I finally did it… the gorgeous Amanita border from @bowerbox.com that I’ve been sitting on for over a year was put to use last night. One of the things that made me take a bit longer was the whole mushroom murderer thing, but why should she spoil mushrooms for everyone?

Two more type cases means a day of reorganisation. And maybe next week some proof printing, but for now, lots of shuffling.

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

HRH Pepper decided to grace me with her presence in the print studio today. I feel honoured. #printdog

This is so beautiful I want to cry.

I know Murakami said this about running, but even as a non-runner, I love this.

Due to issues beyond my control, I didn’t start paid work yesterday as anticipated. Instead, I printed samples of some borders and ornaments that I’ve not had a chance to play with (also some type). There was a lovely surprise in the pinecones! Hoping to use them on a card later today.

I can confirm the Amanita is amazing. The only problem might be that it’s TOO amazing and I never feel like the ideas I have to use it are good enough, but that’s the story of my life. Go get some!

It’s my last day in the studio before I return to actual, paid full-time work. And while I have plenty I can do, I kind of just want to sit here and look around.

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

Before and after restoration of my Sterling corner rounder, thanks to my amazing, skilled, and helpful husband. It was thrown into the deal I made for my 10x15 c&p earlier this year, and it had hung around the garage, seized and overlooked until 3 days ago.

Inspired by @hopeamico.com, and the understanding that my husband doesn’t always love my snarky cards, I give you another take on ‘you’re doing great’ but with wood and lead.

Who among us couldn’t use an apology card from time to time? #letterpress #printmaking #apology

Picked up someone’s Nan’s old Singer 99k yesterday. It needed a bobbin and a friction wheel, but, it still works well enough to sew a thin notebook together. 8 sheets of paper plus a cover, so 36-page pocket-sized (folded A6) notebooks might be a thing… and maybe even with my misprints!

Another ‘end of day’ print, using new-to-me Mercury Light 36pt and a knife I’ve had for a couple years but only used once before. Before you say anything, I couldn’t find apostrophes, so yes, they are upside down commas. #letterpress

Some days you just need to print the thing that makes you chuckle.

When the print run I needed to didn’t work, it was nice to have this in the wings as a backup. #nottoday #letterpress

Listen to Ranger Billy!

Mornings are for dissing, setting, and experimenting. For those who can’t read backward, I’ll hopefully have a test print of this later today. Because afternoons are for printing.

Look you just have to make the cool weird shit that excites you. You must. In this world besieged by bland, scrubbed boring, computer slop, you must. Make the thing you’re embarrassed to make, the thing that feels “too much” because otherwise we get drowned in a sea of cowardly work made by a button

Had a productive but not notable day yesterday printing many post card backs. Today I printed colour one of a planned 2-colour card, then used some of the extra ink to print a 1-colour card. Might get around to adding some stuff to Etsy later. #letterpress #snailmail

Not an original idea, but there are no original ideas, right? Just different executions? #woodtype

When the time comes to test print, it seems like a shame not to print some other fun stuff at the same time. Making sense of the wood type in my collection is somewhere on the list of priorities, but toward the bottom. No matter. It’ll happen someday. #letterpress #woodtype

This is why we proof things.

What did we make today?

I watched a thing where comedians do ‘group therapy’ on one of the streaming services a month or so ago and Nicole Byer mentioned this quote. I decided to quickly set it and print it before cleaning up my press. I’m glad I did. #letterpress

IT’S ALIVE! First actual printing session with the big C&P! Puts printing on my poor little hand-powered Adanas into perspective… printed 250 postcard backs in about an hour. #letterpress #footpoweredpress

I was looking for a pangram to use as a test phrase for my new mystery fonts. This is what I found thanks to @wikipedia.org #letterpress #pangram

How’s your day going? This is how mine’s going. Can’t complain so far, let’s see how complete this font is… #metaltype #letterpress

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” — Henry David Thoreau, *Walden* (1854) #thoreau #walden #castlesintheair #foundations #blueridgemountains #julymorning

Did a little printing a couple of weeks ago with my stepson. The words were my idea, not his. #letterpress #adanaeightfive

Finally got my Albion-style press into the studio and promptly used it to proof a bunch of old cuts. Much fun was had.