I made my first book in kindergarten - a simple, stab bound book all about me, and bookbinding has stuck with me ever since. In college I took a bookbinding class and my eyes were opened wide to book arts. I blame this class for my liberrhoea.
I love making books. I love the form, the techniques, the materials. I delight in thinking of every book I make as a collaboration between myself and whoever ends up filling the pages. I love books as functional art. I love that my work is held in peoples' hands, travels around the world and used to record momentous events and everyday life.
My formal education is in photography and art education, and I now divide my time more or less equally between the three and the rest of life (which includes a wonderful family, a sassy rescue mutt, hiking, cooking, and serious vegetable gardening). My home studio is bright and sunny, in Auburn, Maine. If you'd like ot see my photographic work, please visit www.alowphotography.com.

The question I am most often asked, which both delights and vexes me, is what to do with a blank book. I have filled hundreds of books. I have travel journals for almost every trip I've gone on. I have books with snap shots in them. I just started a book with pasted in scraps of paper. I carry an idea book with me almost all the time, and I have at least 10 full idea books and counting. I have a book in my car for notes. At home we use a book to write down phone messages. I have several books filled with menu plans from past dinner parties. I have books with class notes, garden notes, photo notes and hiking notes. Blank books are to be written in, doodled in, drawn in and used!

"My collection of "bitty books" has provided me with much satisfaction over the past several years. I have NEVER been able to keep a journal before in my lengthy life until presented with my first lovely book from Anna. Those non-intimidating little pages with just enough room to enter a few thoughts, recollections, reminders to myself are perfect for a "non-journaler". And the lovely colorful papers interspersed among the plain ones are always a delight. Not only that, the book holds up beautifully through 365 days of penning in my entries with a few extra pages to reflect on the year. And don't you love that binding?!"
Joanne
Brunswick, Maine

"I used my blank book to record my vacation in Maine. The pockets are filled with mementos of my trip with little daily notes about my Maine exploits"
Rachel
Chicago, Illinois

I met Charles several years ago when a friend bought him a haiku book. Both have come back to visit at art fairs many times, to share Charle's poems and purchase another book. With each visit, Charles shows me his previous book, often filled with with a specific theme (like recording his trip to France in haiku) and illustrationed around the margins.
Charles
Portland, Maine