To my surprise, I found more than just peer bookbinders and authors of self-published works. There was a bunch of letterpressers, print-makers, zine-sters, weavers, and other artisans in addition to all things book-related. It was eclectic and fun.

A big thanks to the 1000+ people from the community that decided to come out on that chilly saturday afternoon. Enjoy the pics, and I hope that you come out for the next show.

Making the drive to Buffalo from Syracuse. A bit dreary but a relaxing drive.

Program guides displayed on the welcome table for guests to see vendor list.

Letterpressed shopping bags for everyone!

Empty vendor tables during setup at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

Great Moment in Western Civ Comics, Illustrated by Caitlin Cass

Awesome block prints by Desiré Link

Kelly Place Illustration and Design

Rene Hoover: Graphic design, letterpress & more

1000+ people came to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum for the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair!

Vendors shown above:

www.GreatMomentsInWesternCiv.com

facebook.com/desirelink

www.kelly-place.com

www.renehoover.com

I am excited to be introducing two more designs to my felt notepad covers at this show. I am interested to hear feedback, if any, from shoppers. In addition to my excitement, I am finally accepting Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and Discover credit cards at my shows now. So, no need for cash or check anymore!

I named these patterns Floral and Slat, and I am still offering the Orb pattern which is the original pattern.

To coincide with my last minute habit, I’ve included a last-minute coupon that is exclusively for today. So, enjoy the show and I hope to see you stop by with a coupon!

Bring this coupon to the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair and save 25%. Offer expires 3/20/2011.

Buffalo Small Press Book Fair, Photo by Chris Fritton

As spring starts to peak around the corner and slowly come out to say hi, I am anxiously waiting it’s arrival. In the meantime I am keeping busy preparing for a few upcoming plans that I am excited to be a part of.

Intermediate Bookbinding
Cazenovia College
Thursday, March 21 and 28, 7 – 9 p.m.
$48 + materials fee

Letterpress Bookbinding Workshop
Session One, Letterpressing:
Saturday, April 2, 9am – 4pm

Session Two, Bookbinding:
Saturday, April 9th, 10am – 2pm

Dock2 Letterpress
$150

2011 Buffalo Small Press Book Fair
Saturday, March 19, 2011
noon to 6pm
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, Porter Hall
Free and open to the public

I hope that you will check out at least one of these events, it’s a great way to get out and about and absorb some creativity. Hope to see you soon!

Honey Nut Banana, Better Butter spread

Last month, my luck changed! Well, with regard to winning things, that is. I saw a giveaway on the Steph Chows blog, which I often venture to for healthy and yummy recipes. The giveaway was for Better Butter spread of your choice. Better Butter, the company, is a Philadelphia-based small business that makes variations of peanut butter spreads. Foolishly ignoring my usual outcome of gambling, I followed the giveaway instructions… and then I totally won! Holy crap. That never happens.

When my package of Better Butter arrived, I was pretty excited. Not only because I love food and eating, but also because it gave me a chance to try something made by a small business.

In my winning’s  package was a sampler pack of three: Honey Nut Butter, Nutty Chocolate Chip, and Maple Pumpkin, along with a full sized Nutty Chocolate Chip. So, I gave the small sampler of the Nutty Chocolate Chip to my girlfriend. I think she ended up buying more by the end of the week.

I ended up eating almost all of my winnings within a week and a half. Must buy more…! Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my winnings. Maybe I’ll go buy a lottery ticket. Or not.

Fast forward a few years later, and I was asked to create a couple of books meant to document the ongoings of two hunting camps. One of those hunting camps would be the one that I visited in Vermont. The books will document the weather, successful, and not-so-successful days of hunting. I’m sure other thoughts and inspiration will be written as well.

Luckily for me, the person who ordered the books is a professional photographer. So, I asked him to take some shots of the books. Enjoy.

Hunting Journal #1 in brown

Both books had deer antler closures, which were custom made for this project

The lighter book was covered in a handmade paper consisting of sawdust

A detail shot of the finished book

A detail shot of the antler closure, beautifully done Grant!

However, I fight the urge because I know that I will end up with some major cabin fever. So, I find things to do. There are plenty of activities to do if you make the effort to find them. If you haven’t figured out by the title of this post, this is my introduction to some shameless self-promotion.

If you are the same as me and would like to dig yourself out of your winter rest, be sure to sign up for some creative bookbinding courses. I will be teaching four workshops this season.

Beat the winter blues and sign up for bookbinding workshops this winter!

Two of the bookbinding workshops are through the Cazenovia College Extended Learning program. One workshop is beginner bookbinding class, and the second is an intermediate class. You will need to download the brochure and register through Caz college.

The other two workshops are being held at Dock 2 Letterpress in Rochester. One course is a beginner course, and will follow the same outline as the Caz college workshop. The second course, is this great two-session letterpressed book workshop. In the first session, you will learn about letterpress setting and actually letterpress your own book cover. The second session I will teach you how to coptic stitch your lettpressed cover to book signatures. You will end up walking away with your own letterpressed book. How cool is that??

For both intermediate workshops, it’s helpful to take the beginner workshops prior to signing up for the more advanced workshops. However, it’s not necessary. I hope to see you all there!

Photos below courtesy of Grant Taylor

No need to supply your own bookbinding supplies, I've got that covered.

Some examples of the binding types you will learn in the courses I'll be teaching.

Cute little bunnies...

The holiday was good, and busy. But in the midst of the chaos, I received a text from my close girlfriend in West Virginia. She has two daughters, and they are my goddaughters. I had sent them a Christmas package of handmade gifts, one of them being the Woodland Animals Letterpress Mask by Pistachio Press. I love these masks because they come equipped with a small set of crayons and ribbon, so there is no extra supply needed other than scissors.

This picture, although blurry, made my day. Cute little bunnies.

I came across Cecilia’s pins as I passed by her table display at the Second Storie } Indie Market. I immediately stopped to admire them. They are so simple, classy, feminine. All a girl needs.

Cecilia Hayes hand dyed velvet rose pins. Love them.

At least that’s what Krista, owner of Queens Metal, thinks.

Mina Necklace

Queens Metal is her rallying cry to women everywhere. Her vision for her jewelry is to remind women that jewelry should be fun, outrageous, and joyful. She believes that her jewerly makes women feel empowered when they try on something from the Queens collection.

You go girl.

I think this QNZ Metal business card is pretty bad ass.

Sparrow Necklace - Silver and Brass Pendant

Stacking Bangles in Brass - Set of Five Square Bracelets

Caviar Necklace Sterling Silver

Vial and Gear Necklace - Vintage Brass Charms on Long Chain

Diamond Earrings - Sterling Silver

Ankara Earrings - Long Geometric Brass Earrings

Tokyo Earrings - Sterling Silver