Entries tagged with 'books'


real life + natural lives

Posted by Aprile on 2010.05.28:

I know I know, it's been ages since I posted last. I sort of shy away from blogging when I'm struggling a bit in real life. I haven't done any art or design work in a while, for example. It's hard graduating! Definitely much harder than I expected.

I am now faced with the seemingly impossible task of finding a job, and I feel like I might have to give up the dream of getting one I will actually enjoy (whatever that may be, I'm not sure). I've been working (in retail still) and it's hard to find a job while you are already working somewhere. Where am I supposed to find the time to finish my portfolio? How will I even schedule interviews? It's not that rough, I just feel like I'm giving up on my dreams a bit.

And for the most part, I haven't done anything lately that is worth posting about. I just eat, sleep, and work mostly. I know this is what comes with graduating and finally being finished school, and faced with real life. I did think, however, that I was pretty tough and could handle anything... Stupid school.

So when I was working on my thesis, I was too busy to post about the things I was doing and making, and now that it's over, I haven't done or made anything. So I am sharing with you today a project that I completed recently, one that was almost a year in the works, called Natural Living. I shared it with you a while ago here, but you know how it is when things turn out completely differently than you intended at first. And I think I love the outcome!

For this project, I had the pleasure of accepting submissions from Chelsea Fuss of Frolic!, Karin Eriksson of manos, Nikole Herriot of Herriot Grace, Nicole Haga of The Habit of Being, Penny Elizabeth Neil of Sparrow Salvage, Theresa Lynn Holley aka simplemoth, Caroline Thibault aka semiplume, Liane Tyrrel of Enhabiten, and Alyssa Zygmunt of Brooklyn Rehab.

Here's a blurb: Natural Living is a self-directed editorial project about having an environmental lifestyle, whether you live in the country or in the city. I interviewed 8 creative people who pursue photography as a hobby or a career, and chose beautiful photos from their everyday lives to share. (from my new website, which I am still working on)

Hope you like the book! I have recently been directed towards publishing by a few people, and it is something I've considered. But I still don't know! I do like books...
Sorry for the rant!
xo

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dis•po•si•tion (thesis 2010)

Posted by Aprile on 2010.04.11:

It has been a really long sleepless week...! I can honestly say I'm finished this time, though I have a few other things to finish up. I'm so excited for regular life again, school really is not my thing. I can't wait until I can work on my own projects without feeling guilty about not doing homework. I have this HUGE list of things to do when I am finally out of here... And I'm excited about that.

Meanwhile, here is one of my books to go along with those displays I showed you. There is another book, and yet another (a process book). They are quite lovely and I'll take a picture of them soon (they have presentations to give and places to be)! I have my final presentation tomorrow which of course I haven't prepared for very well. I planned on being prepared but once those books were printed I was just finished...

Hope you like this book, it's my favourite! The photographs are self-portraits from Chelsea Jade, aren't they amazing? They really make the book extra beautiful!

(There are some imperfections in the digital version because it was compressed, but I assure you the books are p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Yay)!

P.S. Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last thesis post, it's so nice to know what people think! xoxo

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raymond meeks

Posted by Aprile on 2010.03.05:

A little of something I'm currently inspired by—though I'm kind of at an inspiration overload place because of all the "research" I'm doing for my thesis... the artist books of Raymond Meeks are so beautiful, I love the simplicity and nuances of colour in them. I want to achieve something equally as nuance-y. It's just so nice.

Thanks Jen, from Simply Photo (where I found him!)

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pictorial webster's

Posted by Aprile on 2009.11.01:

Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion from John Carrera on Vimeo.

Everybody has been talking about the new Pictorial Webster's lately, and it's so beautiful (I'm definitely going to get one from Anthro!). I stumbled across this video yesterday by John Carrera (who put the book together) and I was nothing short of amazed watching it. I can't believe the time and effort that was put into making the special editions—he spent about 10 years putting the archived engravings together, printing new linotype titling matrix by matrix, getting it ready for the press, then binding and gold foil and finger tabs, and oh my god!

Can you tell I have a soft spot for letterpresses and book binding? Not to mention the 19th century. You will love this video, whether you have my weird hangups or not... I just can't help being amazed. I wish I could dedicate my time to something so meaningful, haha. I wish I had $4600 to shell out for a special edition—I wonder if there are any left?

via Drawn!

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natural living (working title)

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.29:

Some of you might have heard through the grapevine about my little book project, which I am doing for a summer course on Editorial Design. I feel it's really important to work with my personal style, so I was really glad we were allowed to choose what type of book and the content it would be based on. Feeling pretty inspired by some talented Flickr photographers/nature lovers, I asked some of them to participate by submitting interviews and photos to me. It will not be published, it's a special one time only thing, and there will be one copy printed for me, and one for each participant involved in the project. (You will all get to see the PDF, don't worry! I know that's not the same...)

Anyway, I'm excited to show you a little sneak peek, I am trying to assemble everything in the "right" order while adding photos that keep rolling into my inbox. I am so excited to see the final printed version, due in ONE WEEK, Ahh! And I will let you know how it turns out : )

Photos in these spreads by Karin Eriksson and Chelsea Fuss from {frolic!}.

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some things I found

Posted by Aprile on 2009.04.29:

I have so many things to post about lately, to both blogs, and no time at all! Though it's always feels like there isn't enough time. Doesn't it? I thought I'd share a few things I took home from my home town (Welland, ON).

The books (above) I found at a second hand store for $1 each! I usually buy books (my favourites are printed before 1950) from a place that is more of a collection than a book store—meaning the owner doesn't care to see the books go, and charges an arm and a leg for them. Of course, I am the horrible kind of person that brings them home and tears them apart and makes art from them. Nobody has to know that.

The thread, claimed by the kitty already, came from my Nana's house. I never realized how beautiful wooden spools were, thanks Anabela for making me take notice! Of course I brought home a sewing machine too, so they will be put to good use! (I'm still learning).

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oh sweet woods

Posted by Aprile on 2009.04.18:

1. no more than that., 2. with every good wish, 3. hello, 4. on our road to it, 5. heart;, 6. contents, 7. anything about him, 8. her heart had been aching, 9. she will never belong, 10. we might as well, 11. it certainly came true, 12. index

I am definitely going to more of these... I kind of love them. I did these collages for a school project that I mentioned before, it's about getting back to nature really. Though it might not be obvious to all. I wish I had pictures of the final, but I did it in such a hurry and handed it in on Friday! I turned these collages (and some more, my Let's Build a Nest series) into a saddle-stiched book with a cardboard cover (no surprise there) with cutout trees from this stencil. I tied it with twine and a shipping tag with the title of the book.

I put it in a plain wooden box with a vellum envelope labeled "findings" with things I collected from nature securely tucked inside (some twigs, dried and pressed flowers, some dirt by accident).

I'm trying to create a picture for you I guess, since I didn't get to take any! You will see them when I get it back, hopefully not in September. I wish I wish I WISH I had pictures! Or maybe I will make some more, the whole deal, box and twigs and all and sell them? Like a special edition... I don't know if anyone would buy this. But I will be selling just the books. I have SO MUCH to say, because I haven't been here in so long. I will save it for some more posts.

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oh sweet woods: part 1

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.28:

I told you I would show you what I did with the stencil, : ). I have actually used it for a bunch of things. Some fabric would be nice. This is some of the work I'm doing lately, it's for a school project but as you can probably tell I have free reign. That's what I like about the last few semesters, you are considered smart enough to do what you want (at least I think that's how it is).

I was talking with my teacher about ways to "design" this project. It's going to be a book—because I love books—of collages, drawings and maybe photographs. He said it was important to make sure I distinguish myself as a designer instead of a fine artist, and we talked about different ways to do that. I've never thought about it this way before, and I'm glad we had our chat. I have this designer vs. artist identity crisis sometimes. I think that's allowed.

The book project is called Oh Sweet Woods, and I am even going to hold out a little bit longer to tell you why I chose this name and theme for it (I like suspense).

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caterpillars to come

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.20:

Finally posted about this Eric Carle book over here. Google sent me a sign that it was time.

I didn't get a lot of work done today (surprise, surprise) but at least caught up on some blogging! Wish me luck that tomorrow is more productive.

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today's findings

Posted by Aprile on 2009.02.23:

Jory and I went for the nicest walk today, just to get some fresh air, and we ended up at a Goodwill store. I love Goodwill for the housewares and odds and ends and—just my luck—this store had a HUGE selection of books. Encyclopedia sets, textbooks, kids books, et cetera from the 70s. I love books that are pre-1970s, but they tend to be a lot more expensive. And books from the 70s have this bright, colourful charm that older books do not.




The above books are a kids' science book series, called "I want to know about..." They had the ENTIRE collection, I think there were 19 + an index. I didn't want to carry them all home, so I only purchased 6, 8, 15, and 19, but I might be back there to collect the rest soon.


"The Golden Treasury of Natural History" is a wealth of information as well as beautiful colour illustrations.

If it were up to me, our apartment would be filled with books instead of furniture.

Things I also bought: A polaroid camera, a clipboard with binder rings, and some lovingly pressed flowers in a frame.

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Hi, my name is Aprile and I love 100 ideas , 1001 journals , alphabets , altered books , animals , anthropologie , antiques , architecture , art , art galleries , australia , autumn , beauty , bird nests , birds , books , bookstores , boots , bunnies , butterflies , buttons , calligraphy , cameras , cards , cats , ceramics , clothing , collaboration , collage , collecting , collections , confetti , contrast , craft shows , crafts , dada , decor8 , design , design for mankind , dictionaries , diy , doing anything but homework , drawing , dresses , dried flowers , editorial design , embroidery , ephemera , equestrian things , eric carle , etsy , events , experimentation , fall , fashion , fashion illustration , female vocalists , festivals , film , flickr , flowers , fortune cookies , french , fyodor , gardening , giveaways , gray , hand-lettering , handmade , handmade nation , happiness , hearts , henry darger , history , home sweet home , illustration , inner beauty , inspiration , interior design , interviews , japan , jenny lewis , jewellery , jill barber , jory , junk , kara walker , keri smith , korean style , kraft paper , leaves , lens flare , letterpress , life , linens , lists , london , love letters , lula , lykke li , magazines , maira kalman , making art , making books , making friends , making things , maps , milk , moustaches , museums , music , my apartment , my mom , Nana , nature , nice days , notepads , odds & ends , old architecture , our apartment , outsider art , owls , packaging , paint pens , paper , papercutting , paris , photo corners , photobooths , photography , picnics , pillows , pink , poppytalk , quotes , rain , relaxation , ribbons , royalty , scrapbooks , seasons , seattle , second-hand stores , sewing , shopping , shops , shows , simplicity , sleep , snow , softness , spring , starting fresh , stationery , style , subtlety , suitcases , sweden , textiles , thao nguyen , the 1970s , the industrial era , the internet , the language of flowers , the paper place , the past , the uk , the woods , the workroom , thesis , thesis cut&paste , toronto , travel , tumblr , twigs , twitter , typewriters , typography , uppercase , vacations , videos , vintage , vintage books , vintage catalogues , walks , wallpaper , wood , wooden spools , words , zakka , zines , & blogging.

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