I killed a bear!--figuratively speaking

Many of my books are complex constructions that sometimes take several days to make--books, say, with 8 signatures of beautiful paper joined together by various challenging stitching patterns.  

This month, however, I've been obsessed with making little books out of those little board books for babies and toddlers.  

These books come in all sizes and all the thrift stores have them for a dollar, tops.  

So the first thing you do is peel of the shiny plastic pages --which in itself is quite satisfying--to get down to the raw board.  

Second, I collage all over the boards with vintage sheet music and book pages and whatnot.  

While I'm doing that, a theme emerges.  Then I print out lines of poetry or other text, cut out the lines, and glue them atop the collage.

My first one featured the Rumi poem, "The Guest House."

My second and favorite one is called HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY STARTS (borrowed from a plaque I saw somewhere).  Then I filled it with pictures of my childhood and Carlene's.

This was my "kill a bear" book.  In all its simplicity of construction, I managed to find enough pictures to fill this little three inch tall chunky book.  No book I've ever made has ever, or likely will ever, struck such a chord as this one did with its recipient. 

She's been texting me how much she loves it.  She's been showing it to her friends (and probably strangers, if I know her!)

"I'm taking this one to Heaven with me!" she said last night.--quite sure that one day she'll arrive there with this book in her pocket.    By then, who knows?--it may be quite ragged with age and cracked with all the opening and closing--but what a thrill it's been to have it hit all the right notes and for this little book to be so loved! 

Here is one of Carlene's texts: 

In the picture of Lloyd holding Bob and I have both hands in your shoulders, look at your eyes ….. you are looking up at Bob in Lloyd’s arms …hand !  Was somebody taking your place?   I love that picture ……  

Wow!  What memories !

Another serious moment!   You are painting!  

Every page makes those memories clear and beautiful!  

Here's the photo she was talking about:

Rodeo News #1

As the big rodeo approaches in San Antonio this February, like it does every year, Elena is training her new horse and continuing to ride faithful Yancey in local rodeos.  (I was watching Elena at the ranch's dog pen while Bonnie chose and purchased Yancey 12 years ago). 

Last night there was a big rodeo at Pedrotti's ranch (where Will worked as a teenager) and Elena (second youngest of all the contestants) won second place and a cash prize for her flawless and impressive barrel race. She even came out ahead of her trainer!

Her new horse, Clown, is not yet rodeo-ready, but Yancey, even in his middle-age, is one awesome rodeo horse, attuned to Elena's every move and careful not to knock over anything in the field.  Together, they are quite a team!

Dog Lore

 What can be more engaging than finding a book, fiction or nonfiction or poetry, that says things you already know (or maybe you know only the outline of but is filled in with delicious or unsavory details) and says those things with artistry of language?

Joy recently gave me a book like that and I'm entirely enchanted by it.  We all know Charlotte's Web for sure, but this book focuses on E.B. White's love of dogs.  I'll be writing more about that book along the way, but if you are a dog lover, go out and find yourself a copy!

White was the age of my grandfather, Papa, born in 1899.  He died in 1985, and this book is compiled of his essays and edited by his granddaughter, Martha White.  Whether you love mongrels and mutts or pure-bred uppity dogs, you'll love this book.