The Never Ending Project

So early this year, I decided to join in on a postcard swap. The basic idea is that you do a "Hello From..." and then print something that is related to the location you live or work at. The image above is a part of the idea that I've come up with. But I didn't realize how long it would take me to craft this postcard. I have the paper for it, that was exciting. And now the stuff to send to Boxcar to have it made into a plate is almost (but not quite) ready. I think it will be ready sometime in the next week. I've been working on it since April. Like I said, the never ending project. But I'm really really excited to see how it will all turn out.

New Cards!

Boxcar Plates came today, which means that I've been printing for quite some time non-stop. Wonderful! Here's a sample of what I've done today. Enjoy.

Mapbooks

Every once in a while, I have a fit of binding and book making that I have to go through. Today was one of those days, and today I made a Mapbook! My linoleum came in today, and hopefully tomorrow will bring Boxcar plates. So excited for all the printing to take place!

Oh, and Ladies of Letterpress are holding a postcard swap, I just got the details on that, so I'll be printing those soon too!

Photoshop

Boxcar Prep, take 1.

I.

hate.

photoshop.

At the moment, anyway. I went to save, and the program quit... which means that all of the boxcar prep that I did this morning no longer exists. Well. Not all, because I saved about half-way, but most.

Boxcar Prep, take 2.

Maybe I don't hate photoshop. I'm just frustrated with it for suddenly quitting.

But. The file is now loading on Boxcar's website, so it will be coming to me in printable form soon! Estimated date of delivery is the 8th. And then, watch out!

Clayton

BCP cards will soon be available in Clayton! Yay!

I'm excited, I've been dreaming up things to print. Have a Boxcar order going in soon. Very Very exciting.

Cards!

These were the trial run through the press; there are a few important things that I learned:

1. don't leave the paper catchers in the way when you're printing on a boxcar base. it will a. try to hurt the base, and b. not allow you to print. my base now has a small dent, fortunately in an area that will never be printed on.

2. those metal clips for registration are not worth it. I definitely have a dent in the base from that, and after i realized it I threw the little clip thing across the room and yelled at it for denting the boxcar base. Have since come up with a newer and better system, in my opinion.

3. printing is exceptionally gratifying. I knew that, but it reinforces the fact.

Happy Earth Day!

Yay!

It's here! The boxcar plates came today. Can't print until tomorrow, but they are here!

Yay!

Mailing List

I'm starting a mailing list! To send out samples and such. So if you would like to be on it, comment or send an email. I can't guarantee how frequently you'll get printing samples, but I'll be sure to send some!

And since there is no post on Sunday, I didn't get boxcar plates today.

But I did go up and clean the shop a bit.

Trials of Photoshop

I've been fighting with photoshop for most of the past few hours. The problem is that I was trained in photoshop in 2005, and the program has changed a lot since then. The basic idea is the same, but the finer points are evading me.

However, I expect to have my photoshop image off to boxcar by tomorrow, so I'm pretty excited. I'll get the polymer around tuesday, and be really and truly printing for the rest of the week.

Image of today: this is from fiveroses.org, it's what printing on a C&P really looks like.

And in other news, Bedford Creek Press got mentioned in M.C. Photography's blog! If you care to follow that, go here.

Drawing

I've been laying out the images to have made into polymer plates; since the past few days have limited my ability to be out in the press shop. And I've been sketching things. Next is putting everything in photoshop, and then sending it off to Boxcar. Hopefully by tomorrow. We'll see about that.

Boxcar Base

It's here!

Now, just to order plates!

I attempted to go and buy shirts for screen printing, but accidentally got children's sizes. Soo... back to exchange them later today.

Also, I just realized that people are commenting! I can't even tell you how much that made my day.

Spin Art

My little cousin has a spin art thing, so naturally we had some time creating spin art. It's going on my wall of inspiration things in the print shop.

Today I didn't do so well with earth friendly, other than remembering to recycle, and also accidental carpooling--accidental because it was only a practical thing, not a planned "enviro-friendly" thing.

Haven't heard anything from Boxcar to say that my base has been shipped; but I'm planning on being up in the press shop for a while tomorrow, starting to print cards, or at least work through the bumps of first printing on a platen.

Oh, and going to get shirts for the cool crowd that is getting tee-shirts.

Agony of Waiting

I realize it's only been about 24 hours, but I just want my rollers to be here, now.

While working today, I came up with a new idea that combines botanical prints and notebooks; I'm going to have to invest in a boxcar base next. (boxcarpress.com) ...after the business card job.