Happy Halloween!!

Boo!

The Importance of Ink

Ink, while not particularly expensive per can, can add up fast. Accruing a full compliment of Pantone mixers can run you into the hundreds and I think that this is why new printers are hesitant to try out different brands and types. This was definitely true in my situation and while I wanted to do something about it, I just didn't want to make more investments into something that might not/would not work. For a long time I was sticking with the devil I knew.

Slowly but surely, though, I bought some left over ink via eBay and was given some freebies by other printers. And it was a freebie that saved the Sara Morris job for me. Take a look at the photo below. The page on the right was printed with VanSon silver; the one on the left, Speed Master 9000 series silver. I had started the job with my tried and true VanSon (the particular brand of rut that I was mired in), and when printing on white paper, the VanSon worked like a charm. On dark stock it was another situation completely and there was hardly any metal flake. AT ALL. I even tried double printing it to no avail. Then I freaked out! All my set up was done! What was I going to do?! I couldn't print a job like this, with this horrible quality!! A completely wasted day! Until... I remembered that I had a freebie ink in Silver. And, well, you can see for yourself the difference. Like night and day. So. I guess the moral of this little letterpress tale is to experiment a little. You never know when it will save your job and save you from mediocrity.

left - single hit Speed Master 9000 series ::: right - double hit of VanSon Silver

Sara Morris

A while back I was dropping off at a job at Identity Kitchen's fab studio and I glanced at a new identity Ellen was working on for photographer, Sara Morris. I noticed that some of the designs had a very faint stripe pattern in the background and since we had recently discussed using dark paper, Neenah Classic Columns in Charcoal instantly popped into my head! Here was a way to utilize dark stock and have a subtle stripe. The end result was gorgeous!

note: there was a slight error in the plate.
all the good ones went to the client, of course!

The Deets:

Design ::: Identity Kitchen
Paper ::: Neenah Classic Columns - Charcoal - 80# duplexed (for 160 pounds of goodness!)
Ink ::: Speed Master - 9000 Series - Silver (More on this yummy ink later...)

Getting Down to Business

I thought I'd share some delightful business cards we recently finished (details are below):




All three were designed by Karen Hoey of Hoey Design
110# Crane's Lettra in Pearl White
2 Spot colors each design

I just love the subtlety and softness!!

Introducing...

...the newest member of our little letterpress family:



I'm so excited, yet so freaked out! I am totally enamored with the whoosh and whirl of the Heidelberg Windmill, but I love the utter predictability of my Vandercook. I guess it's time to embrace the unknown and see what comes my way! I'll definitely let you know how it goes...

Maiden Voyage Clothing Co.

Waaaaay back in June, I was contacted by Tyson and Klara of Maiden Voyage Clothing Co. to make hangtags for their line of eco-conscious tees. When I say that some people make the job, these are the sort of people I'm talking about: Super creative, great design aesthetic and an awesome attitude. I'm glad I sat on this post, because now they are officially up and running. Please check out their website and blog and of course, go buy a tee!



Details, details...

Logo (still in awe over this one): Tyson Smith
Paper: Mohawk Proterra 100# in Antique Jute, a vintage-y feel and eco-conscious, as well
Ink: Hand-mixed gunmetal gray

Hello again

I just wanted to check in and say that I'm still here and though things haven't changed all that much on the health front (which I'll talk about soon), life does go on and blogging should resume shortly.

And on that note, I've been thinking of changing up the blogging format from feast or famine/lack of direction/hey! look what I printed this week, to something a little more organized that I can feel committed to and maybe even passionate about (hyperbole warning, on that last one, maybe). And so this post isn't completely without pictures, here are some from the L.A. Printer's Fair at the International Printing Museum in Carson.

my old alma mater, Otis

oh, and btw, that woman in the brown dress would not freaking move. this went on for, like 20 minutes. seriously.

john barrett's letterpress things made the trek from chicopee, ma

my, mr vandercook, what a blue cabinet you have...

presses and printing accoutrements galore!

Sparce

I know that the posts have been few and far between recently and that pattern is, unfortunately, going to continue. I've been having some health problems and my spare time is currently being spent doing research and visiting doctors. Sorry and I (really, really) hope to be back soon since I do have a ton of stuff to talk about.

Renegade Craft Fair

Last Sunday, Mr. Anemone and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair at the Cal Mart. This was my first time going to a Renegade show and I have to say that it was pretty great! We didn't apply for this one since we had just worked the Unique LA show in May and it was really fun to be a spectator for once. My intent was to take some photos and give a little blog love to some of the vendors I liked, but like a moron, I forgot my camera at home. I guess you'll just have to use your imagination!

1. Fugu Fugu Press - It was really awesome seeing Shino again! Fugu Fugu Press is a local letterpress outfit that is run by Shino and her husband Ken. Sadly we missed Ken this time, but hopefully we'll all get together soon! I am a huge fan of their work!

2. KG + AB - So happy to see they made the trek out from NY! Their ceramic goods never disappoint.

3. I Heart Guts - This gal has it all! T-shirts, softies, stickers...But the best part are the puns; it brings out my inner Bennett Cerf! I think my favorite is the kidneys: "When urine love"...heh heh heh.

4. Tugboat Printshop - AMAZING wood cuts. Seriously. Their detail work is crazy good and it was awesome seeing the hand-carved cuts. I love process.

5. Poketo - As always a brilliant collection of art and design products. I love that they take art off the walls and make it accessible for everyday.

And finally some pix of the take-home loot:

6. Krank Press - I love the simplicity and freshness of their work. When I saw these cards with 8(!) color changes, I had to have them!



7: Oh, Hello Friend. - I had my eye on this pin for awhile. There are a couple other designers that use this sparrow design, but this truly was a nice price: $6.50.

Jim Flora Goodness

Back in the day (don't you hate when people say that), the Mister and I would go thrifting and hit the occasional estate sale. We both have the collector/pack rat gene and it would be fun to find a little vintage nugget every now and again.

These days, it's pretty much useless to go thrifting- I can't even remember the last time I found anything from the 70s, let alone earlier. Estate sales usually prove more fruitful, but are often run by people that are basically (crazy) antique dealers and they charge as such. This weekend we happened upon a small estate sale and immediately headed for the records. I have to say, that in all the years I've been looking at old dusty LPs, I've never come across any Jim Flora designed album covers. Maybe I wasn't as hep to it in the past or maybe I was looking for more musical content rather than design. Whatever the reason, I was so thrilled to have come upon these two beauts. Let's hope there are more in my future!

Brilliant

Since we are a little boutique operation here, there are quite a few things that the big boys do that we haven't really even thought about. One of those is things is edge painting. When Ellen at IDK came to us and inquired about this process, I thought, heck we'll try anything once. Now I'm not even going to go into the specifics of how ass backward our process probably was about painting said edges, just suffice it to say that the job came out beautifully. Or shall I say 'Brilliant'-ly.

Specs:

Designed by Identity Kitchen
220# Crane's Lettra
1 Spot color
Blind Deboss
Round corner
Edge painting

Please excuse the photo heavy post- we are very, very proud of this one!