Pencils YES!

As I've mentioned previously, I'm a certified pencil lover, so was delighted to see a link to this story in my inbox via my bestie-of-all-time, Lauren. Blackwings are back, yo! And apparently they're better than ever.

For the uninitiated, Blackwing pencils were discontinued in the 1990's and have developed a cult following due to their super-smooth lead and large ferrule, which is that thing that attaches the eraser to the pencil. I found this out because there is such thing as a Pencilopedia, which is totally blowing my mind. They're made of cedar, last forever, and have a fancy flat-eraser to boot. Pop culture eaters Boing Boing reported on their resurgence and I can only imagine the legions of folksy copy-editors or pencil weirdos who are snatching these things up.

They were previously fetching prices up to $20 on ebay for a single pencil but can now be purchased here for a cool $19.95 per dozen count box. I know you're as over-the-moon as I am.

Finders Keepers

Book sculptures by an anonymous artist have been popping up in Scotland libraries recently. Aside from the sweetness of the sculptures themselves, my favorite thing about this project is how librarians are using the poems referenced as clues to discern the identity of the artist.

Says Central Station (with a Scottish brogue, I hope): "Nobody knows whether there are more to come and if so, where they might appear. Some say the newly opened National Museum, others suggest the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It's all a bit exciting!"

Get the scoop and check out a few more sculptures here.

Book Icons

One of my favorite pop culture blogs, Flavorwire, just released their list of top 20 iconic book covers. I was thrilled to see that a few of my favorites had made it. Check it out here - are any of yours on the list?

Fancy, Shiny Books

My boss, Gavin Dovey, has spent the summer cranking out one incredible box after the next, but I think his latest one for One Hundred Years of Solitude is my favorite. The picture doesn't come close to doing it justice - it's just gorgeous in person, and the gold leafing positively glows. Since I'm just getting started with leather work, it's a bit premature to start fantasizing about precious metals, but I think I'm in capable hands, no?

Stacks 'n rolls

Around the bindery.

Peacocks and Nonpareils

I haven't been spending as much time at the bindery as I'd like but am keeping busy working on my own projects and spending as much time as possible at my current favorite place in the world, Center for Book Arts. I had the pleasure of taking a paper marbling class with the fabulous Lauren Rowland who was knowlegable and zany and hilarious and all-around awesome, and I'm pretty happy with some of the papers I made. It was a great group of women to work with and I'd absolutely love the opportunity to work with Lauren again!

Nerd Shoes

Check out these sweet Bookbinder Heels from Anthropologie. I'd totally snag a pair if I weren't a hundred feet tall (and if they weren't a hundred dollars out of my price range). I'm a size 10.5 - anyone feeling like Santa?