Happy Valentine's Day!

Letterpress Cherub Card from vintage cuts.
I almost exclusively use old type (wood or metal) and old vintage cuts for the cards I create. I'm not a computer person so I don't make polymer plates that often. The last polymer plate I made was when I was in art school and we had to create everything photgraphically in reprography! We didn't have any computers for student use back then. I actually wrote my essays by hand!


Letterpress XO Card from wood type.
I have a cool colection of wood type. They are such wonderful tactile pieces of history!


This is a wee book I made with a letterpress printed cover. It's to write love notes in.


These LOVE tags are leterpressed wood type and a vintage cut.

Baby, it's cold outside.

It's cold, but I LOVE IT! I love the way the snow makes everything look unreal. At night it's bright enough to read a book outside! not that you would.
This is the kind of snow build up I remember from when I was a kid. The snow plow would plow the streets and our parents would get angry because it put a big pile of snow along the bottom of the driveway. There was no way you could drive out unless you went outside to shovel the end of your driveway first. At every street corner there were "mountains" of snow that you had to climb up and then slide down to get to school. You could build snow forts in the hills of snow that were created by clearing the sidewalks and driveways. As a kid it was the best! As an adult, it's beautiful and I'm worried about falling!





This is my Year of the Rat print before and after. It was the best I could do carving and printing with the wrong hand. I hope to add some other elements to this image at a later date.
The show ar Proof Gallery is really amazing. So many different translations for the Year of the Rat! It is also good to see so many hand pulled prints in one place! Saw a lot of friends that I hadn't seen in a while. It's great that Sheila organizes this each year. Thanks Sheila!

Year of the Rat Print Show

It's almost Year of the Rat!!
Several of us that took Liz Forrest's Japanese wood block printing workshop have our rat prints in the Print show at Proof.
I used to have a studio across the hall from them in Toronto's Distillery District. It's been one year since I moved to my new diggs and I love it!
Go see the show!

Finally! A short update of workshops happening at the studio!

So, I've finally gotten some scheduling done. Here are 4 wokshops that are happening at the studio in the next few months.
There's not much in March because I'll be away for half of the month, so the studio will be closed.

You can e-mail or telephone if you wish to register for a workshop. A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space in the workshop. Please register at least 3 days before the workshop. The classes are for a max. of 4 - 8 people depending on the amount of space needed. I always feel terrible having to tell someone that the class they want to register for is already full.

*all workshop prices include taxes.



Intro. to Letterpress
Feb. 16 from 10 am - 3 pm
Learn the basics of printing on a flatbed press with Akemi Nishidera at her studio. The Vandercook press is one of the most popular presses for letterpress printers and the little Showcard is perfect for small editions, gift tags, and quick prints. In this introduction class participants will learn to print from a combination of wood type, metal type, and metal cuts. This is a great workshop to take if you have an inkling that you might like to get your own press.
Cost $ 57.00 plus supply fee of $10.00.

Letterpress 1
Sun. Feb. 17 & Sat. 23, 10 am - 4 pm
In this intensive two day workshop participants will learn how to lock up a form and registration in order to print in two or more colours. Participants will create a limited edition of their own unique letterpress printed Broadsides that will be traded among participants. Participants should have 'Letterpress Printing Intro.' or have discussed their previous experience with the instructor.
Cost $153.70 for 2 day workshop plus a $15.00 supply fee.




Book Binding 101
8 Tuesdays starting April 1 from 6 - 9 pm
In this set of 8 workshops participants will learn about bookbinding terminology, tools, supplies and create a variety of book forms (concertinas, stab bound, single page, pamphlet, hardcover, experimental, etc.). Students will learn about the book structure and the importance of the papers that are used. Methods of embellishment for books will also be taught.
Cost $ 186.00 plus $20.00 supply fee




Progressions in Paper
4 Wednesdays starting April 16 from 6 - 9 pm
Four days of playing with paper! In this series we will explore the world of paper and methods of decorating good quality washi and western art papers. Techniques we will use are momigami, paste, orizome dyed, and suminagashi marbling. The resulting papers are, sturdy, unique and perfect for bookbinding, scrapbook projects, cards, collage and so much more!
Cost $72.08 plus $20.00 supply fee





Bind and Blab
Thursday March 27, April 24, May 29 & June 26 from 6 - 9 pm
FREE
Drop in for an informal gathering at the studio. Bring your book projects to work on, chat, trade information, share stories, opinions, ideas, meet people and have some tea. Oh, and if anyone is into making and trading Artists Trading Cards, you can call up and book a seat to create some cards, too!
Please call at least 2 days in advance to reserve a space, 416-214-1882.

Registration Information
Payment is by Visa, MC, cash or cheque. If you wish to pay in person please call or e-mail me to set up a time to visit the studio. Registration may be mailed to:
Akemi Nishidera, 51 Cummings St., Toronto, ON M4M 1M9
A deposit of 50% of the workshop cost is required upon registration to guarantee a space in the workshop. We will contact you by telephone or e-mail to confirm your registration. Supply Fees are due on the date of the workshop and are payable to the instructor in cash.
Cancellations are allowed up to three days before the date of the workshop and a cancellation fee of $15.00 will be charged. After that time, no refunds will be given.
We reserve the right to cancel a workshop if there is insufficient participation and in this case all fees will be refunded to the participants.

For more information contact Akemi.
e-mail: kozostudio@gmail.com
tel: 416-214-1882
KOZO Studio/Gallery
257 Broadview Ave.
Toronto, M4M 2G6