It is so hard to judge how long things will take. And I get so absorbed by what I am doing when I am in the studio, i don’t keep track of the time. So I am always underestimating and getting behind and having to work madly to keep to schedule. That’s what it has been like for the last few weeks, working full time and trying to squeeze in as many hours as possible at the studio.
Anyway, I did manage to get enough ‘Cow Land, Salford.’ books made, but only by the skin of my teeth.
I made 4 for the Manchester Artists Book Fair, and 4 for the Latitude exhibition, plus a handling copy. I made 1 to give to the colleague at work who gave me the idea for the book, and 1 to donate to Lucy May Schofield’s Bibliotherapy project
http://lucymayschofield.blogspot.com/search/label/…
So the Book Fair was on Saturday. I was sharing a stand with some of the other Hotbed Press bookmakers, so only had to do a 2 hours shift, leaving time for a lazy morning, and some looking round the Fair and chatting. There was some fabulous stuff. My absolute favourite thing was a pocket Orrery (sort of star map) by Alex Pritchard. He had also created an amazing book showing all sorts of scientific information in graphic form.
While I was on the stand, I spent a lot of time explaining what the book was about, so in future, am going to copy Emily Speed who was across the aisle, and had a short explanatory text next to each book, including the price. It makes it so much easier for the viewer and potential buyer.
My book got a good reception, and I sold 2 copies. I am really pleased. A couple of people also suggested I should make a series about different places, which I think is a good idea.
At the end of November as well as Latitude, I’m putting a big sheet installation into the Knitting and Stitching show at the Harrogate International Centre. Fortunately I won’t miss the Latitude opening. I will miss the second half of the exhibition, but will be around for the first weekend, which is the most important bit.
I’ve been stressing about the practical problems of getting 1200 bed sheets to Harrogate and then actually into the building, but the logistics team are being extremely helpful, even offering to build me a trolley.
I’ll be so happy to get back to working part time. There is just too much else I want to do.
