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21st Century BookbindingA Personal Journey by Ginna BB GordonMy parents gave me A Little Golden Book called "The Poky Little Puppy" for my third birthday. More Little Golden Books followed, including "Where Is That Poky Little Puppy?," "Thumbelina," and "A Television Book of Yoo Hoo," which had a little dial to turn for pictures of Yoo Hoo, the Elephant, doing various things: showering himself with his trunk-full of water, eating chocolates, petting the dog. The dial is gone now, but not the book. "Elmer and the Dragon," "The Velveteen Rabbit" and solving Nancy Drew mysteries came next. At 9, my older brother, Mark said, "Go write a book on How to Be Obnoxious in 25 Easy Lessons." I did. All these books and more are still on my shelves: books about beads, art, ceramics; cookbooks; historical novels and biographies; self-help; spiritual journeys; and geeky things like InDesign Manuals, Nolo Do-Your-Own-Divorce/Will/LLC; Do-It-Yourself Plumbing and Upholstery. Dover Books of Design and Clip-Art. I am never without at least one, if not two or three books. My husband David says that when I announce I am "bookless," he gets nervous. Thank the Great Spirit for Kindle, although, for me, virtual books will never replace the feel of the paper, the inspiration and tease on the cover, beautiful marbled endpapers, sensitively planned photographs, parchment. During the 70s, I studied everything concerning books and their making: binding; gold tooling; paper making, marbling and decorating; calligraphy. With my Certificate from the Carmel Guild of the Book Arts, I became a bookbinder. I stepped into my professional cooking years and, during 1995-97, consulted with the Chopra Center for Welling Being in La Jolla, and for them wrote my first grown-up book, A Simple Celebration, the Nutritional Program for the Chopra Center for Well Being (1997, Harmony Books, a Division of Random House). In 2011, Honey Baby Darlin, Book One - The Farm, the first in my four-part series about cooking, love and the love of cooking, was released by Publish America. It is now 2013. After an illuminating experience with a prospective publisher, I finally gathered my courage, along with my skills in writing, design and bookbinding, combined them with the talents of my husband and creative partner, David Gordon (web design, writing and typography, among myriad others) and created Lucky Valley Press. To me, the sum of these parts is 21st Century Bookbinding. Please visit our LVP website and be sure to read our Mission Statement. |
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"What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die." |
