I got to spend time with a new friend in the shop today. What a rewarding thing it is to print another artist's work on my Letterpress! Beautiful designs become magic when pressed into thick cotton paper with hand mixed inks. It was more Christmas fun of course. At this time of year, everyone is thinking of special far away friends.  What better way to send love, than with a handmade card?

I tried edge painting for the first time today.  

The excitement and secrecy surrounding this technique had me curious 

and I just had to give it a whirl. I think I'm in love!  

The first challenge was to become familiar with my new airbrush. I had never used one before...

piece o cake. I stacked and clamped my cards together as perfectly as possible. The edges must be cut absolutely clean for this project. The printer who helped me out with the cutting used equipment that wasn't set up for 220 # cotton paper -  so edges were a little raggy. 

A light touch is the key. Oh the joy!!  

Toast them for a few minutes (like a marshmallow) until they feel 

dry to the touch. I tested the over spray with my finger. 

Awesome!  

I love my job. 

 Fall is a beautiful time in the print shop.... 

music, candles, hot tea, and color - color inside and outside. 

And then this happens......

and I have to stand at the window and gawk. 

 A few minutes later, it's clear a bright again. I'm so thankful that I can work

 here my little shop and enjoy nature in all of it's beauty. I'll never get tired of

watching the seasons change.... along with the colors on my press. 

Attempting to oil all 26 holes!

Tool of the Day

This little gem is a type high gauge. It is used to check the height of a piece of type to ensure that, when tucked into the bed of the press, it will be high enough to be inked by the rollers and print onto the paper when the press is closed. Type high is .918 inches. I think it's pretty cute.  ;)

I'm enjoying the snow days out of school this winter - spending time in the print shop as well as working on my lino cut skills. This is the beautiful glimpse we get of the park when the door opens and closes quickly in order to keep the warmth in. It's been COLD!

I've had some lovely visitors.  A friend stopped by to learn how to type set her poetry with hopes of making a small book.  She kind of fell in love with the process.

There's no better way to pass the cold winter nights than to work on a project you're wild about. I've found a new love for lino carving.  This is my first two color print.  I'm not sure how the idea popped in but I do love birds in unexpected places. 

Doesn't he look handsome!?

 Valentine's Day is almost here!  A heart carved out of woodgrain is SO sweetly sentimental.

Yes!

I was happy to have a little time in the shop today. My tools feel so comfortable in my hands and the ink smells like pure ambrosia to me!  The project I'm working on is a secret for now, but I can tell you this much....

~ the Pantone Blue mixed up like a dream!