Today has been a very slow day. I’ve spent most of it giving the next issue of Scheherezade’s Bequest and the companion non-fiction articles of Cabinet des Fées a final check. Tomorrow I’ll finish the editorial and on Thursday, barring disaster, it will go live. Here in the studio, I’ve been continuing the cleaning/packing spree. Now that the foxes are done and waiting to go to their new homes, I’ve scrubbed the binding table in preparation for a serious week or so of book-making.

a very clean desk

Part of this cleaning involves tidying my tools. I’ve had some of the tools you see below for years, while others are more recent additions. I had to purchase a new scalpel, for example, as I couldn’t find blades the correct size for the old scalpel I brought from the US. I’ve been asked, “why a scalpel?” The answer is simple. An exacto knife has a thicker blade and it can damage delicate papers, or curl the edges as you cut.

binder's tools

From left to right: my trusty utility knife for cutting board, drafting pencil, bone folder, awl with thread above, knitting needles for grooving spines, exacto knife, scalpel, tweezers for tightening signatures, bees’ wax and needles and above them, binder’s clips and scissors, my very favorite brush used for glue (an Isabey Isacryl No. 6), and tiny clamps for pressing tiny books. I go nowhere without these, plus one or two rulers.

an almost empty shelf

The shelves are looking quite barren. Lots of little things are still scattered around, plus some artwork and of course, bones. Books, books and more books. We have a probable moving date now — February 2. I’m trying really hard not to think about it. heh

Last time we visited the studio I included a photo of the books that live on my desk. One of my readers was understandably frustrated that she couldn’t see all the titles. I would have been, too! This is like writing a book where you, the author, know exactly what’s going on and sometimes assume your readers will, too. I can recognize these books by the photo because I know them intimately. So here is the photo again, followed by a list of their titles.

messy desk

From left to right:

Miniature Books
Beautiful Bookbindings
Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction
The Honey Month
The Serpent Tongue: Liber 187
Shiny Thing
Songs for the Devil and Death
Take Joy
The Little Red Writing Book
Beauties, Beasts and Enchantment
Secrets of Nature
Basic Bookbinding
Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales
Wonder Tales
A Short History of Fantasy
Theory and History of Folklore
The Folktale (mine is a different edition)
The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales
These two are hidden in a pile of paperwork:
The Hearing Trumpet
Women Without Men (I’ve just now learned that the incredible Shirin Neshat has made a film of this, my most beloved book! Eek! I’m not allowed to spend money, we need to save for France! I’m writing a letter to Santa right now…)
And on top, 1000 Artist Journal Pages and The Art of Bookbinding (mine is a 1967 edition bound in leather).

And that’s it! Those are the books that get me through it. I also have a whole lot of books still in Storage in Ohio. Many of those would be worthy for the desk, if only they were here.

Today was a lovely day full of sunshine, a rare thing at this time of year in these parts. Tonight is for hot curry and catching up with Master Chef.

view from the studio
Yeah we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun.
–John Lennon