Big News from Big Jump
Hey guys, you won’t believe this:
After having spent five years lovingly carrying each and every one of my possessions in my arms over an ocean from the United States to the United Kingdom, I am pleased to announce that I’ll be joining The University of Alabama MFA in the Book Arts Program as an instructor and studio manager this August.
Let the process begin anew.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Alabama program, and cannot wait to begin working with such a dedicated group of talented students. But I will miss it here, I will miss it so very much.
Things I will miss
Ridiculously short national weather reports from Radio Four. (“It’s gray outside”)
The London Centre for Book Arts & Ink Spot Press, my homes away from home
The National Health Service
The Sea
The cake aisle at the supermarket
The weather (It’s true!)
Proximity to Europe (aren’t we IN Europe, though? Yes and no.)
Public footpaths
Referring to the USA as “America” in an old fashioned kind of way
Things I won’t miss
Weekend teaching days that involve 6 hours of teaching and 5 hours of travel.
The mold
People not laughing at my hilarious jokes
Like the Whale Joke, which my husband has begged my not to tell anymore
Because he’s “tired of picking up the pieces”
But which I’ve told quite successfully at many American venues
And I will prove this to him in Alabama
Over and over and over again.
Stay tuned for some kind of moving sale as I take stock of all the books and boxes and prints that I would prefer not to carry back. In the meantime, it time to bind the last few copies of Figure Study, (and apply for baby Milo’s American citizenship.)
Over and out, blog friends!
Time to go home, Chemistry Glass.
13 comments on “Big News from Big Jump”
Leave a Reply
Big Jump Press 
America welcomes you back on the side of the pond, dear Sarah! Happy moving!
Thanks Deborah! Can’t wait to see you! Now that you’ve retired maybe it is time for a trip down south? We are in the middle of trying to rent a beautiful house with an awesome front porch to sit on. . .
Congrats on the new job! Does the whale joke work in print? I am dying to hear (read) it 🙂
Thanks Amy! Unfortunately it just doesn’t work in print! So we must meet someday. I hope it’s worth it!
Congratulations! And welcome back to America.
Thank God for the Internet! In that way way those, like me, that are addicted to your blog, your humor and your art will stay informed. So it’s back to the alma mater for you at the UA book arts program?
Thank you so much, Jan! What an absolutely lovely comment to read today. Yes, back to Alabama! I am really looking forward to it, although sad to leave the UK obviously. If ever you are close by, please let me know!
So happy your are returning to America!
Me too! I love a message on the blog from you, mom. xxx
Glad to hear you are moving back. Alabama is a long way from California, but closer than the UK! I’d love to take one of your classes– maybe the San Francisco Center for the Book sometime…? I found your blog the day after I got my Vandercook SP15, and bless you every time I adjust the roller height and esp. when I need to fix the packing! Even cleaning the press is based on your advice!
Thanks so much for your message, turtlesilk, and sorry for my delayed reply! I am so glad the press cleaning advice was helpful and hope I catch you one of these days! I think I’ll be at Penland next summer, any chance to see you there?
PS – time to rename your blog? Jump Off Press
Dear Sarah,
I am so glad for you but…dammit, I’m sorry you’re going before we get back to London. How lucky they are to have you join the program. How exciting for you to have the space, the students and stimulating peers to work with. I will miss, miss, miss taking workshops with you.
Moving is such a process of upheaval, an earthquake in one’s life. Everything is rearranged, new things are revealed, old things changed. I hope the process of getting Milo’s passport is minimally bureaucratic, that the movers know what they are doing and that your husband is there for the moving days (so much easier with two people on hand).
As for that whale joke, when I next see you, be sure to tell it to me. Here’s more material, in case you want to widen your repertoire http://www.jokes4us.com/animaljokes/whalejokes.html
I just realized, you aren’t related to Bear Bryant, are you? I bet you can can count on some goodwill having that name in Tuscaloosa!
All good wishes for this next chapter…
Candis
On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Big Jump Press wrote:
> Big Jump Press posted: “Hey guys, you won’t believe this: After having > spent five years lovingly carrying each and every one of my possessions in > my arms over an ocean from the United States to the United Kingdom, I am > pleased to announce that I’ll be joining The University of ” >