A poem for paper lovers, book binders, printers, marblers...

PAPER WRESTLING by Claire Beynon

Pretend you're breaking in a horse

                                 don't be intimidated

let the paper know who's boss

                                 acknowledge its memory

encourage it to relax

                                 if necessary, walk on stockinged feet

tune into its voice

                                 don't mind its splutters and coughs

treat its fibres with respect

                                 reign it in, but not too much

breathe

                                 recognize the fact that it's breathing, too

place your wine on a bookcase

                                 kneel down in anticipation

caress its surfaces

                                 ask it what secrets it knows

listen

                                 look at it against the light

take it to the trough

                                 have an old towel handy

make sure the water's not too cold

                                 you don't want any shocks

see that it's not too hot either

                                 lest your best intentions come undone

keep in mind green tea left too long

                                 lazily served in a wide-brimmed cup

wait for the sign that indicates it's time

                                 take the plunge and lunge

move fast or the paper will think

                                 it can get the better of you

handle it firmly, addressing it

                                 in low and patient tones

trust that with time and persistence

                                 it will succumb, may even let you in.

From: "Open book: poetry & images" by Claire Beynon

c Claire Beynon, 2007, Steele Roberts Publishers, Wellington NZ

ISBN 978-1-877448-15-7

www.clairebeynon.co.nz

Thanks to Claire for permission to post this poem which I found in her book of poems and paintings (details above) on my last visit to New Zealand. As an unashamed paper lover I felt an immediate connection with the poem and I hope it speaks as eloquently to my readers as it has to me.

NZ North Island 1

Muriwai Beach

 Close to Auckland but a million miles away in atmosphere. A beach set on the edge of wonderful farming country, Muriwai is a west coast black sand beach, very unusual to a Sydneysider who has grown up with golden sands. Unusual but extremely beautiful - and treacherous as I think most west coast beaches are in NZ. The don't call it the 'wild west coast' for nothing.

One of the most fascinating places I visited 20 years ago on my first visit to Auckland was the Gannet Colony at Muriwai. In those 20 years, the gannets have expanded their territory from the rocky outcrop to the cliffs along the shore. I believe this is one of only two onshore gannet colonies in NZ, with about 1200 pairs of birds coming here to breed each year.

This time I was at Muriwai late in the gannets' season, and most young were out getting their own food, but some huge and apparently fully fledged chicks sat on the rock screaming for food, a parent making an unerring landing next to its own offspring to stuff fish into the gaping maw.

Two more pretty pictures of Muriwai, both taken from S&T's balcony. Not a bad view to live with.

A misty morning above and the big sunset below.

There are more - I took 2000 photos but I'll just pop in a few now and then. I feel I have two homes in New Zealand, the one in Picton and the one in Muriwai, and while the views are stunning it's the friends who take me in and care for me so lovingly that make both places feel like home.

NZ South Island travels

First of all, a photo to prove that Meg and I actually managed to get together for lunch at her favourite gallery in Nelson, The Suter.  Meg is the incredibly energetic weaver/blogger from Unravelling and we met a couple of years ago at a writers' retreat held in the Marlborough Sounds at The Portage Resort Hotel. I also met chef Maree Connelly at the same retreat, and while Maree & I also met for lunch, this time in Picton, I didn't take a photo. It was great to catch up with them both, though we do all meet frequently on Facebook. Picton is the gateway to The Marlborough Sounds - just gorgeous in all weathers.

I'm afraid it's been a month since I last posted. So to catch up I thought I'd progressively add photos of my trips to New Zealand and then bits of Australia, so today is South Island day. I stayed in Picton with my friends, the owners of The Portage, lazed, rested for most of the two weeks, ate good food, drank lots of NZ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine, played with black poodle Anoop, and had a couple of trips out to the hotel by water taxi (see pic above) - and more great meals there. The hotel is more easily reached by water than road (long and windy) and there is something wonderful about zooming along in the salt spray between the hills of The Sounds. One of my most memorable moments was coming home late in the evening and seeing the entire Milky Way spread from one side of the Sounds to the other. Sheer magic.

Once at The Portage the views just continue to be wonderful. You don't have to do a thing - just be there. Can you imagine sitting on the verandah, glass of wine, fish & chips at hand, watching the sun set. Can you tell I'm pretty much in love with this place?

 After two wonderful weeks of this it was farewell to A, D & Anoop - thanks dear friends - as usual, it was a wrench to leave you all. But then, onto one of my other favourite modes of travel. The InterIslander Ferry which plies between Picton on the South Island and Wellington on the North. The InterIslander takes cars, trains (goods not passenger) and people and on most days is a very compfortable three hour trip. On a rough day, and I've only experienced one, it's not so good and when the seas are really too rough the sailing is cancelled. I love watching the cars rolling on board and the general busyness of the scene.

Sailing through Cook Strait is very beautiful, first with The Sounds on either side, then a short stretch with just the sea and vague outlines of land in the distance, then suddenly the North Island comes into view. Having said that, I think this is still the South Island in the next photo.

Once at Wellington I got a taxi to the airport, did a bit of hanging around and then caught a flight to Auckland where I was met, taken off to dinner in the city with my hosts S&T and finally, after a long day fell into my very comfortable bed in the house above Muriwai Beach - another gorgeous location! How lucky was I? More later.

Home, but going again...

I've had a marvellous 5 weeks in New Zealand, just home long enough to draw breath, open my mail, find two fabulous books from Book Art Object members, and pack up again to head off this morning into western New South Wales. Don't know where, just going. I did want to go to Longreach in Queensland but they've had a lot of flooding up there and I don't have enough time to make a real trip of it, so will stick closer to home.

When I come home I'll be finishing my edition of my book for Book Art Object and I'll show you some of my photos of New Zealand. But just for a teaser, please have a look at More Idle Thoughts where Di shows some photos of a wonderful exhibition we went to, including a photo of Di and me. We have been communicating by email and blog comments for ages but hadn't met until that day. Funny that we both live in Australia but had to go to NZ to meet up. Di has posted quite a lot of photos of the two exhibitions we saw that day, well worth a look. Mine will be coming sometime soon.

I'm off now, to load the car and go. Talk to you later...

Beautiful New Zealand

Fia has had a very successful 4th birthday party with friends old and new, and now can proudly say she's going on for 5. Nine delightful children, their very pleasant parents and a delicious birthday cake made it a very happy afternoon. I think she enjoyed the party more than getting presents, which seems like a nice attitude for a little girl to have.

I'm heading off tomorrow, first to stay with friends for a couple of days, and then to New Zealand. I had my first major bookbinding lessons at the Auckland Institute of Technology and Bill Downie, the first of two wonderful teachers, set a very high standard. I saw Bill and his wife on my last trip to Auckland and he remains one of my bookbinding heroes.

The first half of my month in NZ will be spent in the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds, at Picton, staying with friends of many years, who own The Portage Resort Hotel in Kenepuru Sound. One of the most beautiful places on earth. The Marlborough region is famous for its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines, and I'm looking forward to trying new labels developed since I was last there. I'll also visit Nelson, and track down some blogging and Facebook friends. Then I'll catch the Interislander Ferry, a 3 hour trip in a very large car ferry, hopefully on a calm sea, which will take me to Wellington, capital city of NZ, on the southern tip of the North Island. A quick plane trip will take me back to Auckland.

The second half of my holiday will be spent in and around Auckland with bookbinding friends, some of whom I met all those years ago at Auckland Inst. of Technology. We have a lot planned, people to see, places to go, and I hope a little book making thrown in. My hosts live at Muriwai Beach, another beautiful place - one thing you have to say about New Zealand, each place is prettier than the next. Do click on the link to see this wonderful beach and the Gannet Colony - just spectacular. I'm taking my new camera, lots of art materials, and just a few clothes. Something to do with priorities.

I'll be home on 30 March, with all batteries recharged I hope. I'm leaving my Secret Garden in the hands of my capable family. I'll be glad to get back to my garden but even more to see the little children again. And then I have books to make, and even more books...

One World One Heart give-away winner...

 

The winner of my Magic Carpet journal is Diana at Adventuring through Life - a really warm and gentle blog and one I'll be visiting often. Diana comes from Olmsted Falls OH, United States, makes beautiful earrings and bracelets and you may see these in her Etsy shop. Congratulations Diana, I hope you will enjoy using your new journal. I'll email you to get your address details.

At the last minute I decided to choose another visitor (both were chosen by a random number generator) to receive a magazine that showcases country Australia. This goes to Sandra, from Virginia, United States, who lives in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains on Thistle Cove Farm. Sandra, I'll email you too, to get your address.

Do visit both these blogs - they are delightful and heart warming. I'm so pleased that my gifts are going to such good homes.

I'm sure I've already said I was overwhelmed by the response to my journal. I had 490 comments and I would have gladly given every one of them the book. People generally put effort into their comments and it made me feel people were really talking to me. My intention is to visit all 490 visitors but I'd like to do that at a gentle pace so I can read, look at photos, visit shops and leave comments. I imagine this will take a long time but I'll do it. Thank you to all those who became following friends - I'll be visiting you too.

Thank you to everyone who commented, to Lisa Swifka of A Whimsical Bohemian for organising the event and to Eva (Lady Artisan) who alerted me to it. Now I have some emails to send - to Diana and Sandra.

Something that makes me smile

I thought this post shouldn't go by without a book photo. This is a tiny concertina I call Mardi Gras,  a very simple exercise in sewing pages into concertina folds. Quite cute, totally useless but pretty in a rather tizzy way.  Every time I come across it on my shelves I can't help smiling at the silliness of it, and we all know that smiling is a Good Thing.

 
The response to my One World One Heart giveaway has been overwhelming to say the least. There just aren't hours enough in a day to respond to everyone (at this time over 480 comments) but I will try to visit everyone over the next few weeks, or maybe months. I will certainly be visiting my followers to say hello.

Drop in on Monday 15 Feb at 6:00 p.m Sydney time when I announce the winner.