How it is, raining...

... a lot in Auckland.

My window, perpetually, looks like this.


Am (re)reading these wonderful books ...

Keeping happy with these lovely bits ...

I found the charming Dancing Girl Press. It is so wonderful, focused on independently publishing chapbooks by emerging female writers - this girl, Kristy Bowen, certainly keeps herself busy! Not only handling this project, she edits an online journal, Wicked Alice and makes her own paper arts and beautiful jewellery, and collects vintage objects and other delightful items - making her etsy shop a storehouse of enviable, delicious treats. (Kristy keeps a lovely blog here too).

Spelling ( ) Bound (Ellectrique Press 2008) is a poetic collaboration between Cara Benson, Kai Fierle-Hedrick, and Kathrin Schaeppi and looks like a wonderful project - I certainly hope to get a copy.

The projects exhibited in the New Media section in the latest issue of How2 equally much - I thought that Rosheen Brennan's Motion was particularly beautiful.

Reading a manuscript too. Not mine. An energetic surge, sustained. Practically inhaled it.


Making things: some new packettes for chapbooks -



Large handmade envelopes, hand stitched together to create a visible seam and using the same illustration as the last packette experiment.

I have been working on a few different collages/visual poems (that genre)...

Here's one I have completed (though have not titled yet).

- E xx

More Winterling Packettes...

For my next set of chapbook swaps I wanted to create an alternative cover/sleeve. I decided to make simple large envelopes - without seal or adhesive, these may be opened and closed by the tie at the top.

I decided to pare the collage for these covers right down - the back of the envelope looks very similar. I am basically working with part of a map/some kind of numerated diagram image - so cutting up found material and then using a basic computer illustration program to erase most of it, aswell as the evidence of my cut up procedure.

I think I will keep generating more ideas and possibilities for these packettes and try to establish a kind of loose aesthetic 'feel' for the Winterling project. Please be in touch if you would like to do chapbook or an "anything else" swap! (There is a link to my email on my profile). Thank you so much for those who have responded so far - your packettes will be posted at the end of the week. I hope you will enjoy them.

More soon! X

P.S. I was not sure if the US Postal Service would let me send thank-you-note-twigs from New Zealand - so I made a little collage and printed it on handmade paper instead!

Winterling Packette - Chapbook Exchange

I am very excited about the first chapbook exchange with Michael Steven - a wonderfully interesting poet and the creative mind behind Soapbox Press, an Auckland based small press initiative, Winterling is happily associated with! Click here to be directed to Michael's blog.

I decided to do an illustrated cover of sorts for the chapbooks - more like a sleeve to keep them in (although I'd like to do more thinking about the possibilities for these). I also wrapped a thank you note around a wee branch, in case you are wondering what that is all about! I love sticks, and Winterling is all about branching out.

- Emma X