Coffee, Kids, and Journals

I have been working the last 4 years teaching barista skills to young adults with disabilities or other barriers to employment. I had the pleasure to receive some great initial barista training from a friend & former Stumptown barista, (which led to a part-time cafe gig) and have done a decent job setting up the training program. However, it is time I got some serious training & moved my coffee hobby into a something more... professional.

Journal sales during the month of September will fund my barista training. Get a start on your Christmas list. Put together a photo album of your summer. Send a new mother a journal for new baby. Gift Uncle Karl with a custom book for his retirement.

Check out Annotated Press on Etsy. I will be adding more books & a few new features very soon.

Some of the Greatest Cities in America

What do all these great cities have in common? Someone there is writing in a journal that I had the pleasure to make.

A Look Into a Journal

From a journal, given as a wedding gift. In the background is my 1937 Royal model '0' typewriter.

Appreciation

Of all there is to love in binding custom books, re-discovering great uses of language is especially dear. Thank you, Mr. Wilson, if you are reading this, for introducing me to

The tree in the twilit street-
the pods hanging from its bare symmetrical branches
motionless-
but if, like God, a century were to us
the twinkling of an eye,
we should see the frenzy of growth.

-Charles Reznikoff

Too Busy Binding to Blog

That sums it up.

New Developments

The details are still being worked out, so I can't name names, but Annotated Press is excited to offer custom wedding albums through a fantastic photographer out of Los Angeles. Details and links will be shared soon.

This Summer I...

...took my journals to the streets. In exchange for table space and a bottle of home brew, I staffed a booth with Nate Bagley of Talitha Leather at Portland's Alberta Street Fair. I sold a few wallets and bags for Nate, passed out a lot of KP business cards, got a sunburn, and had one passer-by express interest in having an old journal rebound. He never emailed.

...got sucked into Lost. I am annoyed by Jack.

...tried out the Pearl District's First Thursday where again I hung out with Nate. I bought some great screen-printed cards (which are still in my desk drawer), tried Korean tacos (delicious) and otherwise tried to avoid the rain. My journals never came out of my bag.

...had my first business meeting. My friend Ian is the son of the world's biggest names in advertising, so, "Ian, let me buy you a beer...By the way, what do you think of..." There was a really cool bluegrass band playing at the bar. I had a Full Sail Amber Ale, Ian had an idea.

...launched The Annotated Press. Etsy sales have been great. Keeping me busy when the kids aren't.

...decided that I want to do this full time. Yeah, like a job.

Cheers!
Ben
Annotated Press