Thursday, January 31, 2008

sunlit letterpress


Sunlit Letterpress has launched a website! I love Erin McCall's clean & modern style. Reading her blog – Adventures in Letterpress – has inspired me and taught me so much about the art of letterpress. Go see for yourself!

images c/o Sunlit Letterpress

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

swayspace letterpress


Swayspace is a design and letterpress studio out of Brooklyn with some nice work. Their website also has some fun videos of their presses in action {scroll down to the bottom for these}.

images c/o Swayspace

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

if i had $395 laying around...



...I would buy the Alejandro Paul type collection at Veer. That's five of Alejandro’s beautiful scripts for the price of four. Sigh. {pictured here Burgues Script & Affair}

images c/o veer

Monday, January 28, 2008

a learning process


All of the COD fees and ink stained fingernails were worth it, because my first letterpress project is complete! I wouldn't call it a complete success, but I did learn a lot and I know that I can only get better with lots of practice. Things I learned {in no particular order...}:

1. My first project was a tad too ambitious. My design used a large surface area, so it was difficult to get even ink coverage and any impression at all. I also should have stuck to one colour for my first go. I always tend to jump in, head first.

2. Green, yellow and white don't make brown. Um. Ya. I need to buy some more ink colours. And thanks to fellow Canadian letterpress printer Snap & Tumble, I've found US Litho Supply, who sells VanSon rubber based inks and has free shipping to Canada on orders of $50 or more. I see a large ink order in my future.

3. Rubber based ink is a bitch to clean up. It's difficult to handle during mixing as well, but I am assuming it will get better with practice {fingers crossed}. Crisco was my saviour in the clean up process {thanks to this post by Erin McCall at Adventures in Letterpress}. I didn't want to use chemical cleaners because I am working in a basement with no ventilation. The ink fumes are bad enough.

4. The dollar store has everthing. It's where I purchased tools for mixing ink, rags, latex gloves and many more helpful items.

5. There seems to be a lot of fiddling and adjusting to be done before you can begin a run. And a lot of wasted paper.

More to come...

Sunday, January 27, 2008

k. talis



Did I mention that I love jewlery? Especially of the vintage sort. Here are some beautiful pieces from k. talis's etsy store. She creates new pieces out of vintage finds.

images c/o k. talis

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

design police


Save the world from bad design! Visit design police to download your very own "visual enforcement kit." I got this link from my fabulous friend and fellow designer Amanda {thanks piggy}.

write like they used to


I just love the authentic 18th & 19th century typefaces from oldfonts.com {shown here American Scribe}. This would be lovely used for wedding invites. Reminds me of my grandmothers beautiful penmanship... wish I would have inherited that gene!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

babies need pretty things too


I am invited to my first ever baby shower, so I am looking for the perfect (stylish, functional, unique) gift. I think I may have found it at DwellStudio. I love their simple graphic patterns on everything from diaper bags to wall art. Browse their online shop here. Be sure to check out their bedding & table lines too, more beautiful patterns, but for grown ups.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

i am coveting...


...these pieces from contrary's jewelry line. These stunning vintage-inspired baubles seem as if they were made just for me. Check out contrary's blog and etsy shop.

lovely little birdies


I recently stumbled upon ashleyg's artwork on etsy. Her characters convey emotion so simply and beautifully. Check out her etsy shop or her blog.