Written on November 9, 1990 [Permalink]

November 7

Late last August I spoke to a Robbie Walker on the phone, and sent her a sample pak. I have been wondering whether or not to jog her about it, but haven't got around to it. Today the pack came back, and I assumed that it was 'thanks, but no thanks'. I was wrong. Her letter thanks me for being patient, and asks to subscribe to next year's set. She thus becomes the first customer for next year, as I have yet to ask the current subscribers about their intentions.

November 9

Went to Doit this morning, and bought plywood and a metal sheet for making a jig to cut out 'paper frames'. These will be for taking to LA and Vancouver, as I'm not going to be carrying heavy backboard folders with me, and I don't want to hand out 'bare prints'. The paper for them arrived last week, and if I want Ashida-san to do the cutting, I have to get this jig made.

At the Kumiai meeting last month, Okura Hambei had agreed that I could make a visit to his place, and we had left it that I should phone in 'early November'. I called today, and we set up an appointment for next Tuesday afternoon. I can't understand why I haven't been more agressive about meeting these carvers. We've been in Japan more than four years now, and I have yet to see one of these guys at work, other than for a few minutes here and there at public demonstrations. Hambei- san seems quite friendly, if a bit distant, and I hope that I can get into a situation where I could make return visits...

60 more sheets wet for the second run of Sangi Hitoshi [2-10].