byhand July/August 2002

Gentle Thoughts

Recently I was contacted to do some artwork for a new zine, Capricorn Gypsies. The creators, Mary and Sandra, chose the theme of travel and friendship for their new venture. Here is the digital collage that I did for them. Thanks to Nancy Q for the quote! I wish Mary and Sandra all the best with their new endeavour. They are both wonderfully talented so their "baby" is sure to be a keeper! Here is a bit more information about Capricorn Gypsies:

The Capricorn Gypsies is an art/travel/correspondence zine featuring two fictional characters, Shandlynne and Gessine and their letter exchanges, along with articles on and samples of different styles of art along a theme. Each issue also has instructions for one or two art projects, as well as "creative challenges" where readers can submit their art for possible future publication. The first issue focuses on collage; future themes include nature sketchbooks and Asian-influenced art. For ordering information go to http://home.att.net/~emelge

Studio Tips

I just had to include this cool idea from Susan in Ucluelet (pronounced you-clue-let!). I makes me wonder why I teach bookbinding at all!!! Thanks for sharing, Susan!

Hi, guys....okay, this is a cheat, but it works. I needed -- quickly -- a little notebook to pop into my handbag, very thin, quite small. The obvious solution was to make one, but I was in this tearing rush & didn't want to take the time to make the cover & wait for glue to dry & so on. So I grabbed a pretty note card & 4 pieces of co-ordinating stationery from my stash, cut the stationery slightly smaller than the opened card, folded them in half to make a nested signature of 8 sheets (16 pages), slipped them inside the note, punched 5 holes with a big embroidery needle & sewed the whole thing together w/ colour-co-ordinated embroidery floss using a running stitch, and voila -- instant mini-book. It's absolutely gorgeous, is the perfect size I wanted & took about 10 minutes (5 of those spent trying to thread the needle ). It feels like I'm cheating because I spent no time working on making a cover from scratch, but I have to say I was so pleased w/ the result I may make more ...

Susan, hurriedly, from foggy Ucluelet

I'd be delighted to receive your favourite tips for inclusion here - we can all learn from them and probably save someone - like me - frustrations!

History Lesson

Here is the third installment of the information panels from my exhibition....

Carolingian & The Foundational Hand

Ramsey Psalter 10th century A.D.

On the tail of the Arts and Crafts movement, in the early 20th century, Edward Johnston almost single-handedly revived the craft of calligraphy with the publication of his book Writing & Illuminating & Lettering, which is still in print. At that time, one could walk into the British Library and browse through ancient manuscripts, and that is exactly what Johnston did. He came upon the Ramsey Psalter, written at Winchester in the 10th century, and upon much study and some modernizing decided it would be a perfect letterform to give his beginning students. Thus the Foundational Hand was born.

Technically, the hand is considered Carolingian and can be found referred to as Roundhand, Roman Minuscule or English Caroline Minuscule. It developed during the reign of Charlemagne during the 8th century and gave way to the Gothic hands in the 12th century. It is extremely round in shape and was written at 2-3 pen widths with a 30 degree pen angle. It is an excellent book hand, useful for its legibility.

Historically, we now see the full separation of minuscules and majuscules.

(Majuscules are the capitals and minuscules are the little letters)

H a v e F u n !

Site Siting

Studio Tips

History Lesson