Tag Archives: history

The Improvisational & the Vernacular.

By Jessica | Published: April 27, 2010
Russell Maret is a self-described alphabetical fetishist.   Last week he spoke at the Book History Colloquium at Columbia University, and he made it abundantly, winningly clear why he can claim this title. As a type designer and letterpress printer with twenty years’ experience, Maret explained that he’s always been motivated by his love of the [...]
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Mulled Claret for Heroes.

By Jessica | Published: February 10, 2010
I am keenly devoted to warm drinks all through the winter, but on unusually blustery days like today—especially when friends come visiting—my ambitions go beyond pots of strongly steeped tea. On such days, I might make up a batch of steamy, citrusy mulled wine. And my favorite recipe for mulled wine comes from The Week-End [...]
Posted in BOOK REPORTS, MY PROJECTS | Also tagged , , | 2 Comments

Beehive Inspired Tea Cozy.

By Jessica | Published: February 2, 2010
Beekeepers have a long history of making ingenious homes for their bees. But before the days of moveable frame hives and bee space, beekeepers’ material of choice was often straw coiled and woven to form squat coneshaped baskets. Inspired by these iconic straw bee skeps, I made a beehive teapot cozy that takes its design cues from [...]
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Savoring the Language of Lost Crafts.

By Jessica | Published: January 8, 2010
Over Christmas I received a copy of Una McGovern’s Lost Crafts: Rediscovering Traditional Skills. From its cover (with evocative art by Rob Ryan) and all the way to the last page of its lush interior, illustrated with scenes of handicrafts both past and present, this book is a treat. McGovern’s approach is part [...]
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The Handy Book Report.

By Jessica | Published: June 26, 2009
Have you read The Handy Book of Artistic Printing yet? I don’t like to be pushy, but if you love letterpress design and history,  then this book really is for you.  Its full (and wonderfully evocative) title is The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner [...]
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Sheep to Shawl, with Oxen Along the Way.

By Jessica | Published: April 20, 2009
Yesterday afternoon we took a quick trip up to Philipsburg Manor to see what was happening at this historic Hudson valley farmstead’s Sheep to Shawl Fest. We arrived just in time to see the last batch of sheep being herded to the shearing area by a very intrepid dog. There are no [...]
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Fruit and Nut Animals from a Century Ago.

By Jessica | Published: March 28, 2009
The following pictures are so wonderful that I just have to hold the explanations for below. Without further ado, I bring you… A cow made of almonds:A bear made of raisins:And my personal favorite, an elephant made of English walnuts:These images come to us via the librarians at the University of Washington, who have done [...]
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