Snippet from ‘The City is my Religion’ print from a portfolio project of the same name, 2020. It’s a church of sorts, made up of local buildings with colors to mimic stained glass. Considering a reprint. #letterpress

Prize for the first type nerd who can identify this delightful set of 1- and 2-color ornaments. I believe it’s monotype. #letterpress

Undertaking a massive ornament reorganization in the shop and stumbled on the delightful name ‘colorets’ for these simple workhorses that are used all the time. Love the added suggestion for sketching colored pencil ideas. #letterpress

Cleaning day for these hometown heroes. Composing sticks for setting metal type. #letterpress

Thanks to the 200+ Print Club subscribers that have helped sustain the studio this year. The December print is mailing now… a little reminder we all have what we need if we choose it: compassion, kindness, acceptance, empathy, love. #letterpress

Used the opportunity of a clean, post-open house studio to get updated photos, which my dog photobombed in a good way. #letterpress

Join us for our annual open house tonight! Presses are running, prints and cards are for sale, and we’ve got snacks. The metal type shown here (reversed) is Pastel, designed and cast in Chicago and made popular by silent film intertitles. #letterpress

New wintry cards inspired by sweater weather and featuring some lovely ornaments. One for Chicago, too. www.starshaped.com/holiday

Handy boxes are candy for letterpress printers. Each contains a tidy little set of borders or ornaments on a theme. Recently found this one in the shop with an additional supplier sticker.

A print featuring the delightful, modular wood ornaments designed and cut by Moore Wood Type. It’s 4 colors, swapping various cuts to create 9 unique ornaments. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/holiday/moor...

Tiny Chi on press tonight. Heading to holiday cards at the open house Saturday evening. #letterpress

Looking for gift ideas for that letterpress printer? My brand new type is ONLY available from me, as I designed, engraved, and cast it myself! Order before Dec 15 for holiday shipping. www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...

Some truly spectacular metal type ornaments here, spanning 100 years of design & production at numerous foundries across the country. 6-pointed snowflakes are the newest, designed & cast by @bowerbox.com #letterpress

Saturday, December 13th, 5-9pm is our 26th annual open house. All are welcome to hang, pull a print and grab a drink. We’ll let you touch the new Cooper, @dansinker.com & @fritzswanson.bsky.social. #letterpress

Down to the last 5 library prints, made with old, gummed slips given to me by library pal @katierizz.bsky.social. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/stationery-e...

Feeling a bit Leonard Cohen today. Printed years ago as a custom commission but got a few available. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/postersprint...

I’m with @phineas.bsky.social. Bring it on, Chicago. Glorious walk through the park this morning. #letterpress

Our 2025 letterpress holiday cards printed by the talented @starshapedpress.bsky.social featuring an excerpt from Assata Shakur's "Affirmation" are here! We're handing them out free with every in-store and online purchase until they're gone. It's our favorite tradition of the holiday season.

These frost & fir ornaments designed by Elizabeth Friedlander are a favorite in my shop. #letterpress

Little blue house on press tonight. #letterpress

Years ago, I spotted this list on a whiteboard while visiting my heroine, @springtidepress.bsky.social. I made it a print using her fabulous type collection and keep it by my presses. Tonight I have the pleasure of hearing her speak again. #letterpress

Why use one Cooper when you can use them all. #letterpress

Letterpress as cross stitch. www.starshaped.com/8x10prints/h...

‘Glampersands’, as in, a glorious collection of metal type ampersands recently cast by my pal Pat Reagh. #letterpress

Wrote about the complex process of building a 7-color print from metal type & ornament. www.starshaped.com/blog/2025/11...

Found some prints done years ago for our pals at Jump Up Records and have some for sale. The first Blue Beat gal was trans. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/postersprint...

Printing peace this evening. #letterpress

New print in honor of Studs and my neighbors standing up to protect our communities. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/8x10prints/o...

Made a real-size cassette tape from metal type and kind of love it, like I loved that mix tape my high school bestie got from a cooler older cousin circa ‘93. Available as a small print: www.starshaped.com/small-prints...

Happy Halloween to the ghouls of the American healthcare system that live by this phrase. #letterpress

As I navigate financially crippling ‘choices’ for health insurance to cover a disabled child, I’m reminded of this print I made earlier in the year satirizing how our mighty leaders feel about disabled kids. Full text and context here: www.starshaped.com/postersprint...

There’s a Nelson Algren for every season. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/chicago/chic...

Thanks to the 1100+ folks that came through for Open House Chicago. We printed, we shared, we talked about our great city. #letterpress

Let’s tell them Studs Terkel is the leader of antifa. Come get a print today at Open House Chicago, 10-5.

Sneak peek of an updated version of ‘Urbs in Horto’ debuting at Open House Chicago this weekend. 6 colors with metal type, 1 linoleum cut. #letterpress

Said I’d never reprint this large, 10x10” form but here we are. Urbs in Horto coming to Open House Chicago this weekend. #letterpress @chiarchitecture.bsky.social

Fall colors on press. #letterpress

The next Extra! Extra! postcard is mailing out next week. It’s a free series of postcards featuring type form images and links to printers, vendors, tools, etc. that we love. Sign up at our site. #letterpress

Getting our stars aligned ahead of Open House Chicago next weekend. #letterpress

Flashback to printing these to benefit the Southside Community Art Center (an initiative of the Chicago Printers Guild), featuring lyrics by Peter Cottontale & Chance the Rapper.

Last year I collaborated with @chiarchitecture.bsky.social on these prints for Open House Chicago. Next weekend we’ll be open again for this incredible event, with even more community and historical projects to share. Hope to see you. #letterpress

Hanging out with my 100 year old partner tonight. Banner by @vichcraft.bsky.social #letterpress

Star made of stars for today’s palate cleanser. #letterpress

Our queen Mavis, dropping a line filled with the hope that makes me love Chicago. New print, two different color options, now in the shop. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/chicago

A floral palate cleanser. My designs for Field Notes’ fall flowers edition, inspired by publishers bindings. Thanks, librarians!

Made With Human Intelligence (and all 19th century type) 7x5” prints now available. #letterpress www.starshaped.com/small-prints...

Bruce Rogers ornaments on display for this fall tree. #letterpress

Some of the original sketches for my collaboration with @fieldnotesbrand.bsky.social. Major props to the librarians who share publishers bindings.

Putting away so much type from custom projects. #letterpress

I built a cassette from metal type ornaments for the latest Print Club print and I’m pretty pleased with it. #letterpress