Printing and paper
Apropos of absolutely nothing:
I want to buy a printing press. An old one. I have a drawerful of old sort of 1920's Art-Deco-ish type that I bought at a flea market some years ago for a ridiculously low price (mercifully, they didn't charge by the pound). (I asked how much it was, knowing I couldn't afford it, and it was the equivalent of about $25. I was stunned. The woman who was selling it immediately said, "And I can't break it up and sell only some of the letters." "Well, of *course* not!" I exclaimed, outraged. But apparently a lot of people wanted only a few letters. Philistines.)
Anyway, now I need to buy the frames that hold letters together and all like that. And a press. With which to print. And I so wish I could do the beautiful old lithography they used to use on children's picture books. Perhaps I shall win a major lottery, and then I will do just that.
Also, for various reasons the thought of miniature books recently came to mind. I have some - like Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library, and some others. I think it would be fun to print miniature books. They could be bound as hardcovers; or they could be done as folded-and-stapled, if they were done nicely. It occurred to me that I could write little stories and draw little pictures (or hire somebody who has, you know, actual artistic ability, to do the drawing) and then make little rubber stamps out of them and *stamp* the books. And then hand color them. Wouldn't that be fun?
Also, regarding paper - I was buying something at JoAnn Fabrics and MegaHugeEnormous Craft Store and found two of the prettiest embossed papers. One is sort of antique gold, with acanthus-like swirls, and one is turquoise on gold, with a floral and vine-y pattern. Which reminded me again that I need to gather the rest of the stuff I need to make marbled paper and paste papers. Which, come to think of it, I could then use as covers for the little books, and thank you, Mr. Newbery, for the idea.
I want to buy a printing press. An old one. I have a drawerful of old sort of 1920's Art-Deco-ish type that I bought at a flea market some years ago for a ridiculously low price (mercifully, they didn't charge by the pound). (I asked how much it was, knowing I couldn't afford it, and it was the equivalent of about $25. I was stunned. The woman who was selling it immediately said, "And I can't break it up and sell only some of the letters." "Well, of *course* not!" I exclaimed, outraged. But apparently a lot of people wanted only a few letters. Philistines.)
Anyway, now I need to buy the frames that hold letters together and all like that. And a press. With which to print. And I so wish I could do the beautiful old lithography they used to use on children's picture books. Perhaps I shall win a major lottery, and then I will do just that.
Also, for various reasons the thought of miniature books recently came to mind. I have some - like Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library, and some others. I think it would be fun to print miniature books. They could be bound as hardcovers; or they could be done as folded-and-stapled, if they were done nicely. It occurred to me that I could write little stories and draw little pictures (or hire somebody who has, you know, actual artistic ability, to do the drawing) and then make little rubber stamps out of them and *stamp* the books. And then hand color them. Wouldn't that be fun?
Also, regarding paper - I was buying something at JoAnn Fabrics and MegaHugeEnormous Craft Store and found two of the prettiest embossed papers. One is sort of antique gold, with acanthus-like swirls, and one is turquoise on gold, with a floral and vine-y pattern. Which reminded me again that I need to gather the rest of the stuff I need to make marbled paper and paste papers. Which, come to think of it, I could then use as covers for the little books, and thank you, Mr. Newbery, for the idea.