I’ve been thinking about my literal and metaphorical toolboxes a lot lately and am figuring out some fun new ways to make the most of tools and skills I have and show them off. For now, this is just a peek at my primary literal toolbox; a dinosaur-patterned tin filled with scissors, needles, beeswax, thread, tiny clamps, scissors, a thin metal spatula, Japanese paste, utility knife, and awls. There’s nothing amazing here, but with these simple tools I can do almost all of my work and transform raw materials into polished finished books.
More using the metaphorical toolbox soon! In the meantime, I may have sent you to Marge Piercy’s “More Than Enough” once before, but revisiting it will only make us each a little more aware, a little more deliberate.
Great poem!
Hi Maggie
One of the things that draws me to letterpress and bookbinding artifacts (or products?) so much is knowing that they had to pass through the hands of someone who used real tools to craft them..
I feel that it just adds a layer of warmth to the product knowing that someone had to align with their rulers, their scissors, their needles and eyes, rather than passing through an automated process.. its a nice expression of passion and care
So in seeing some of your tools, I guess it makes it easier to see where some of that warmth comes from — thanks for sharing!
Alex,
Leave it to you to hit the nail on the head. I love the tools I use and realize that much of what I do is behind the scenes and not front and center. We’re working on some fun changes to get a little more of the process out in the open and hopefully in the next month or so you’ll be able to see some major changes here!
Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful and insightful comments!