Holiday Cards

Holiday cards are always fun to print. These have two parts; there is a pinecone and "Happy Holidays" in a nice deep cedar brown too. And there are reindeer to print yet on different cards! Very fun.

Patent Book

Project completed and delivered!

I'm happy with how it turned out; each patent has its own folder. It was pretty fun working with Patents; outside of a museum I'd never seen one up close.

Now... dreaming up a new project. Maybe an accordion book?

Paper & Glue

Here is a shot of the paper for the book I'm working on. It's a little hard to see because it's digital, but the colors are very vibrant, and the gold detailing really makes it.

I'm patiently waiting while the front cover dries...maybe not so patiently? But the back cover is nearly done now; just a few more little details to be worked out. (Same with the front.) Then cutting and making the folders to make the inside, and assembling. Getting there!

Book Binding

Talk about long overdue...

There hasn't been much in the way of printing since the last post: slowly working on proofing the drawers of type (let's say molasses in January is a quicker process.) So lots of that. And a book binding project that is finally clearing the chaos and getting done.

I swear, under this pile of the heaviest books I could find, there are two covers drying. (Thin dark blue line at the bottom of the pile) Only the book cloth so far; the paper will come tomorrow, perhaps. I'm in love with the paper that I got for this project: it's an intricate geometric pattern printed in reds, golds, and blues on wonderful japanese yuzen paper. Beautiful.

More Weddings!

Another set off to another happy couple-to-be! This photo shows the table numbers for the wedding reception. We got to play with big wood type, which is always exciting!

Next project in the hopper is a specimen book; creating a catalogue of all the different type faces, woodcuts, and random knick-knacks in the shop.

Weddings!

These are the first of the year; now they're off to be addressed and mailed!

It's been pretty busy at the press; Emily of Singletree Press came for a visit and a fun collage-style print run. And wedding invitations galore! We're working on the next round all ready, and the last one went out Friday! Ink and paper and printing--what more could you need?

Piano Hinge Binding

Things are moving along nicely here at BCP. In about a week, printing of invitations will begin, which is very exciting! And the cards in collaboration with False Prairie Clover are also under way.

And in the mean time, it's time to learn new bindings! Today, the example is a Piano Hinge Binding; a first attempt, but a very fun binding to make.

Archives

It's been busy-busy here. Lots of designing work; all of the projects are sketched out, this weekend the task will be to convert them all into digital images, and then send them off for approval!

Maybe another week and a half before the heat gets turned on in the print shop. It's still a little too cold for big Bertha.

The photo is from the box-making archive; a square box with pretty pink paper lining!

False Prairie Clover

Exciting news! Bedford Creek Press is doing a collaboration with False Prairie Clover this spring! You can check out her awesome cut paper art at her blog. We're still coming up with ideas, but so far we're thinking cards, stationary, maybe a few prints. Lots coming on that front! Very wonderful.

And... printing some book marks/cards for a thesis presentation, working on wedding things, getting the creative spring juices flowing.

Valentine's Day Cards, 2011

A week away seems like an eternity. Getting back into the swing of things with school has put a little damper on press time, but we're getting back into shape.

I did make valentine's day cards; they have little heart cut-outs on the inside in an appropriate color for the card.

Adirondack Fishing

There is a little shop up near Lake Placid that has all sorts of type-cuts and whats-its and gizmos. On an outing earlier this year, someone found this little fisherman.

I didn't get a chance to print it on Bertha, because things were always inked up in the wrong color, or I didn't want to deal with inking it up when the cut was so small. However...

Now there is Sig! And with a little baby press, a small cut is ideal! So the fisherman was finally printed--and I think he's wonderful. Maybe it will become part of a set of cards for the summer?

This past week brought the start of mock-ups for wedding invitations, the start of Valentine's Day cards (which should get finished this weekend) and thinking about goals for the upcoming year. January is more than half over! It's time to get going!

Sigwalt Chicago

Last night was filled with lots of experimentation and printing on the new baby press, Sig. New and interesting things learned: how to adjust the bed of the press so that it prints properly. Not sure that it's totally right yet, but it's getting closer.

So. Baby Sig has had it's first ink up, and also it's first cleaning. It's a sweet little press. Now... to start printing! Valentines are first on the list.

And the iPod in that photo? Totally there so that you know how big (or little) this baby press is.

New Press!

This week at BCP... a lovely little Sigwalt Chicago #11 is on it's way! It should arrive about midweek. I can hardly wait!

Other things that are happening:

Save the Dates are headed to Canada on Monday

Designing Shipping Labels

Finished binding a book, but can't post a photo of it quite yet because it has a higher purpose as a gift.

Lots of designing. Once the designing is done, lots of printing.

And working on the blog page... as you might have noticed.

Press Shop Library

2011.

The "To-Do" list is pretty long, but I'm excited to tackle it. This year I'm expanding the Press library, hopefully getting a website up and running, printing lots of things (at least two sets of wedding invitations!), sorting lots of type, and maybe getting a baby press that can travel with me. (Truly, I'm turning into a printer, I want to carry a piece of cast iron around with me?)