TOUCH: 25 Blind Dates - collaborative book pairs

[Mel Anie]

New collaborative project: 'TOUCH 25 Blind Dates'.

In Dec 2020, I attended an online conference, 'Touch: Reflections on Making' organised by The Centre for Fine Print Research and the Crafts Council, UWE, UK. I was like a fish out of water but I really wanted to explore touch. It was an inspiring event.

Now, I have 25 postcards (pictured) designed by CFPR researchers. I am using these as starting points for spontaneous book starters.

The idea is I send a book starter to you and you send one to me at the same time. We work on each other's 'book' for an hour or two or three, and send it back. That might be the end. Each of us get to touch and keep something - but we don't have to stay together forever.  

If you want to spend an hour or a few more having a date with one, let me know and we'll discuss compatibilities.

[Terry Owenby]

This sounds like a project! I have some questions about it. You said you will be using the postcards in the photo as book starters. What book format are you looking for and what do you want the other person to use as a book starter? How will the final product look? Thank you.   

[Mel Anie]

Yes, it's a project. Touch, blind date, or anything they like can be used for someone's own starter. Physical, handmade format (no e-books). Can be bound or unbound. For the USA, because of postage and customs costs, I like to try and keep it under 100g and under 0.5cm - lightweight books! We send each other a starter simultaneously, work on it, then send it back. And that's it. What kind of books do you like to make, Terry?