the government or otherwise, become a matter of patriotism and nation-bashing? As the NYT put it, "Many Republicans view fighting the president as a smart political strategy, turning a potentially wonkish debate over Medicare reimbursement rates and subsidies for the uninsured into an ideological battle over the government’s role in health care."

So this clearly isn't about health care, at least not for the people who are brawling at town hall meetings. They forget that the government already spends quite a lot of money on their health care, especially if they're retired, a veteran, or disabled. This has descended into what I hate to say is the worst of America, although perhaps it's the worst of many countries -- a fear of change causing violence and a determined ignorance blocking conversation. I'm not saying everything about this plan is great. We should be having lots of heated discussions about it, so that it eventually becomes better and better, in whichever direction is best. But punching matches and anti-NHS? Not cool, and downright stupid.

Lovely By Surprise and Flann O'Brien

2009-08-10T10:22:00.001+01:00

Ok, I haven't actually seen the film yet (more later when I do), but it seems intriguingly like my favorite favorite book, At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien (if you link to Wiki please don't believe absolutely everything it says. Well. It's literary criticism and I happen to differ from certain critics' opinions). In AS2B, writer writes about student who is writing about a novelist whose characters decide it's 'undemocratic' to be forced to fill their roles. They rebel, put novelist on trial, etc. (I. Love. This. Book. I wrote my Master's dissertation on it and still love it. It rocks).

So, from what I can gather about Lovely By Surprise (a Kirt Gunn film), the author is writing about fictional characters whose connections to reality become so real that they begin to influence her actions. I suppose there are other books/ideas that may have influenced the film, but of course I like to believe in O'Brien :). I want to see it. If anyone has/does, please let me know!

Brilliant

2009-08-07T19:58:00.003+01:00

Someone did a typography tour of Portland. They rock.

A note to my two cities:

Oxford, I do like you. You're pretty cool, and when it comes to typography you can hold your own. Plus, Dean's in you.

But Portland, I think you have my heart.

An ugh followed by a yay

2009-08-04T11:11:00.005+01:00

I love my friends. I'm sick at home today and really annoyed because I've only got three weeks left of this job, I really like it, and I don't want to miss any (plus I've got things to do!). A few minutes ago, the doorbell rang, and the mailman handed me a belated birthday present from my good friend Meagan in NYC. She sent me not only a beautiful card, but Kusmi tea!!!!! I think it was Meagan who first gave me Kusmi to try (she's always been much more savvy about tea than me), but it really only clicked last summer when Arathi and I were in Paris and tried the most fantastic green tea ever. It's pretty hard to get over here, so I'm so pleased that now I can minister to my sore throat with the best! Thanks Meagan!

Picture from www.kusmitea.com

I'm Baaaaaaaaack!

2009-08-01T17:31:00.002+01:00

I'm back from Berlin!!! And it was such an amazing city. Pictures to follow (Dean usually likes to vet which ones I use so I make his photography look good!), but here were some highlights:

-baby animals at the zoo!
-architecture. simply amazing. I was expecting far more ugly cement, but even the ugly cement was covered in interesting graffiti (parts of East Berlin were very foreign...an entirely different atmosphere)
-sun. more sun.
-the beer garden in the Tiergarten
-going out in Fredrichshain (the coolest club ever...in an old factory site, with two indoor floors, one with a foosball table and a college common room vibe, outdoor seating in the trees and between interesting old factory buildings covered in some really beautiful graffiti, food stand with great barbecue, a climbing wall, abandoned buildings to explore, a skate park...it goes on. It was cool.)
-spending time with Dean without either of us stressed about work
-spending time with Dean in general :)
-Karoline came to visit!

Whew!

2009-07-26T18:40:00.003+01:00

picture via Retro to Go

Sorry for the posting delay. Things will be slow for the next week as well (unless I find lots of free wifi in Berlin, which is possible. Then again, I might be busy relaxing in the city with Dean, yay!).

Cathy just left today (saaaadness), but we had a wonderful, wonderful time. Because both of us have spent a good bit of time in London, we got to do some things that were more off-the-beaten-path-ish. Highlights:

*Fashion and Textile Museum's underwear exhibit (Cathy did her thesis on women's underwear and I just like looking at corsets)
*Wine and cheese from Borough Market
*Whole Foods Thirsty Thursday (£5, 5 wines, 5 canapes. Fantastic)
*Laughing. A lot.
*Getting a private tour of Sangorski and Sutcliffe's bindery and seeing their new Ian Fleming collections!!!!!!!!! (ok, this might actually belong above everything else except laughing)
*Harry Potter :)
*Late night Friday at the V & A (ok, been there a billion times, but it's still my favorite museum in the WHOLE WORLD)

Plus, I'd always wanted to live/stay close enough to Hyde Park to go running by the Serpentine every morning. I never knew that many people went for early morning swims at the Lido! It was an absolutely fantastic trip, complete with lots of time with a good friend, many glasses of wine, and just the right amount of chocolate!

Jealous!

2009-07-20T22:05:00.001+01:00

from Em-Space

So, while spending a few hours on a little project I have in mind, I returned to the Scripps College Press web pages and am dazzled by the quality of the student productions. Why did I not realise this was going on while I was there?!!!!! I worked on the library's artists' books and helped sort out all the broadsides the press ever did, but somehow this never clicked. Grrrr. I know I'm pretty lucky where I am, and I've learned a LOT about printing and design over the past few years, but still...

Following on that, I was alerted to this recent event on Simple + Lovely. Portland now has a Book Arts Center, Em-Space (looove the name too!). I do miss my city.....

I would so be there.

Genius

2009-07-19T22:21:00.001+01:00

image from The Letter

Book Seer
I love it: Tell it what you just read, and it tells you what to read next.

Oh yes, thoughts needed!

2009-07-18T21:43:00.001+01:00

from SF Girl By the Bay

Cathy and I will be in London some of next week...I've got some plans (I never run out of things to do in London, even after living there!), but does anyone want to suggest any beloved haunts or fun things going on next week? We like art, markets, green things, shopping, cheese, wine, coffee, architecture...um, just about anything!!!!

Space, yo

2009-07-17T21:25:00.005+01:00

From Great Images in Nasa

I attended Catweazle again last night to hear the fantastic Faceometer (and other such talented beings as The Mountain Parade and an amazing Middle Eastern band)...Will did his space shanty in honor of the very very very exciting 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the moon landing!!!!

And...did you know you can listen to the radio transmissions live (well, with a 40 year delay)? They are going to land on the moon on Monday! And we can hear it!

Cathy gets here Sunday!

(I am excited. Can you tell?)

Sleep.

2009-07-15T22:35:00.004+01:00

Itty Bitty Kitty Comittee

I'm tired. This is kind of what I feel like doing. Maybe the other cat could be Dean and we could turn it into a snuggle sprawl.

I have half of a new job! And I two weeks off work after Friday! And my very very very amazingest friend Cathy is coming Sunday for a week! And then I go to Berlin with my Dean!

I'm still tired though.

Wow

2009-07-10T07:58:00.004+01:00

Manuscript (c. 1791, c. 1800) of Jane Austen's dramatic adaptation of Samuel Richardson's novel The history of Sir Charles Grandison (1753-1754). From the Chawton House Library.

Guess what? Yesterday I saw and touched the first book Jane Austen's Juvenilia -- the manuscript!!!! It's one of only a few surviving Austen manuscripts, and we're lucky enough to have it at the library. She called it Volume The First (the British Library has two and three), and it's pretty much amazing. There's a brief post on it here, following a lecture the Bod put on (a conservator in conjuction with an Austen scholar/bibliographer. Fantastic). Also, see how times have changed...we bought it for about £50 in the 30s, and the other ones sold for hundreds of thousands later in the 80s.

Plus, I have an interview for an amazing job today. And check out the pillows over on Made Sweet! It's going to be a good Friday!

Color and Space

2009-07-08T23:32:00.003+01:00

posts from Design Sponge

I think these rooms are perfect. I would gladly call them mine...

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T15:38:00.004+01:00

Happy 4th of July! If I was at home I would be sitting through hours of antique tractors at the General Canby Day Parade, eating watermelon and corn on the cob, swimming in the river, and watching fireworks. I miss everyone at home!

Portland Blogs

2009-07-03T18:42:00.016+01:00

Those of you who know me know that I'm pretty much obsessed with the best town in the world (shhhh!). I grew up in Portland (well, kinda), and miss it every day. In fact, I might even annoy people with how much I compare everywhere else to it...Oh Portland.

Anyhow, one of the coolest things about Portland is it's creative environment. It's a great place for artists, authors, designers (fashion or otherwise) and even printers! And I've come across a handful (actually quite a few, but I can't put them allll on one post) blogs that represent some of Portland's loveliness.

Urban Weeds:

Sigh. Portland is so nice. So is this blog. Partially because of the cool people in it, partially because it makes me think of all the nice bits of the city. Think Sartorialist in Portland. The first post, featuring Kasey and her bike:

Kasey

{Frolic!}
Frolic! gets a lot of press, because it's good. Chelsea's cool and she has lovely taste. Please look.

from her person website

Le Train Bleu:

Le Train Bleu actually represents a fabulous shop (big sale on right now!), but I really really love the blog. Plus, the model is a girl I went to high school with (she's beautiful in these pics!) Check out this pic (part of an experiment with iphone filters, yay!):

http://www.letrainbleublog.com/

Powells. Duh.

Clearly the coolest bookshop in the world (well, maybe tied with the one in Hampstead Heath where we asked for a book on Degas for Dean's little sister's school project and he said "In the third pile from the left, about six books down"). The blog is also cool. Obviously.

Camp Comfort

Roberta of Camp Comfort just recently moved to Portland, but she's been fitting in for a long time :). She recently did a series called "How I'd Wear It" based around a single pair of shorts. Take a look at one of the final spreads here, and the check them all out on her blog:

from Camp Comfort

Berlin!!!

2009-07-01T21:49:00.001+01:00

from iiepassport

Oh yes! Dean and I are going to Berlin at the end of July! Any suggestions? I'm so excited!!!!!

Sigh :)

2009-06-30T21:41:00.003+01:00

from Briar Press (much thanks!)

After feeling vaguely antisocial for a number of days, I just found my groove again after some girl-time with fellow Scrippsie Kim. She works for a local magazine and gets to do regular review dinners (lucky girl!), and treated me to dinner at Strada. Really, it could have been beans on toast (with wine) and I would have enjoyed it as much...I think I needed some time to talk about boyfriends, sappy novels, and work. Feeling much nicer.

Plus...the weather is warm again! Although people here seem to be unable to handle it :). The whole shut-up-the-house-in-the-day-open-it-all-up-as-soon-as-it-cools concept is definitely new. I love it the weather, although it's much muggier than home (ugh).

Also, I got to wear my new headband! Thank you to Heart of Light for the tutorial...I actually made something people stopped me in the street to complement! Pictures when tomorrow or when I can steal Dean's camera...

Plus, I am seriously, seriously planning to buy the printing press. Had more practical discussions today, and have decided that perhaps in the next two or three months (I need job confirmation first!), I will get myself a used Adana and begin the journey...

Cute Stuff. Really Cute Stuff.

2009-06-27T18:26:00.003+01:00

This is part of a series of photos in which you see the one on the left eat more and more of his brother.
All photos from IBKC blog (see below for link)

The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee

If you haven't seen it, you have to. Even Dean went all "Awwww" over these pictures. AND, they do amazing things in the Tacoma area with abandoned kittens. Saving kittens and making a cute blog about it? Brilliant.

Here are some of my favorite pics:

Alice in Wonderland

2009-06-25T17:54:00.004+01:00

via Slashfilm

Beautiful or strange and scary? Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is being released next year, but the photos are coming out already. Alice lends itself to the strange -- it's more than just a kid's book on so many levels, and Burton isn't the first to take it on artistically. Arthur Rackham, for example (one of my favourite illustrators), and even Salvador Dali (not only are they two of my favourites, but they're part of my job right now! I'm working on a collection of Rackham books, and we've got the Dali Alice illustrations ready for Oxford's Alice Day. I love my work).

Rackham's Alice

via Artknowledgenews

Lewis Carroll was an interesting man...but he wrote some gooooood stuff.

PS. If you're interested, he was also a pretty brilliant mathematician and logician. He came up with some formulas still in use today, was a fantastic and ground-breaking photographer, and designed a voting system that would have shaken up UK politics quite a bit. He also wrote some fantastic logic lessons for kids. Check some of his logic games out here.

This Summer I Will:

2009-06-20T14:25:00.003+01:00

via Suzanne at Suzyville

After seeing Suzanne's journal on You Are My Fave, I've decided that I too need some summer vows -- something to make sure I don't just get home from work/dance and crash every day. So:

This summer, my plans MUST include:

Buying berries and flowers
Going for morning runs on sunny days
Eating dinner outside
Dragging Dean to Iffley on a lovely Sunday
Visiting the beach (I miss Portland and it's beach accessibility -- also the farm and the river!)
More dates with Dean
Making another book
Calling friends and family to chat
Visiting another part of England (preferably Cornwall or the Lake District)

I'm sure I will add more, but these are things that I've been wishing for...

He. Showers. With. His. Squirrel.

2009-06-20T13:58:00.002+01:00

A builder and his...squirrel?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8108297.stm

Weekend Fun

2009-06-14T21:45:00.004+01:00

Sigh...Sunday evening. I always feel like Sunday evening will go on forever...like I can stay up as late as I like because it's still the weekend...and then I remember I have to go to work in the morning. Luckily I like my job, and tomorrow is going to be a lovely day full of Arthur Rackham followed by an evening teaching kids, watching Hable con Ella, and chilling on the couch with Dean.

It's been a fairly productive weekend. Rest? Check. Nice run in the sun? Check. Talk to friends from home? Check. Barbecue? Boot sale? Baking? Check, check, and check.

My friend Rachael came over on Friday night, and we sprawled out in front of a movie with caramel popcorn and M&Ms. We watched Perfume, which was possibly one of the strangest films I have ever seen. I enjoyed it, but it was downright creepy. It's directed by Tom Twyker, of Lola Rennt and The Princess and the Warrior. I would recommend if you're in the mood for disturbing but beautiful...

Also included in my weekend: a barbecue Saturday night, baking these White Chocolate and Lime Cookies, watching Friends (our fallback show when we just want to conk out), and going to the boot sale (on a lovely sunny morning, I might add) and acquiring this pretty table for £7!

Isn't it sweet?