Photo hints of the GIVEAWAY I’m announcing tomorrow.
19th and 20th century ledger papers play a starring role. I have several different kinds. More than I’ll probably ever use. The writing is so lovely. I imagine the previous owners of these old books, tucked into tiny offices, dipping their pens into glass bottles of ink, and recording all the details of their business. I wonder what the weather was like on all these days. Clouds, rain , sun, blankets of fog, banks of snow, winds blowing in from the north or west. I love this showy splash of blood red. How did it land there right on top of October 1891’s entry?
I didn’t open the journal all week. Too busy with The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. Thank you for the recommendations. Really. Who knows how long I would flounder in the wilderness before meeting Ivan Doig.
Still, there are these pages from last weekend. And seeing them now is sending me straight back to the workshop table when I finish here. There are thoughts to be laid down in between the covers of my book. And a freshly collaged page on which to write them.
Sometimes this blog feels like a long letter I’m writing. A missive
from the inky black night of Los Angeles to wherever you are. See you
soon.
Just found your blog and have enjoyed reading back through previous posts. I love how you’ve amassed scrap papers and bound them together for new life. Looking forward to returning to your blog soon.
jan in ohio
I love that you are writing us a long letter. I am ready to be given ledger pages! I wonder what that red splash was? tea? juice? blood? food dye? ink? Is that the giveaway? Guess what it could be and win a prize?
I say it’s a drop of mercurachrome that missed.
I’ve never heard of Ivan. I’ll have to find out.
Love your long letters, so much to enjoy and to be inspired by. My grandfather had a store in Kansas, and had the most beautiful copperplate handwriting. I have a few receipts from one of his stores…
What a special book. I, too, love the old ledger papers, and every now and then find a few pieces. They have such a wonderful feel to them.
Your pages are so amazing!
I am pondering that that red blot is a splatting of the bookkeeper’s blood… mystery is about! Who, what, why? Hmmmmmm….
I’m sitting here in NJ Looking out at my snow covered yard thinking of your quote about creating a language based on love and loss. I too love the old ledgers and the spidery hand writing, we have gained so much with computers(I wouldn’t see your beautiful blog for instance) but we have lost some thing as well. Like penmanship, which I always failed in school, maybe that helps to appreciate it all the more. Mary
I love catching your missives in the air of Los Angeles! Those ledger books look perfect! Cant wait to hear about the giveaway…I have to win!
karen….
Seeing those yummy pages is going to send me to the art table. So lush!
yes, your blog is a long letter to un-met penpals…snips and stories recording the sweet moments of days…
I do miss real letters…stamped and postmarked revealing tri-folded story pages – there for the re-reading tomorrow or next year.
low key rant – no, not really a rant, just a regret about ‘modernistical’ education notions: specifically handwriting instruction. Someone got the idea of developing a “transitional” form and therefore created D’nealian printing which was supposed to make the step into cursive writing smoother. What I have seen is that learning to print well is harder for immature small muscles and the script writing is markedly uglier than that when we learned “The Palmer Method” with all those pages of practicing the slanted looping ovals and spikes. I remember my mother & grandmother’s practice pages, found in stacks of old school things (wish I had them now).
How wonderful that you are sharing your trove. I tend to just fondle such treasures. I am working at improving my utility of papers. Sometime I’ll tell you the story of my tissue paper collection in high school.
These are great! Where do you find ledger books???
Oh please enter me. I love these and can’t find one anywhere that I’ve looked. Thanks for the contest.
OMG!! I love old journals, and old writings. The folks back then had such unique hand writing. WOW!! I want to join in the chance of a give away. Thanx, Sharon
Your pages tell a story before you even add notes. Terrific as ever.
hi, mary ann – somehow, i don’t know exactly how, i found your post about passing through lawrence in october and i was THRILLED to find such great words about our hot little artsy city (most people don’t even know where it is!) and from there i found the rest of your wonderful world here! what a lucky find for me.
and i think you are right; blogs are like long letters, both to ourselves and to others. great observation.
Yummy as always!!!