Category: letterpress

Humming

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Pablo Picasso

Sometimes it’s hard to think beyond the next five minutes. But my brain seems happier when there’s little down time.

Now that small business Saturday is over (and accompanying social media responsibilities), it’s time to turn back to my press and writing. This morning I worked with 6 or 7 lines of a poem I’ve had stashed away. I think it has potential but still needs massaging.

I added two new cards to the Etsy shop, and I’m going to try creating some for a few businesses in town: “eat sleep hike” for River Rock Outfitter, a new store on our first floor, and “I lurv my chick” for the organic grocer Kickshaws on the corner (she has chickens). I’m thinking about my new friend Brian’s shop, Skin Touch Therapy, but I haven’t come up with anything yet (RELAX? I’m melting? Sometimes the questions are complicated but the answers are simple, Dr. Seuss?) Hmmm, maybe I’ll feel more inspired in the morning.

But can she teach it?

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My base for the Pearl arrived from Boxcar today, IMG_0820 and I printed some of these bookmarks to hand out at our party at the studio tonight. Though I prefer working with my metal and wood type, I can see why people design with Illustrator and use polymer plates on their presses. Designing for polymer does give you more flexibility with type faces and sizes. And it’s faster–stick it on the base and print. Then wipe it off, peel it off the base, and you’re finished. Of course, the press still needs to be cleaned, which takes time.

Having two presses helps me problem solve. I was struggling with one plate that had a rather large illustration that should have printed black ink. Since the Pearl doesn’t give much of an impression, that section wasn’t printing. So I actually put the chase in the Pearl and let the rollers ink it up — then moved the chase to the proof press, to which I can apply more pressure.  Ta da! Problem solved, and I didn’t have to hand-ink it.

Next week, I need to figure out if I can actually teach someone else to do this. I’ve had many requests for a workshop as there are not many people who do letterpress printing in our area. Even though I’ve been working at this for nearly a year, I still feel like a beginner.

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I enjoyed seeing old and new friends at the party tonight, but it’s been a crazy busy week with two other groups I volunteer with. My introverted self is looking forward to some quiet time in the studio–after a trip to the mountains for some hiking and talking to the fall leaves.

An Advertisement

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Marketing our studio takes more time and effort than I imagined. Some days the effort leaves little time for the art! What it does mean, though, is a chance to meet new people and visit new places in Fredericksburg (and online).

I am also joining Main Street #fxbg as a Board member. I really look forward to getting to know folks who’ve been creating and maintaining the kind of community I want to live in. Artists, shop owners, residents, and tourists share this town, and it is coming back to life.

As part of our one-year celebration at the studio, we are having a card contest. Yes, that’s right. In a few days, we’ll post on Facebook an opportunity for you to write your favorite quote. As long as it’s short (and I have enough type), it may be chosen. That means I’ll letterpress print your quote on a card or poster. You’ll be famous. Or at least the person you quote will be featured. Your prize? Five cards!

If you haven’t connected on Facebook yet, please do.  And watch for the card contest.

End of advertisement.

What’s It All About, Alfie?

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IMG_0823Egads, I’m dating myself with that headline. Ok, I was in high school when the movie came out in 1966.

But it’s a question I am asking myself often these days. What am I doing with all this letterpress equipment? When I first took classes last year, I fell in love with the tactile art of letterpress, the slowing down as I manipulated type and paper. I knew I had to have a press.

Now I have two. And 100 lbs of metal type, two trays of wood type (incomplete), furniture, a Boxcar base and assorted paraphernalia. The press equipment has almost taken over my writing studio. But I’m drawn to it like my cat to its fuzzy toy.

My friend, Emily, asked me an appropriate question before I bought my Pearl. “What do you want to do with it?” she asked. The answer would determine what kind and whether I bought a second press- well, that, and the fact that our studio is on the second floor so weight had to play a part in my purchase!

I thought back to a few months ago, shortly after I printed my first card. Someone saw it and asked if I could create 30 cards as gifts for volunteers for our Main Street organization. When I finished, I knew I wanted to continue creating prints. Now, I sell some in our studio, and I’m working on setting up an Etsy shop. I may take some cards and posters around town to local bookstores and gift shops to see if they are interested in selling them as well. Some are of my favorite quotes by authors and philosophers; other prints are geared toward holidays.

I know what I DON’T want to do–weddings! As much as I like fooling around with Adobe Illustrator, I realize how much of a control freak I am about my own work. As one of my teachers printed on a poster: “I want to make beautiful things even if no one cares.”

So I spend my days getting my hands full of ink, moving type around in the chase, and creating cards and posters that I love. I discovered early on that I’d need to find the right audience for my poetry. It will be the same with printing. Not everyone will love everything you do. If you don’t create for yourself, you’ll wrap yourself in expectations and get frustrated.

However it ends up, I am loving this journey of self-discovery!

When dreams become nightmares

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My husband says I’m prone to exaggeration. I suppose that’s true.

I’ve not had nightmares, really. But they are dreams that wake me, keep me from getting much needed sleep.

The sad truth? They are about printing. I am spending less time in the studio these days, trying to help my husband recover from back surgery. I did take some new type and letterpress stuff there a few days ago. But I haven’t had the chance to print.

Instead, I wake at night imagining myself setting type, adjusting rollers, and printing on my new paper!

It’s consuming me. :)