all about the journey
"You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination."
Roman Payne
I started writing poetry when I was a teenager, half diary and half prayer, poetry was my way of understanding the world. Writing was the faucet for my thoughts. I studied graphic design at university and worked on the newspaper and literary arts magazine. I dreamed of working in publishing, specifically fashion magazines. When I started a career in design, it was fast paced and all consuming, and my career guided me into product, color and material. Publications had moved to the digital world and I wanted to stay with the tangible, and so I chose footwear. Personal journaling was not prioritized, stopping my thoughts from flowing freely. Years later, I realized just how important and necessary writing was for my mental health, and has become a practice, a part of my regime to stay healthy. This untapped creative outlet that I once ignored, became so vital. My love of books sparked an idea to self publish an annual poetry & image book just for myself, a way to creatively capture my world, giving it more purpose. I dove into editing a 50 page book and printing a few copies through Blurb. My dream is to have a row of these books on my shelf to enjoy for years to come. Six years later, I am thankful the tradition continues.
In early 2023, I envisioned an even bigger project. I dreamed of hand printing 100 books featuring 20 poems selected for their connection to nature, flowers and birds. The endeavor was daunting—from getting our 100 year old Excelsior table top press in working order, to selecting the poems and having polymer plates made, finding the right paper, designing the cover and interior of the book and then the physical process of printing 100 clean copies of each poem, cover, table of contents and about page—the project was big, yet I desperately needed a win. Over twelve months, with only a few days to spare, I completed the books by Christmas, and wow, did this achievement feel good. The book is an art project in and of itself and more about the process, grit and completion than the final outcome or even the distinction of the poems themselves. It is simple and delicate, humble and self-effacing, and fully mine. I believe we need this, as humans, to have a dream and also see it come true. My dreams have often been too large and the anxiety of how to achieve them paralyzed me. I have now learned to start small and build, one slow step at a time, until I see the vibrant images in my mind come into full reality. I hope to share these with new and old friends, and maybe one day, sell them through The Poetry Of.
