Adventures in Goal-Setting

Project idea: A bard book that looks like a persona-appropriate small bound book.  In my case, the St. Cuthbert Gospel is a pretty kick-butt book to aspire to.

Least effort, least cash: Use computer to print out my stuff in pamphlet form, stitch up a few quires and paste them into modern bookboards. Cover with fabric. 

Some effort, little cash: Mass-produced "Celtic Leather Knot Journal," $30. Then calligraph the contents. Color isn't bad, embossed motif can pass.  (I understand the decoration on the Gospel above is actually structure under the leather, not embossing.)

Some effort, more cash: Acquire handmade European leatherwork on Etsy (like this one, with gold leaf  decoration like the Gospel, or this one, with similar raised decoration technique), calligraph contents.

Most effort, some cash: Go read "The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding" at the UMD library, talk to the superawesome bookbinders and calligraphers in my area, learn about how doing early bookbinding was actually done and do it. (Link goes to artist Randy Asplund's historical production of the Book of Ecclesiastes.  WOW.)

Most effort, no cash: Forget the book and just get all my material memorized. Highly authentic, too!

Other factors:

• When I did a quick-and-dirty bookbinding project in 2009, I had a ton of fun.  Fun is nice. Also, the resulting tiny book has been really useful.
• I now have a bit of a yen to read that archaeology book, even if it's only to know all the ways I'm Doing It Wrong.
• I don't like the look of the mass-produced book.  It's pretty enough, but it sort of has that vibe to it.  You know that vibe.
• I do like the idea of supporting artists in Latvia or Italy.
• I worry that I'll never get around to the calligraphy.
• But I want to have a reason to practice my calligraphy and actually use it for something.
• I have no intention of really getting into bookbinding. This is a support to my bardic activities.
• But I do derive satisfaction from getting the details right.

Looking at that list, I think my plan of action is:

1. Make a printed booklet bound in cardboard board books for immediate use.
2. Go read the archaeology book. 
3. Re-examine craft journals with new knowledge in mind.
4. Select one or none of them for purchase.