The title of Jögge Sundqvist’s latest book, “Karvsnitt: Skära mönster i täljda föremål” translates from Swedish (per Google) as “Carved Cut: Cut patterns in carved objects”; with Jögge’s help, we’ll come up with a snappier English title once I’m done flowing in the text and tweaking the layout.
That’s what’s keeping me busy right now. Translator Alice Olsson has been working with Jögge during the last six months or so to get the English text right, and I’m now doing my best to get it to fit the colorful design from the Swedish publisher, Natur & Kultur. It seems to take English speakers more words to say the same thing – so making sure all the text aligns with the relevant images is my primary challenge.
Other than a little nipping and tucking to take care of that fitting, I haven’t really begun editing; I should be ready to dive into that by the end of next week (for which I’ll have expert help from Peter Follansbee as needed for any new-to-me terms). But I am reading as I go along, and I’m excited we’ll soon be ready to share this book with you. Jögge makes it sound simple (with a little practice of course) to make these beautiful pieces.
It builds on the techniques presented in “Slöjd in Wood” (though this book stands on its own), with 15 projects that range from simple (key fobs, knife handles) to more advanced projects (boxes, combs) – but the real magic is in the decorative techniques. You’ll learn how to design and create incised and painted patterns that are rooted in the Swedish craft tradition of making everyday objects into art.
We also hope to replicate the cover half-wrap (as well as the rest of the production values, which are in line with our own – sewn bindings, headbands, good paper, sturdy cover and the like), and have a copy with our printer right now to weigh in on that (we do need it to be affordable as well as beautifully made).
I’ll have more to share (of course) as we get closer to publication – and that won’t be too long from now!
– Fitz
p.s. We also have Derek Jones’s “Cricket Tables” manuscript in house; Kara Uhl is chasing down some images for that book, and it’s in the batter’s circle. Also in 2023 (so far) will be my Dutch tool chest book and Chris’s “American Peasant,” as well as the second issue of “The Stick Chair Journal.”
That looks excellent.
It has to be a unique sort of frustration, doing this task while working in an unknown language.
It’s awsome that you make this book available for people that don’t understand the original language. The Google translation of “Pimpa din täljkniv” made me laugh😆
Me too (Google Translate made me laugh, I mean). I dare say GT didn’t know the word täljkniv and so assumed it must be a similar compound to täljsten = soapstone. Fair enough in a way, though, as the literal translation of the word täljsten would be carving stone …
This one book, just as with the one on slöjd, I will, alas!, not be buying from you guys, but in the original edition. As we say in Swedish, varför gå över ån för vatten? (“why cross the river to draw water?”).
The other ones, though, I am eagerly awaiting!
Cheers,
Mattias
I look forward to being able to buy this book. It’s fortunate for us English-only speakers that you’ve taken on this project. It looks like a great book to have. Thanks.
K.C.
Yay!!!!
In 2023, the spring pole lathe book perchance?
I heard from Jarrod recently that he’s working on it – so we hope to have that manuscript in house this year.
A big “yes, please”.
Thanks for the update Fitz. I am joyfully looking forward to this book being available at LAP. Great!
Cheers,
Michael
I would prefer leaving the neat and says it all “Karvsnitt” Swedish title, and then adding a smaller text English subtitle. Thank you.
I love that heading font. It’s so playful.
I had a similar experience with German and English – in the end i found a column width of 55% German to 45% English filled the pages more or less evenly ….
I am so excited and I just can’t hide it and I know will buy this book.