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

Digging into these 150 year old beauties this week. #letterpress

The Type High Prize mails out to all Print Club members that’ve been in the Club for a whole year (starting in September) to celebrate Type High Day (9/18). These ornaments were designed by me and cast by @bowerbox.com. Super grateful to all the PC members that keep the studio going!

We’ll be a part of Open House Chicago again this October and the studio will be in full glory. This was last year’s print, made in collaboration with @chiarchitecture.bsky.social. Learn a bit about Chicago’s print history!

Printing today, 11-6, as part of the @ravenswood-chicago.bsky.social Art Walk.

Setting up a print for folks to pull at the Ravenswood Art Walk this weekend. The ‘Chicago’ type was designed by @chgohoods.bsky.social based on the Starsiak store signage; I had it laser cut as a wood font. #letterpress

Tis the season for fall events in the shop, starting with the @ravenswood-chicago.bsky.social Art Walk this coming weekend. Hope to see you. #letterpress

A favorite piece in my collection, this vintage printing plate is getting new life with the addition of linoleum cuts for definition. It can be roughly dated by what’s on it so have fun with that, fellow nerds!#letterpress

Tiny Chicago on press. #letterpress

A 21st century postcard made with 19th century tech. #letterpress

Late night printing buddy.

If I keep printing it, it’ll be true, right? New Print Club print for August. https://www.starshaped.com/printclub

Made this print as part of an exchange hosted by @centralprintstudio.bsky.social. Journalist Martha Gellhorn collected responses to the horrors of dropping atomic bombs. More on the print here: https://www.starshaped.com/small-prints/marthagellhorn

I wish the dog days of summer were more about dogs and less about heat, a sentiment my dog seems to agree with. #letterpress #disgruntleddog

The war on rats is never won, especially in August. #letterpress

Lurie Children’s Hospital is medieval. I was reminded of that yesterday and it’s why my new artists book ‘An Open Letter to Doctors’ was written, printed & bound with antique surgical thread. Only a few pages shown… more info here: https://www.starshaped.com/blog #letterpress

🧵1/2: Thank you @starshapedpress.bsky.social for turning the power of John Wayne Fry’s quote into a beautiful piece of art. “You don’t stop wars with guns and bombs. You stop war by talking to your neighbors.” You can get your print from Starshaped Press at 4636 N Ravenswood #103.

Us print geeks geeking out about being in print. Val is the future of typecasting!

Ornamental Chicago cityscape waiting to get on press today. #letterpress

Binding a freshly printed new artist book entitled ‘An Open Letter to Doctors’, with text written from years of experience as a caregiver. Coming soon. #letterpress

Quite pleased with this simple type form for a card. The Lydian Cursive is angle-bodied type that comes with its own spacing (including wedge-shaped end pieces). #letterpress

Pulling and prepping type for a new book. #letterpress

Seeking solace on press today. #letterpress

We have @littlelobbyists.com families on the way to Washington DC right now, they'll be on the House-side of the Capitol tomorrow. We're going to make them see us before they vote to kill disabled children. If you can help cover the costs of this urgent action: secure.actblue.com/donate/littl...

Medicaid has kept my child alive for the past 5 years after my late husband’s insurance cobra was weightier than the mortgage.