Question Three:

I would like to have a secondary component to my book. Whether that's a box, or bag, or something, I'm not sure. I think it could really benefit from having an additional piece to it. The problem is deciding what. My book is by no means a fancy pants one, and a box might be too stuffy for it. I've even considered displaying it either in a cake pan, or on one of those really funny cake dishes, that have the giant glass lid. Could be kind of funny. But I definitely think it could use an additional piece. 

Any suggestions?

Question Two:

The working title for my book : 

option one: Phrase    (to the point, no messin around here)

option two: Fraise     ( I like that it sounds like phrase, but is really a strawberry)

option three: My Baked Alaska     (way out of left field, I know, but it's my favorite 70's dish of all time, and its kind of fitting for my book. There are underlying connotations of drug use throughout the book, and well, I guess Alaska's pretty neat.)

Any suggestions?

Question One:

I have been trying to decide what paper stock the Etiquette pages should be on. I want them to be different from the book pages (a matte paper with a bone finish) so it is apparent that there is something else happening. Suggestions?

Illustrations

These are a few of the illustrated phrases that will be featured in the book!

I like black markers, and they like me. It's a good relationship.

Photos!

These are some of the photos that will be layered with the illustrated phrases. (They're looking really blue here, and they're not supposed to be, so hopefully they don't look blue to you right now.)

An Example of the Etiquette Pages:

"We go right on using the old forms of introduction in spite of the fact that practically no one bothers to listen to a name when introduced. The first name mentioned is determined by the sex, age, or importance of the person, the theory being that the smaller fry is presented to the greater. If you must be formal, you may say: “Mrs. Stone, may I present Mr. Flint?” But the more current form is merely: Mrs. Stone-Mr.Flint.” Your own friends are just “Mary Vernon” or “Jack Hill” when you are introducing then to your parents. “How do you do?” in a way of acknowledgement is sufficient for any occasion. “Charmed,” “Pleased to meet you,” and similar remarks are terrible-never to be used under any circumstances."

"In preliminary conversation the trivial should be selected rather than the profound. As a brilliant authority has pointed out, the lady to whom one has just been introduced is more likely to be set at her ease by the inquiry “Do you like string?” than by asking her “Do you love God?”

"When it comes to the greatest adornment of conversation – wit – you are either born with it or not, just as you are born a boy or a girl. One cannot cultivate wit, but of course one can cultivate an appreciation of it. And anybody who can quote at the appropriate moment the witty things he has heard other people say, is an addition to any social circle"

Overview of my book

An overview of my book:

This book is comprised of many pieces. These pieces form an entire book…or a pie, if you will. 

Mainly, this book is comprised of conversation fragments and phrases the people in my life have said to me. It is an exploration of original phrases and wonderful words. I hate motivational phrases. There is nothing worse than hearing famous motivational phrases repeated endlessly, despite what the situation happened to be whilst they were being said. You will not find them anywhere in this book. 

What you will find here is juxtaposition between the realities of what conversations sound like today, against how they used to sound from generations before mine. Conversations would often sound rehearsed and staged, as there were always “proper” ways of responding to others while engaged in a conversation with them. Also including, distinct guidelines and standard practices that were expected during any conversation. 

Conversation etiquette has clearly changed over the course of many decades. You could argue that there is minimal practice in regards to conversation etiquette at all. This idea is exemplified through the following collected phrases throughout this book. 

There are two sections that make up this book. The primary section is comprised literally, of all the incredible things the people in my life have said to me. It pays tribute to how conversations can be full of the most incredible thoughts and ideas. They are all spontaneously said in nature, never rehearsed, pre-meditated or previously used. My love for these words is indescribable. The typographic treatments are the phrases that have been exerted from a multitude of conversations.

The second piece of the pie within this book, pays homage to the wonderfully dejected conversation etiquette, that generally occurred between the 1920’s and 1940’s. The difference between conversations happening between people today compared to those from past generations is greatly significant. The following section 

etiquette excerpts outline some of the more commonly practiced conversation etiquette standards. 

The table, for which this pie sits upon, are photographs of meals and dinner parties. The reason for this being, the association made between conversation and social dinner settings. I have always attributed people gathering and conversing and socializing around food or in the presence of food. It is for this reason that the underlying connection between these two forms is food. 

I know, I know, I'm way behind

Okay, 

So I realize I'm uber behind in this blog, and I apologize for slacking here. 

BUT in my defense, I've been slacking due to the amount of work I've been putting into my book....*crickets*  Well at least the book is coming along as I hoped it would. To bring you up to speed, my book is about conversations and phrases people say to each other every day. It is a collection of conversation fragments that I have been collecting over the past year and a half. I write everything down, I like keeping records of the things people say to me. I've always treated these conversational fragments as "history markers." I've chosen to illustrate these typographic phrases, and layer them over photography. I decided to include a mini book that lies within my main book as well. This little guy is made comprised of the amazing conversation etiquette rules and guidelines from the 20's and 30's. The juxtaposition between the conversations then, and those I've included in my book from present day is extremely noticeable and lovely. I intend to post some examples just to give a better overview of what this is looking like. 

okay thanks!