I’ve struggled with how to define my work as Downtown Writing and Press.
Not that I have to. But I want to.
After a fabulous conversation with Emily Blistein, I’ve realized I don’t have to give up loving traditional letterpress printing OR enjoying designing on polymer plates. Ta da– my two collections:
I’m still working out the details, but come along on the journey!
This Jane Austen quote appeals to me, but it was a friend who asked me to make a gift card for a friend. Shhhh, that’s all I can say at this point, and I can’t reveal the back.
It’s fun to be challenged to learn new things– like printing on the back of the card, which means lining up everything.
My next challenge is two-color registration. Stay tuned!
Annie Dillard once wrote “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
As I move into my mid-60’s (yikes) I realize that this idea of living a good life (whatever that is) means everything. I know I am privileged to have choice in how I live my life–not all do. Discovering a passion, letterpress, and a way to play with words has allowed me to truly slip into flow.
“According to Csikszentmihályi, flow is completely focused motivation. It is a single-minded immersion and represents perhaps the ultimate experience in harnessing the emotions in the service of performing and learning.”
This often happened when I was teaching, working with young adults and helping them find some meaning in their lives (always more important than whatever was in the curriculum). But I’m certainly finding it now in my printing work.
My other joy is having time to play with my grandchildren, watch them grow, and see my own children in their eyes and smiles. I spent yesterday with two children and Sunday will see the other two. Their visits fill me up with indescribable happiness.
Now that I’m settled in my new shop (or settled in two, actually since my new press is at home), I am trying to develop a routine. Summer is not exactly the time to do that, but it’s coming slowly.
I am trying to remember how each moment matters.
