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! 

A Sneak Peak of 2014....

I'm working on a little calendar project for next year.  I love using the old dingbats that my Dad collected around the shop. I'm selecting one design and color for each month. For January, I chose this beautiful leafy flourish. I think it is especially lovely dressed in warm gray ink. I'm printing these on Claude,  the table top Kelsey. He and I are just getting to know each other and I'm finding him to be quite agreeable.  Today was a warmish January day (40s) so the shop was toasty once we fired up the old Peerless heater. I was happy to discover that the ink plate and rollers cleaned up nicely with mineral oil from the old bottle Dad left with me years ago.  I always wondered what that was for!