Planting poetry. Seed packets of poems!

One of the really enjoyable things about going to book and craft fairs is the chance to show my poetry and present it to the visitors. I've never really liked the idea of putting my poetry in books, where the order of them is fixed, and they are stuck inside covers, so I invented the poetry seed packet.

 All the poems are printed on separate sheets. And I have designed and made a seed packet for them to go in!

 There are proper instructions on the back, and the number in the edition is written where the price would be on the front of a real seed packet. I like the whole process, from writing the poetry through to making the packets, doing all of it myself.

It's hugely enjoyable displaying these packets, and seeing the reactions to them - AND of course sending them off to new homes!
You can see them in my Etsy shop, if you don't find me at a fair.
http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/quarto17

Poetry Book Fair. Alison Brackenbury's book 'Then'

I was so delighted to meet Alison Brackenbury at Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair at the weekend, and be able to tell her how much I love her most recent book Then.

Her poetry looks delicately made, often beautifully rhymed, and is so strong and incisive it goes straight to the reader's heart.

She writes about horses better than anyone.
 

 Horses are poetry.

Poetry Book Fair. Spending the float.

I was carrying my cash float from the Poetry Book Fair back to the Bank, when I stopped to have a quick look in The Red Cross charity shop, and saw the most wonderful evening dress ensemble.

 

Here it is, pictured against the multitude of pink in my bedroom. It's mostly muted green, shading in and out from dark to light. A very straight dress, with a beaded bodice, thin straps, and a floaty top over it.

 The beadwork is amazing.
 The photos don't do it justice.

Unfortunately I have already sent my feedback form to The Poetry Book Fair, or I would have suggested that next year's event is in formal evening dress.

The cash float? I have already forgotten about it.

poetrybookfair.com

Free Verse: Poetry Book Fair. A fantastic day.

Well the day finally dawned, and I got up very early to catch the train to London and the Poetry Book Fair. My biggest problem was that I had forgotten that the dress that goes best with my Sancho cowboy boots is now much too big, but I decided not to start ironing other things, and settled for looking less slimline that I would have wished.

The Fair was very interesting, with a huge variety of books and publishers, all attracting  enthusiastic readers. The room was very full of tables, making narrow aisles, and the day was punctuated by the sound of people apologising to each other as they carried around their bags full of books.

Here's my 45 centimetres of stall!

And here's my best selling item

There's a lot of ideas and inspirations to think about. But tonight, a huge dinner and then a great deal of sleep.

Letterpress printing ready for Poetry Book Fair

Strange how anxiety expresses itself. In the midst of preparing for Free Verse: The London Poetry Book Fair yesterday, I suddenly decided I must print business cards.

Inking the Adana and setting the very simple card was actually rather soothing.

The front of the card is very simple, with my favourite letterpress block in pride of place.

All the real information is on the back.

And now I am ready for the fair!

 poetrybookfair.com

Kitchen table publishing. Rehearsal.

I met up with Jeremy Dixon of Hazard Press yesterday, to rehearse the set up of our shared HALF a stall at Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair at the Conway Hall in London on 7th September.

We have 90cm between us at this prestigious event.

Jeremy makes beautiful books, and was completely ready for the rehearsal. His half of the stall looks lovely. I hadn't finished making the display board at the back of my half, so it's not painted white, and I am having to hold it, but it gives the general idea.

 

I realise that I am going to a book fair with poetry seed packets, wall art poetry, and Wordsworth finger puppet gift cards. I wonder if anyone will notice the lack of - erm - books!

poetrybookfair.com 

www.hazardpress.co.uk 

 

Celebrating Wordsworth's Daffodils

I have been celebrating 'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth with a new knitted finger puppet collage.

 the caption reads

a host of what? William pondered

It's a much simpler card than most, and I have used the loose pages from a lovely old book about flowers that was in pieces and not fit for anything except using for collage.

I like the rustic colour of William as well.

The next card in the series has William thinking 

when all at once I saw a cow

but since my attempts to knit a cow finger puppet have resulted in what looks like a mutant dalmatian dog, I may have resort to the pages of the Farmer's Weekly magazine and use images instead.

William is coming with me to Free Verse:The Poetry Book  Fair in London on 7th September, and is already in place at The Print Shed in Madley for the h Art exhibition.

www.theprintshed.net

poetrybookfair.com

Kitchen Table Publishing

I have been working at the kitchen table, preparing two sets of poems. The poems themselves are in my shed. I printed them in there, where they're now hanging up to dry. The wood, hammer, drill and nails for their presentation are all on the kitchen table, where we also eat.

Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be easier just to put poems in a BOOK, like everyone else, but then I really like the finished product.

 The Keys to Love.

The poems are on the labels behind the letterpress printed titles. It's an edition of six. 

Ready to take to Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair in London on 7th September poetrybookfair.com and to exhibit as part of h.Art week, 7th to 15th September, at the Print Shed in Madley. www.theprintshed.net

Exciting times. It's worth having the kitchen table multi task for a while!

Printing for Free Verse: Poetry Book Fair. Covered in ink.

I am printing poetry in my shed, ready for Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair, at the Conway Hall in London on 7th September. 

Starting as it gets light,

and happily typesetting. Here is one of The Season's Key. It's a winter haiku.

I love the process of taking poetry from an idea through to the printed word, and I have done all of it. The absolute attention to detail needed to write the poem is mirrored in the setting and printing.

 I relish the clutter that comes with each printing task, to be tidied away at the end.

In a small way, it gives me a connection with printers of old, the basic process being essentially unchanged until the advent of computers.

Really looking forward to the Book Fair!

poetrybookfair.com

explosion of gladioli

I love gladioli in all their astonishing garish glory. I grow them in the vegetable garden, and pick them for the house. 

For about three weeks, there is an explosion of colour indoors.

 The individual blooms are like orchids.

I have been taking a break from toiling in my printing shed preparing for Free Verse: The Poetry Book Fair, by sitting next to these lovely flowers and filling my vision with colour, which makes a lovely change from peering at print.

Very excited to see my name on the Book Fair homepage;
http://www.poetrybookfair.com/

Hazard Press is on the list too. We're going together, and are sharing a half table to display our wares. Luckily neither of us produce massive volumes!