Every spring for the last thirty plus years, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) celebrates the little guys in the publishing world through its Benjamin Franklin Awards. This is actually a highly regarded indie book award program that recognizes excellence in editorial content, photography, and design. This year the IBPA judges, hundreds of them, chose […]
01
May
May
Keith Recker has worked with makers from more than sixty countries to refine their products, tell their stories, find new customers, and gain the recognition they so deeply deserve. He has gathered their stories in his highly acclaimed book True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments. His book is at once an immersive […]
27
Dec
Dec
Of course, the end of the year offers a time to reflect on all we’ve accomplished in the last year, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed next. I wanted to share some of those highlights but also some of the smaller moments that have a big impact too. In the spring, Publisher Linda Ligon […]
29
Nov
Nov
We’ve just finished celebrating Thanksgiving, keeping in mind all for whom we are grateful. Our readers are at the top our list. We’re showing our gratitude by offering several book bundles with amazing discounts for you or for the readers, crafters, and travelers in your life, These spectacular deals are only available through the end […]
22
Nov
Nov
Shuffling through the piles of good stuff that have accumulated around my desk, I came across a beautiful poster: A Seasonal Color Wheel devised by Sasha Duerr, who holds a special place in Keith Recker’s book True Colors:World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments. Sasha has been practicing and teaching natural dyeing in the Bay […]
27
Sep
Sep
We’re faced with alarming news about the climate crisis every day, so encouraging news about the important work of artisan activists is welcomed. True Colors author Keith Recker offers an inspiring look at sustainability in fashion and design and shares real world examples for a hopeful future. Thank you, Keith! Natural Inspiration Over 20 years ago, […]
30
Aug
Aug
True Colors author Keith Recker shares with us his ideas for a “Natural Color Manifesto.” Won’t you join him? It has been said that the fashion industry is the second-most polluting industry in the word today, just behind mining and oil extraction. While that is difficult to prove, other sobering statistics should keep us focused […]
02
Aug
Aug
Colorist, artisan activist, and author Keith Recker drops by this week and takes us back to the beginning of his new book True Colors. Thanks, Keith! True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments came into focus two years ago in a conversation with Thrums Books founder Linda Ligon. As I told her about […]
19
Jul
Jul
We came back from the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Santa Fe last week bursting with the wonder of it all—the music, the dancing, the color, the artisans and the crowds they had attracted, all embracing the beauty and importance of handmade goods from around the world. World Class Books This year’s market was […]
05
Jul
Jul
I first knew of Keith Recker when he began publishing Hand/Eye magazine back in 2010. The stunningly produced oversize issues spoke to all my most avid interests: Peru! Mexico! Global Color! South Africa! And so much more. But I didn’t actually know Keith, in the personal sense, until the summer of 2017, when Mary Anne […]
