Spring Where are You? (Midwest)

I can't believe March is almost over. If you were to look outside my window you would understand why. We have a couple new inches of snow covering the grass that was beginning to turn green. The crocuses must be wishing they had waited to come up. And, I'm sure the birds are annoyed that the nests they have been building are snow covered.

I find myself mildly discouraged by the snow, yet optimistic because it feels warm and things sound like spring.

This last week I have been in and out of frame shops trying to find the right frame for the letterpress print that I'm donating to our preschool's silent auction. I found a frame that has a weathered barn wood look to it. I liked how the texture of old wood relates to the wood type I used to create the print. I'm so pleased with how it looks I even listed a print in my Etsy shop. I haven't been listing many new items and hope to post more prints soon.

Speaking of Etsy, Laurie and I have been discussing consolidating all our cards at our joint shop. I may keep amyb13 open for fine art prints and more limited run cards. Change is a brewing.

Alright, it's time for me do a little house cleaning...

Oh Boy (Midwest)

I had another semi successful day of letterpress printing yesterday. I've decided to see if I can get both Pilot presses up and running. It would be nice to have them both "calibrated" so that I can rely on either one. I could run two colors simultaneously, one on each press.

So, I put my old rollers back on my main press (the blue & red press in the back) and my newer rollers on the other press (closest). I'm having a lot of trial and error getting my press settings set. I'm taping rails, adjusting the platen, adding packing, etc. Right now, neither press is set the way it should be. I've decided that a second set of new rollers is in order. Then, I won't have to rework each press depending on which rollers are running on it.



As I do all these test prints with various plates, (wood type, vintage blocks, linoleum, etc.) I'm creating some letterpress collage prints. Here is one print in progress. I'm liking the textural effect of the rough paper with a light hit of ink. Also, the overlapping of colors is pleasing to me. I also like the idea of creating modern art from vintage blocks. I foresee a letterpress agenda forming.

I See Spots (West Coast)

I have barely come up for air this past week. Since I moved my press in, I have been printing away daily. My morning starts as soon as kids are off to school, I am inking up as the leave. I have been so excited that each day I end with lining up my plate for the following morning. I get the impression just right, then go fix dinner. The spot reference is to my printing projects. I have been printing up a variety of spotted cards and notepads that will go out to some wholesale orders early next week.

I saw this cool tip on Boxcar Press that I have been using to get the alinement perfect. You attach a piece of tape the front of the plate, place it on your paper exactly where you want it to print, then put the paper in the press, and run it onto the boxcar base. It is so cool. Follow this link to a video on Boxcar Press, click on setting gauge pins and registering your plate.

I am off today to see a printer friend of mine who is retiring. I am going to buy up some old ink he has. Hopeful in colors I am lacking!

It's Here!!! (West Coast)

After much anticipation, my big baby has actually arrived. An 8" x 12" Chandler & Price Old Style baby that is.

We have had four weeks of bad weather. This week was nice and sunny, and the person who was delivering my press was available to deliver today. So today is the day! I am so excited to start playing around. Alan and I cleaned out the garage space this weekend, and made room for the new press. The space still is a work in progress, but it is looking pretty good. I can't wait to ink this baby up. It is in really good condition, after I oil up the stiffer moving parts, it should be good to go. Maybe Friday!

I Love my Letterpress (Midwest)

Today marked the first day in weeks that all three of my kids were at school. We have been taking consecutive turns with the stomach flu. In retrospect, it would have been way better had we all gone down at once. Instead, every fourth day somebody else got sick for 3 days. Bleck.

Anywhoo, I have been super motivated to create. I sketched last night, printed last week and printed again today. Above you see my contribution to the Paper Stories letterpress swap. I wasn't going to post about it, but figure none of the other swappers are watching this blog. And, if they are they won't mind. Right? (I admit I'm snooping all the participants blogs to see what they are working on.) I will probably have lots to post about when I receive my swap package in a week or two. I'm so excited.

Ok. I must go prod the pot roast I have in the oven. I hope to post again later this week with a peak at another print I have in progress.