Raoul was in town last week (or the week before? I’m a mess these days!) and it was delightful to see him. I asked him a couple of months ago if he would be interested in allowing me to print a chapbook of his poetry. He sweetly agreed. He tells me that that the work is nearing completion and I’m hoping to have the book done by the end of the year, but we’ll see! I don’t want to rush it and I’m currently studio-less.

I’ve been packing like mad and ran across two business cards from The Regional Assembly of Text that I picked up when I went to visit Raoul earlier in the summer. This little shop was so charming! They have an amazing zine and self published book collection. My favorite piece was an original handmade copy of Jordan Crane’s The Last Lonely Saturday. But I adored their button-making station. You can type up your own buttons on their typewriter, or color them with pencils and markers, and you see all those drawers on the front page? I was over the moon when the woman helping me opened a drawer and just pulled out the button maker and all the supplies. It seemed almost wizardly. I would love to know what wonders are hiding in the rest of the cabinet. If you’re ever in Vancouver you should absolutely add this place to your list of things to do.

Also, the San Francisco Center for the Book’s steamroller print making event is next week. Rich and I have volunteered the past two years as part of the inky hands crew (mixing, application and clean up). I’m sad to be missing out this time around, it’s always been a blast. Last year we also participated by carving smaller linoleum blocks which were printed with the steam roller and offered for sale as part of the fundraiser. don’t go small god was my contribution. If you’re in the Bay Area I highly recommend this event.

Rich inking in 2006