Rick has just finished putting together a beautiful electronic iPad/iPhone version of Marathon – You an Do It! by Jeff Galloway. No kidding, this looks better to me than any other book I see on the iPad, with its colors, graphics, and tables that resize and are clearly and easily readable. Compare to all the other running books, for ex. Works great on iPhone as well; runners can carry their training programs in their pockets (say, when traveling).
A few days ago I wrote about doing my original layout of books on paper, not on the computer. Owl posted this comment:
“One of the aspects I enjoy about the LK books I have is the ease of reading them. I find my eye travels quite naturally around the page and there is a flow to the whole book. It doesn’t surprise me that they are laid out on paper during the assembly/construction after all, if the intention is to produce a physical book I would have thought it is best to design the book as close to the finished piece as you can. In the same way if I was putting together an e-book I would want to design it on something that is going to give the feel of the reader most likely to be used.
While a computer is a powerful and useful tool I feel they can only simulate a physical medium and hint at the tactile qualities.”
(Above layout is very rough.)
I post stuff here on daily observations, but the most important thing going on in my life right now is working on our tiny homes book. By the time we get it out, it will have been 3 years in between major building books, the last having been Builders of the Pacific Coast (2008).
For a year I gathered info, filing it away in 5th-cut files folders (one thing I learned in my 5 years as an insurance broker was the importance [and technique] of filing). For the past few months, I’ve been doing layouts, 2 pages at a time, in no particular order. I grab a folder, print out pics, write or get text from contributors, and do a rough layout by taping down pics (which I size on a Brother DCP-9040CN color copy machine) and text with removable scotch tape.
This is old school, to say the least. These days, designers lay out picture books on Macintoshes, for Christ’s sake. My method is way slower, but I’m not locked into a digital process in the creative stages. I think you get a different product this way (kind of like rice tastes best when cooked slowly on a wood stove).
Quick shot of quilt during Lesley’s Open Studio weekend.
More of her quilts (see below): https://www.lesleycreed.com/
-Chief Yellow Lark, 19th-century medicine man of the Lakota Sioux
Suh-weet!
It’s a phenomenal year for crabs. Lots of them, lots of big ones. These guys that go out through the surf have my utmost respect. Both going out and coming back in are not for the faint-hearted. Skill and experience required. They have to know where the (shifting) channel is, and make a lot of right moves to prevent being turned upside down by the waves.
Shakes by Bruno, shaking by Billy
Billy came to the door yesterday afternoon with an abalone he’d got a few hours earlier, and two big crabs. Lesley’s had a ton of people over at her “Open Studio” this weekend, so last night we had abalone and white rice, a simple and wonderful meal. Tonight cracked crab.
In the words of Josh the fisherman, “The ocean’s really healthy here right now.” (Can you believe good news like this nowadays?)
I went out for a paddle in the lagoon Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Late afternoon, I couldn’t believe how cold the water was and only my hands and arms were in it. Turned out to be San Francisco’s coldest day in 100 years. Took an hour to get warm by the wood stove.
Lesley’s studio will be open tomorrow (Sunday Nov. 28) She’s working on a beautiful quit right now of Japanese fabrics. She’s also got necklaces, hand-woven shawls, and a bunch of quilts.
Info if you’re in the neighborhood (West Marin): https://www.coastalmarinartists.com/
Also: https://www.lesleycreed.com/
Great jug band. I love the tuba! If you go to their website and click on “Music,” you can play their whole album. Such good stuff.
Got this from boingboing
Unbelievable bike riding. Sent us by Steve Maxon.
“Way Back Home is the incredible new riding clip from Danny MacAskill, it follows him on a journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye.”
You can read about it and watch the interviews with Danny at https://www.redbull.co.uk/waybackhome