Travel Writing Ireland

Long ago, during my first year in college I attended a luncheon titled “Travel Writing Ireland.” Two of my future professors were speaking of a study abroad trip. They took a group of students to study in Ireland; they all kept a record of their journeys in a handmade journal of their own crafting. This luncheon ended up having a great influence on me. I would go on to study literature with both of these great professors and learn bookmaking from one. I would also go on to study bookmaking as an art and artifact, in the Middle Ages and in medieval French monasteries. I would actually venture into medieval ways of papermaking, ink making, and illuminating. But, also, I would continue to make books as an art form. And I would, one day, journal my own way across Ireland, recording the serendipitous ramblings of this traveling soul. This is what you are seeing: the handmade journal that accompanied me on my travels across Ireland in May 2009. In here, are things that 1000 photographs couldn’t quite capture and ephemera that just can’t be thrown away or stuffed in a box (receipts, brochures, flyers, maps, a business card, etc.). This is a raw journal now, as time passes I will add to it, embellish it with journal entries or artwork. Ephemera is mostly just leafed in between pages now but will someday be incorporated into the journal. The journal is covered in green leather and the end leaves are a green marbled paper (not of my own making, I wish). Hand laid ivory paper and watercolor paper is interspersed throughout. Each time I open it, to work on it or just to leaf through, Ireland beckons me back. Back to delve deeper into its mysteries to explore the lands of green and mist and myths.

Detail of cover window - Irish postage stamps and map of Ireland.

Hand painted map of Ireland's counties in watercolor done pre-trip.

Map of Western Ireland from the Road Altas we used and a postcard I sent to myself.

Tickets from Bob Dylan in Dublin, the journal entry entered before the concert, and xylene art added post-trip.

Marbled end leaves and ephemera torn from a flyer.

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Customer Appreciation Giveaway !!

Etsy is a great community in which to belong. I love interacting with my customers and other artisans and getting customers reviews from all over the wide world. It helps me gauge the quality of my wares and my customer service. I really appreciate your business and your reviews. If you've purchased something from me in 2013 or 2014 please leave me a review. The sooner the better. If you leave a review by Valentine's Day, February 14th, your name will be entered to win a pocket journal from Traveling Chariot. If you purchased something from me in person, leave a review in the comments section of this blog entry and you'll be entered, too. If you comment below be sure to include your email so I can get address info if you win. If you win, choose between Orient Express (red) and Silver Dreams. Thanks for supporting this teeny-tiny business.

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Pocket Journal Giveaway

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