Monday, January 24, 2011

Hearts, Love and all things pink and red!

For about five years now I have been making gift cards for Soma Chocolatemaker. I've spent the last few days at the studio making their Valentine's Day gift cards. Hearts. Pink. Red. I have never been in love with the whole scheme of Valentine's Day scheme being red, white, pink with hearts and cupids! I'm so thankful that at Soma they like the brown card stock I use for their cards!!  I don't know if I could stand to print Valentine's cards if they all had to be on white or pastel colours. For me, the brown stock makes the subject and colour a little less... ummmmm... dislikable? Perhaps it''s because I like to think of the brown card stock as wonderful chocolate! They could probably even pay me in chocolate...

I tried printing on the Craftsman for the first time. Since these cards are gift card size it's a good size to try out on the Craftsman. The press is not working as smoothly as I think it should be, but it is printing well. One thing I don't have are the pins to hold the paper in place for printing! Oops! I had to fashion some out of layered cardboard. I was impressed! They worked pretty well. I was able to register the red hearts in line with the pink type using them! I won't be keeping my cardboard pins though. On Friday I'll go to see Craig Black at Don Black Linecasting to pick up some brass pins for the press and see if he has any suggestions for getting the press to work a little more smoothly.


Top: The Craftsman press with a locked up heart.
Bottom: My makeshift pins!
Right: Really nice wood type font in quarter cases.



Printed with metal type.


X's and O's printed with metal type.

A bit too much pressure with the small type.

The Rockwell metal type prints so nicely!

Monday, January 17, 2011

LofL Postcard Swap Goodies!

These are a few of the postcards I received for participating in the LofL Postcard Swap! We had to create a "Greetings from..." type of postcard that represented the town we lived in, where we were visiting, etc. There were over 70 participants from North America and a few places further away. The only condition was that an element had to be letterpress printed. Not a problem for me!
What a wonderful assortment of type and images! I really love the ones that use original metal or wood type and found cuts. Even the backs were interesting!!

Top - my postcard submission;metal type and vintage cuts printed in three colours
Bottom - submission from my friends at Pomegranite Letterpress
A few of the great postcards that I received!

I loved looking at the backs as well!

Friday, January 14, 2011

2011: Year of the Press Shuffle

My SP15 won't be alone anymore!
I talked to a friend today about her Vandercook that needs a long term temporary home. So... it looks like we will be adding another press to KOZO Studio family! Yay! Now I just have to clear some space (not as easy as it sounds in my case!) and figure out where to put it! Time for a big studio shuffle ... help! Phil! Albert! Ken! I think I'm going to need your help!!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

I love presents and a mystery!

Sweet peace sign print! Love the colour!


Found this wedged into my studio door! It's a small print of a peace sign on nice watercolour paper ... letterpress from a polymer plate I believe. What a nice holiday surprise! I just wish I knew who printed it and gave it to me so that I could say thank you!! Anyone have any ideas?

PPP


I check out what is up on  "etsy" every once in a while... there are people making some really great work  in there. You just have to sift through it... a lot! The two photos are from Purgatory Pie Press Ink.
They do letterpress!... and not just for cards and invites!!... they actually do creative book projects! Type and book form together! Awesome!! You might think their prices are a bit steep, but they aren't. Not for the amount of technical know how and creativity they have. Their stuff is a little quirky, but I love it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/38830981/ppp-abc-xyz-grey