Sunday, November 30, 2008

your life work

This is the second vintage printing-related film I've seen...and it makes me wish (if only for 10 minutes) that I could've had proper training like them!

Now, if only I could get away with a white dress and white heels in the printshop.

Found via the letpress listserv, i love typography, and archive.org.

(The first film was on typesetting--also good for arcane pointers. Yes, this is really what I do five days a week!)

Friday, November 28, 2008

black friday.

Yes, it's black friday. The shops will be mobbed. The weather will be blustery and snowy (in Vermont, anyway).
And what better time to pick up some holiday cards? 100% letterpress, 100% of the time!
This weekend only--November 28-30--I'm running a special on my holiday cheer cards. Buy two, get one free!

The scoop: Purchase cards from either my etsy shop or my bigcartel shop. The two sets need not be the same--but the free one should be of equal or lesser value. Indicate which set you'd like for free in the "notes to seller" section of the invoice. As always, contact me with any questions!

Sale ends at midnight on Sunday!

Friday, November 21, 2008

hiding out + working hard

I know I don't have a great track record, posting-wise, but I do feel guilty when it's been too long.

Here's a peek at what's been keeping me away from the computer:
Last night I finished eight new journals--all bound with bookcloth handmade from vintage and retro fabric. They're not in my etsy shop, but these are! (P.S. After much demand for a square journal, I've started making these in 7-1/2" squares. Only available at my winter craft shows!)
And it's taken awhile, but I'm finally ready to send out thank yous--to those few select folks (you know who you are!). These are printed on handmade paper from Langdell from a handcarved linoleum block. I'll have a few extras for sale, too.

Friday, November 14, 2008

trying something new

...so, really, I just look for ways to make more work for myself. And make things prettier.

I've been loving headbands lately. Not the head kind--the book kind. Talas sells pretty one like these:Woven silk, in lovely color combos--just to decorate the tops of your book.

I decided to try it myself, to make my Rebounds look more finished. Here are the steps:
Sew your book as usual, and attach the super. Don't glue above the kettle stitch.
Cut a piece of ribbon slightly wider than your spine, and glue half of it just above the kettle.
Then put a bit of glue on top of the ribbon, to attach the super.
Fold the ribbon over the super, and make sure the loose ends (where you cut) are sealed with a bit of PVA.
Admire your handiwork!

While not totally necessary, I like the way they bring a shock of color to the textblock. Maybe soon I'll splurge on real headband, but I've got a lot of ribbon to get through first!

Sunday, November 09, 2008

censorship.

I hope you all know about PostSecret.

Today Frank posted the following on the blog:

******
11/08/2008

MySpace Censorship



Last Monday, the PostSecret Blog on MySpace was the most visited Blog on MySpace. The next day MySpace administrators removed postcards and comments from the Blog and prevented more than 100,000 people from viewing it.

Many people have emailed me concerned about what happened. I am posting a response here because I am unsure if an explanation on the MySpace Blog will go uncensored.

As I write this, the MySpace Blog is unblocked but the latest postcards and comments have been removed completely. MySpace has set my Blog so that only friends can see it. If you friend me now I will add you.

http://www.myspace.com/postsecret

I will try and post more secrets on the MySpace Blog next week (November 15th) and see what happens. I hope you will email your friends about this and encourage MySpace to repost our secrets.

There is a censorship discussion about this now in the PSC.

PostSecret Media Contact: Dan Adams
******
If you have a myspace account, please add PostSecret as a friend.

Monday, November 03, 2008

my two cents

Life is busier than ever here, but I want to take a few seconds to remind you to vote tomorrow.
Those of you who know me, know that I'm snarky, bitter, and decidedly not patriotic. I regularly refuse to join in political discussions. You couldn't catch me with an "I Voted!" sticker. But I registered to vote when I was eighteen, and have voted in every election since. Even junior year abroad--I lived in Paris--I voted by absentee ballot.

Elections are not just about the president. I know, that's a big one this time around, but in Vermont, we're also voting for governor, state reps, attorney general, and too many more to list. Sure, the prez gets all the glory (and the shame), but the local guys are the ones responsible for snow plowing, road repairs, property taxes, and funding for our public schools.

I'm not crazy about either one of the major candidates--and there are those of you who will be quite upset when I say that. But I will be standing in line at City Hall to cast my vote tomorrow. Will you?

Letterpress posters by the ever-impressive Amos P. Kennedy Jr. (top) and the awe-inspiring Yee-Haw Industries (bottom).