Speak

One thing I always enjoy about my "art" is the sitting back and just taking a look at the finished piece. I am more of a product person than process. This translates well to my life as a writer, food artist/cook and public relations practitioner. I can certainly work hard to get somewhere - but I relish in what I've accomplished, despite the (sometimes challenging) journey it took to get there.

That being said, I have a final product I'm excited to share. Welcome to my midterm project in my bookmaking class: the newest journal out there - Speak.

This quarter's issue focused on food. What would your food say to you if it could speak? When opened, there is a note from me - the author, or rather Editor, of this publication.

Of course, this is a Lobster Books production.

Writers were asked to submit a picture along with what that food item would say to them if it could speak. Because this was cooking-related, I decided to opt for a recipe box that housed the separate submissions. (Here's what the inside looks like... sorry my color balance was off.)

Each serves as recipe card. Here is a sampling of the submissions I received.

After I selected a few entries, I put out an additional call for recipes. Therefore, each book contains a story, recipe and a section for notes. I decided to make these books using the matchbook form. Except that my books are horizontal matchbooks - rather than the traditional vertical style.

VERTICAL                                                      HORIZONTAL

Here's what the first page looks like. I'm using Kath Eats as an example, since she used her blog name.

Here's a sampling of the insides of the recipe books. I'm using an intentionally blurry picture for internet privacy purposes.

Final Outcome:  There are a few things I'd do differently with this project, and it all comes down to having time. I changed my mind about what I was going to do about a week ago - which only gave me a few solid days to do the legwork. If I had thought of this sooner, I would have:

• Constructed my own recipe box using binder board
• Included more submissions
• Included blank matchbooks so readers could make their own

Special thanks to everyone who submitted to this project. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible.