American Spirit

Here's a little Facebook dialogue sprung from the VP debate. Very inspiring proof of the power of our American Spirit.
Holly, Hank and Jessica - you all three rock hard!

Here's the full dialogue:

Anne-Davnes is she won my heart with the "pay school teachers more". 10:14pm

Hank Trefethen at 10:19pm October 2
yeah she's right about that

Holly Fisher at 10:21pm October 2
I def agree - schoolteachers should make more than the president... but does she keep your heart when she makes rape victims pay for their own rape kits?

Jessica Tillyer at 12:44am October 3
And when women that are submitted to incest have to have the baby?

Anne-Davnes Dusenberry Elser at 11:39am October 3
Holly: If you're trying to suggest that she (or anyone in public office) wants to "stick it" to rape victims, I think that's ridiculous and would have to see the whole range of choices to be made around this issue before commenting logically.

Jessica: becoming a parent whether you keep your child or not, is an exercise in loss, humility and grace. It is an opportunity for self betterment, reinvention and growth. It is an opportunity to create goodness in spite of what's hard about being pregnant, deciding to parent or giving your child away to someone who wants one. To deny victims of pregnancy - and I DO MEAN VICTIMS, whether it was a planned, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy - the chance to rise above adversity and to work through something that's tough, I think is denying an opportunity for growth and maturity. To kill an innocent life because of someone's fear or lack of faith in themselves to rise to a very difficult challenge just feels so wrong and pessimistic to me.

Jessica Tillyer at 11:58am October 3
Well I agree with you Anne! But I also believe a woman has the right to choose whether or not she wants to have a child in the case of incest. I am glad you believe what you believe though and respect it.

Anne-Davnes Dusenberry Elser at 12:06pm October 3
It's a tough issue, isn't it? I also respect your opinion and hope to honor it by participating in the dialogue even if we disagree. I think it's so important to listen to each other without condemning our differences as a mistake or right or wrong. I hate HATE debating but I love listening. Our country is so beautifully imperfect- if anything, this election just fills me with pride in our country, communities and desire for improvement all round - no matter which side you're on. There is nothing quite like the American Spirit.

Jessica Tillyer at 12:11pm October 3
Agreed! You rock!

Holly Fisher at 4:39pm October 3
Ditto on the respectful disagreeing! I'm not implying that she wants to stick it to rape victims...only that it's hard for me to believe her, to trust that she's going to advocate for my choices and the choices of the people I love, when she believes abortion isn't a valid option for victims of rape or incest. That's only the very beginning of all the things I disagree with her about... many of which have to do with who I am, who I've been since I was born. I fear she can mobilize a Christian Right that is very very capable of filling my world (and yours too) with fear, hatred and discrimination.

In an effort to send you the article about the rape kits, I discovered that she did not know this was happening - that the hospitals were billing the victims, not the police. I sincerely hope that's true, and that, if she knew about it, she worked immediately to change it. So, I withdraw my "accusation" above! And yes, thanks for such respectful dialogue!

Anne-Davnes Dusenberry Elser at 8:07pm October 3
I worry about the Christian Right thing, too - but I don't think things would ever get that bad. It would be too much like the Holocaust - just the other way around. I don't think the american people would stand for it. Words like faith and morals and tradition send a shudder of fear through a lot of people - and for good reason because we're all sensitive to others throwing their religious preferences down our throats.
I was pleased to hear her talk about tolerance, diversity and respect when it comes to gay marriage. It looks like neither party wants to advocate changing the constitution and redefine marriage - which I STILL don't understand. I think that's a human rights issue that all committed couples deserve.

More Vintage Books

For the Candler Park Fall Festival!

Mary & Dan

My good friends Mary & Dan are expecting and just had some wonderful portraits taken. Take a look to see more!

Be Afraid

I love children deeply but this is really disturbing. Children are too young and innocent to know what they're singing here and to treat any politician as a savior of any kind is so manipulative and frightening. And I'm an optimist, folks. Jesus Camp, Hitler's Youth.... I know this country is in need of something to feel good about but seriously - am I really the only creative who loves children who thinks that this is creepy and misdirected? Sing the praises of the people of this country, of our nation, of our founding fathers or of your god of choice - not one man to save you. Especially a politician! Are we really that broken now? Are we really that lost? Have we really lost that much faith in ourselves? In each other?

Sign Up for Italic Calligraphy & Bookmaking Classes

Morning Friends,

My New Italic Calligraphy class and Bookmaking classes are ready for sign up. They begin in 2 weeks, right here in Atlanta at Binders Art Supply store. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please spread the word! Click here to sign up and read more about these and other classes.

Three other classes available:
• 3-day weekend bookmaking workshop, Oct. 17th, 18th & 19th.
• 6-week Italic calligraphy class, Weds nights: March 4th - April 8th.
• 6-week Copperplate calligraphy class, Weds nights: Jan 14 - Feb 18th.

Many thanks,

~Anne

Harvest Pumkins

Aren't these cool?

Sound Familiar?

This is brilliant. And funny. And absolutely true.

Even more Summer tomatoes

Just when we thought our tomato plants were done producing, they bring us more fruit, according to Olaf.

For Older Reasons

Here's another gem from Seventeen Magazine. As if Musky Jasmin and Loves Baby Soft weren't bad enough, they've invented a creepy reason to sell Johnson's Baby Powder. Ish!

New Bookmaking and Calligraphy Classes

Friends! I am teaching four new Bookmaking and Calligraphy classes and workshops at Binders in Atlanta. Two of them are not yet ready for online sign up but you can call Binders (1.888.472.6866) to reserve your spot. Here are the details:

•Binders Bookmaking Workshop: Oct.17,18,&19,2008 Sign up now!
We are making a coptic bound book and a telescoping box for it to fit into. The objective here is to give you a fundamental understanding of how books are made - a backbone of knowledge so you can create your own books and journals. There will be an emphasis on neatness and craft and most of all FUN. Making books is a very rewarding experience. They make wonderful gifts, sketchbooks for yourself and journals, photo albums, etc. The only skills required are a love of paper, attention to detail, patience and again - a need to have FUN!


Bookmaking Supply list:
1. Lineco® awl or pin tool.
2. Lineco® bookbinding needles (1 pkg.)
3. Lineco® Binding thread
4. Lineco® bone folder (small)
5. Lineco® beeswax
6. Davy Board
7. Lineco® Neutral PH Adhesive (8 ounce bottle) or Sobo
8. Lineco® methyl cellulose (little container of white powder)
9. Rice paper: deocrative (used as cover paper)
10. Mechanical pencil (makes the most precise marks)
11. Scissors, exacto knife and blades
12. Clothespins and/or binder clips
13. Triangle (any size you're comfortable with)
14. Self-healing cutting mat (any size you like)
15. Craft brushes (small & large: .5 to 1 inches wide)
16. Cork-backed metal ruler (any size you're comfortable with)
17. 8.5 x 11 sheet of foam core (1/8 inch thickness)
Grocery Store:
19. Roll of wax paper
20. Ziploc containers with lids: 4 cup and 2 cup (in which to put your mixture of adhesive and methyl cellulose)
Hardware Store:
21. Sharpening stone (to be able to sharpen and reuse your dull exacto blades and sharpen your awl)
Office Supply Store:
22. Ream of 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17 blank cotton paper: for pages of our books
Bring from home:
23. A magazine you won't mind ripping up to use as "waste paper" when gluing.
24. Brick covered with paper (to weigh down your books as they dry flat)
Suggested books:
25. Non-Adhesive Binding \ Books Without Paste Or Glue by Keith A. Smith
26. Any crafty bookbinding book is a great resource to refer to when you’ve forgotten how to do a step!


•Binders Italic Calligraphy Class: (On line sign up available shortly)
Italic Calligraphy
Six sessions: Wednesday nights from 6-8:30PM
October 15 - November 19
$140.00

The Italic calligraphic face is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It is highly legible and can be transformed (dressed up or down) with ease. A wonderful face to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. We will spend 6 weeks learning the Italic face. Students will be given handouts and guide sheets. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes.

Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. It's about establishing a pacing and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes and letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for the hands.

Supply List
Binders
1. Pad of market layout paper: 9'' x 12'' (Canson® Pro Layout. 50 sheets per pad.)
2. inkwell
3. Speedball® C Pen Set (penholder and six nibs.)
4. KY Series Sumi Ink from Yasutomo®. (6 oz. black rectangular bottle.)
Grocery Store:
5. Container of Wet Wipes to clean your nibs and hands (not baby wipes - they are too greasy).
Suggested web sites:
6. www.johnnealbooks.com
7. www.paperinkarts.com
8. www.friendsofthealphabet.org (Atlanta Calligraphy Guild)

•Binders Bookmaking Class: (On line sign up available shortly)
Bookmaking
Six sessions: Wednesday afternoons from 1-5PM
October 15 - November 19
$140.00
We will be making books and boxes in this class with a variety of materials and techniques. The objective here is to give you a fundamental understanding of how books are made - a backbone of knowledge so you can create your own books and journals. There will be an emphasis on neatness and craft and most of all FUN. Making books is a very rewarding experience.
They make wonderful gifts, sketchbooks for yourself and journals, photo albums, etc. The only skills required are a love of paper, attention to detail, patience and again - a need to have FUN!


Bookmaking Supply list:
1. Lineco® awl or pin tool.
2. Lineco® bookbinding needles (1 pkg.)
3. Lineco® Binding thread
4. Lineco® bone folder (small)
5. Lineco® beeswax
6. Davy Board
7. Lineco® Neutral PH Adhesive (8 ounce bottle) or Sobo
8. Lineco® methyl cellulose (little container of white powder)
9. Rice paper: deocrative (used as cover paper)
10. Mechanical pencil (makes the most precise marks)
11. Scissors, exacto knife and blades
12. Clothespins and/or binder clips
13. Triangle (any size you're comfortable with)
14. Self-healing cutting mat (any size you like)
15. Craft brushes (small & large: .5 to 1 inches wide)
16. Cork-backed metal ruler (any size you're comfortable with)
17. 8.5 x 11 sheet of foam core (1/8 inch thickness)
Grocery Store:
19. Roll of wax paper
20. Ziploc containers with lids: 4 cup and 2 cup (in which to put your mixture of adhesive and methyl cellulose)
Hardware Store:
21. Sharpening stone (to be able to sharpen and reuse your dull exacto blades and sharpen your awl)
Office Supply Store:
22. Ream of 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 17 blank cotton paper: for pages of our books
Bring from home:
23. A magazine you won't mind ripping up to use as "waste paper" when gluing.
24. Brick covered with paper (to weigh down your books as they dry flat)
Suggested books:
25. Non-Adhesive Binding \ Books Without Paste Or Glue by Keith A. Smith
26. Any crafty bookbinding book is a great resource to refer to when you’ve forgotten how to do a step!

•Binders Copperplate & Blackletter Calligraphy Classs: Jan.14-Feb.18,2009 Sign up now!
Calligraphy Class
Instructor: Anne Elser
Wednesdays, 6 sessions, Jan 14 - Feb 18.
6-8:30pm
Fee: $140

Are you fascinated with how beautiful calligraphy looks and want to try it yourself? This is an introductory look at two major calligraphic faces, Copperplate and Blackletter. They're both very different from each other, which should give the student a nice balance of styles within which to experiment. Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. It's about establishing a pacing and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes and letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for the hands. Towards the end of the class, we'll be experimenting with a more colorful and modern approach to calligraphy, using the folded pen nib and colored inks. Students will be given handouts and guide sheets for both Copperplate and Blackletter. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. For the modern calligraphic work, we will be working more intuitively.

Supply List
Binders
1. Pad of market layout paper: 9'' x 12'' (Canson® Pro Layout. 50 sheets per pad.)
2. Mechanical pencil.
3. Eraser.
4. Cork-backed metal ruler (any size you're comfortable with)
5. Dinky Dips® & holder. (or any other inkwell)
6. Oblique Pen Point Holder (for Copperplate.)
7. Fine Pen Point Nibs (for Copperplate.)
9. Speedball® C Pen Set (penholder and six nibs.)
10. KY Series Sumi Ink from Yasutomo®. (6 oz. black rectangular bottle.)
For Modern Calligraphy
11. Palette paint tray 6 or 9 well.
12. Bombay India Ink® 1 oz bottles. Any color(s).
13. New Horizon Folded Nib®.
Grocery Store:
14. Container of Wet Wipes (to clean your nibs and hands).
Suggested web sites:
15. www.johnnealbooks.com
16. www.paperinkarts.com
77. www.friendsofthealphabet.org (Atlanta Calligraphy Guild)

A Very Happy Birthday

Uncle Peter and Tia Gloria bought Anton two hats for his big day. We celebrated with a lunch out and special dinner in and an improvised donut hole cake with two candles. Cake and ice cream make Anton gag - so this is the alternative. They might not look like much but I assure you he was VERY happy!

Yummy Cotton Colors

Remember the crocheted coasters I began in Rabun Gap whilst drinking bloody marys? Well I put the drink down and started mixing more colors into the palette - using a red and green theme without screaming Christmas. These are for our house to replace all the coasters Bjorn ate while he lived here. And by the way - he's finally found a new home and has a Doxie for a best friend and gets to sleep in his new mommie's bed. He is very happy and I am very relieved.

Guess Whose TWO!

Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy. I am so proud of you.

Children's Hats

Have you gone to The Village Hat Shop? It's filled with amazingly styled and well-priced hats for children and adults. Anton has several of these hats on his wish list for his birthday. Before we go out the door each morning, we stop at the foyer where he's got all of his hats on hooks. He picks the one he wants to wear and then we're off. He picks a different one each time. Amazing that he likes wearing them - of course the minute he came from the womb he was dressed in one for warmth and safety. He really doesn't know what life is like without one. Lucky me! Lucky boy! Because people literally sigh with joy when they see a toddler in a hat.

Crunchy Sweet Carbs from Daddy Solves Everything

This is what happens when the little monkey wakes up from his nap and finds out I'm not there and cries with abandon. Food fixes everything for this little toddler and Daddy knows that.

Paper Basket

I want to make one of these but use pure type (delicious paragraphs of copy) instead of maps.

TV

Watching Teletubbies!


Watching Antiques Roadshow.

Just Say No

Well that's good to know. I'll just tease him to really make him suffer.

How to Suck the Very Joy Out of Someone

Anton and I go to Chick-Fil-A at least once a week. Doug was out of town tonight so off we went for a special dinner. Chick-Fil-A does such a fantastic job of marketing to children. Their employees feel more like wait staff than they do your typical fast food disgruntled workers. They end every transaction with a "my pleasure" and always smile, and always, ALWAYS make a fuss over Anton, who, in his cuter than cute hats, always smiles back. He waves and smacks his lips with a yummy sound whenever we pass one on the road. It's just a fun place to be.

But tonight was different. The place was filled with laughing kids, howling babies and busy parents. It was typical. Fun music playing and a very nice guy walked my tray to our table and helped me seat Anton in his highchair. It got a little quieter and an older couple came in to sit a few tables away from us.

Anton was finishing up his meal and I started singing to him. Softly and sweetly. Honestly, I'd never sung to him in a restaurant before, but it just felt right. It was a very sweet moment. I was full of joy.

Then the older man walks over to me and says, "I can hear your singing and was wondering if you could just give it a rest and stop."

"Excuse me?"

"It's very sweet, but we can hear you and would rather not. So please stop."

I was stunned. "I think that's the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"It may well be but it's inappropriate here."

"I'm just singing to my son!"

"Well, I could start singing to my wife...."

"Oh by all means, do!"

"....but that would be inappropriate for both of us."

and he walked away.

Cocksucker.

I didn't feel much like singing anymore. So we quietly packed up and left.
I wanted to park my minivan right in front of the window where he and his sour wife were sitting and shine my brights right at them. Turn my hazards on and wait for them to leave. I was so mad.

If Doug had been there, he would have beat the living shit out of this guy and I wish he had. But then again, if he were there, I doubt the guy would have had the guts to approach me in the first place.

So I got in the car and on the way home started crying. WHY am I crying like a baby!? I called Doug and told him about it and he was really sweet. Said that this man was full of shame and shamed me instead of himself.

The Chick-Fil-A environment fosters the kind of kid-friendly environment for families and friends to be together. They do it better and anyone else. Honestly - I'm surprised this couple walked in. Who knows, maybe they had just had a fight or he found out he's got cancer or his own mother was a monster to live with.

It was just stunning. I'm just glad I had enough guts to call him on the emotional toxicity of his request. How can you in the same breath tell someone what they're doing is "very sweet" and then ask them to stop?

WHY didn't I have the smarts to snap a picture of him with my trusty iPhone and plaster his sour image all over the web?!!!

New Books!

I'm in coptic heaven!

Great Balls of Fun

Mmmm hmmmmm. I bet they are.

Grocery Bag Purse

Check out this designer's solution to your never ending stash of plastic grocery bags. The best pattern I've seen out there and totally wonderful that she's sharing it with everyone. I've got a ball of plastic yarn growing on my kitchen counter, waiting to be crocheted into one of these!

Musky Jasmin

Well. My folks cleaned out their attic the other weekend and found my 1980's Seventeen magazine collection I saved from when I was a teenager. These things are worth their weight in gold. In very good condition, I've been scanning in the most puzzling articles and ads to share with you.

Here's the first. The copy is so confusing and I can't quite figure out what they're trying to sell. WHAT the fuck is "musky jasmin?" A sweet-smelling crotch perhaps? Tangy BO? Is she sniffing her fingers?

Ideas? Anyone?

Beautiful Quote

I saw this in a Margaret Wise Brown children's book. Sweet, sweet.

New Calligraphy

A new piece of stationary created for a calligraphy client.

Sleepy Lunch

This is what happens when Mama waits too long to feed me lunch. Either that or he's just really sick of broccoli and peaches.

Clamshell Box

A new clamshell box with a spine from the vintage cloth book. Yummy!

A genius

I knew it. He's an artist. Here's his first masterpiece!

New Unsupported Blanket Stitch book

So I've made another unsupported blanket stitch book. They are typically floppy books - too flexible for most people's tastes. But this one I made differently, with many short stations. It took a while, but works really well. The effect of all those red hues makes for a candy striping look. I am pleased.

Anton's First Day of School

My hunny bunny's began nursery school this week. Here are some photos Doug took of us. I got a little weepy the minute we got to the car. Anton walked straight to the classroom and never looked back. Though he was not used to an early 10:30 AM lunch. he skipped the meal and by the time Doug picked him up, he was STARVING and crying. So he ate his lunch in the car on the way home.

So my little boy is confident and his little world is getting bigger and bigger. I am so proud of him.

Lobster Claw Mittens

A new pattern I found from Morehouse Merino: Lobster Mitts. This was a fast and fun pattern. Think I'll knit a pink pair for Mia!

Winter Calligraphy Class

Hi Friends,

There's a new calligraphy class that starts in the new year. We are half way through with the first Binders Calligraphy class and are having a lot of fun together. If you missed taking the class the first time around, now's your chance to sign up! Click here.

Calligraphy Class
Instructor: Anne Elser
Wednesdays, 6 sessions, Jan 14 - Feb 18.
6-8:30pm
Fee: $140

Are you fascinated with how beautiful calligraphy looks and want to try it yourself? This is an introductory look at two major calligraphic faces, Copperplate and Blackletter. They're both very different from each other, which should give the student a nice balance of styles within which to experiment. Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. It's about establishing a pacing and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes and letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for the hands.
Towards the end of the class, we'll be experimenting with a more colorful and modern approach to calligraphy,
using the folded pen nib and colored inks.
Students will be given handouts and guide sheets for both Copperplate and Blackletter. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. For the modern calligraphic work, we will be working more intuitively.

Supply List
Binders
1. Pad of market layout paper: 9'' x 12'' (Canson® Pro Layout. 50 sheets per pad.)
2. Mechanical pencil.
3. Eraser.
4. Cork-backed metal ruler (any size you're comfortable with)
5. Dinky Dips® & holder. (or any other inkwell)
6. Oblique Pen Point Holder (for Copperplate.)
7. Fine Pen Point Nibs (for Copperplate.)
9. Speedball® C Pen Set (penholder and six nibs.)
10. KY Series Sumi Ink from Yasutomo®. (6 oz. black rectangular bottle.)
For Modern Calligraphy
11. Palette paint tray 6 or 9 well.
12. Bombay India Ink® 1 oz bottles. Any color(s).
13. New Horizon Folded Nib®.
Grocery Store:
14. Container of Wet Wipes (to clean your nibs and hands).
Suggested web sites:
15. www.johnnealbooks.com
16. www.paperinkarts.com
77. www.friendsofthealphabet.org (Atlanta Calligraphy Guild)