Learn, Think, Write

Organizing myself online

The Show, The Show!

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My first show (that’s kind of strange to say) is hung. I am so proud to see my letterpress prints at Skin Touch Therapy, a favorite place of mine. Brian, the owner, is a delight. And I’m thrilled he asked if I was interested in hanging my work for two months.

Friend Elizabeth Seaver (from Water Street Studio) helped as I had no idea how to hang prints. But now that the show is up, I’m proud. Who knew I’d be starting this new project/business?

Another plug: my cards are available at Water Street, my Etsy shop, Great.ly, and at Heather’s in downtown Fredericksburg.

I visited Charlottesville this weekend and stopped in at Rock Paper Scissors, where I saw a wall of greeting cards made by people I follow here. So cool! I don’t think I ever want to get into wholesale as that’s another ballgame, but it was fun to see such a variety of work.

 

 

Working Late

customYou know it’s not work when you head to the studio at night (especially for someone who really hates to stay up.)

I had a custom order and wanted to see how the plate looked printed. Here it is and my inky hand, too.  Of course, it was nothing but fun.

Thanks for the Etsy orders, everyone.  Next, I’m going to work on two-color cards. Watch out!

 

A Gift of an Afternoon– Reading

bookMy friend, Helen, stopped by with a gem, a Type Specimen book from 1906.  A page turner, at least for someone who has become obsessed with letterpress printing.  The ads, in particular, are fascinating. One advertisement reads:

Spring Tours For Men of Leisure, Tired Ministers, Etc.

Hmmmmmm. It’s time for my nap.

 

It’s All In What You See

Sometimes people will come in the shop and say, “Do you have a card for _____?” And, of course, I have everything BUT that. So I was thinking I could make something ambiguous that might fill several needs:

It’s the way you….

~hold my hand when we walk

~pick out the perfect birthday present, even when I haven’t asked

~let me cry when I’m sad

The card is blank inside, so you can write whatever you want.

But, this could also go in another direction…

It’s the way you….

~leave your coffee mug on our wooden table all day

~drag me to your parents’ house when I’d rather stay home

 

He he! It’s all in the message.

Working Together

I love working on teams, sharing ideas, making something happen.

Truth is, I am more of a big picture person than a detail person. But sometimes things happen because someone says, “Why don’t we try…”

Recently I worked with a friend, a graphic artist in town. I printed some cards and passed them along to her for watercolor touches. Wow, I was impressed. I LOVE the work she did.

FB Water

Sometimes I wonder why it took me so long to realize how much I like making things. Getting my hands dirty, playing with ink and type, this keeps me going for hours. I wish I’d been able to study design, the weakest link in my process. But I’m willing to learn, put in the time. It’s the problem-solving that keeps me going….

 

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