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The Block

I've been meaning to do something with the lovely line of shoes at the end of our block. In the 6 plus years I've lived here, it's been cleaned off quite a few times. I'd like to start a line of Brooklyn cards. This is the photo from our block and the start of redrawing the shoes on the cable line.

The NewNew Team

Excited to be a part of the NewNew Etsy Team!

Inception

Last night, my husband and I went to the movies. He's been talking non-stop about the movie Inception and we made a date out of it. The definition alone makes the movie sound intriguing.

in·cep·tion n. The beginning of something, such as an undertaking; a commencement.

The main character is asked to perform the act of inception – secretly implanting an idea in the mind of a person. They do this through dreams. For part of the movie, the crew is in an abandoned warehouse, training for their mission. I was crazy distracted by the set. In almost every shot, you can see a type cabinet, or wood furniture, or a printing press... just sitting behind them collecting dust in a gorgeously huge window and sun filled room. I got distracted thinking about how wonderful it would be if this print shop were mine. I can't even fathom having a workspace so large, so much type, and SO much room to create. It put me in a state of Dreamy envy.

I wish I could implant a few ideas deeper into my subconscious so they could come to fruition in my dreams. It's kind of amazing how much one small idea can grow.

Wedding Cards

I stopped by Treehouse on my way home tonight. It's a lovely little shop on Graham Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that sells locally made items and vintage clothes. Siri, the owner, makes really cool crocheted sterling silver jewelry also. She is throwing a 4th Anniversary party on Sunday. Since she sells my cards in her shop, I wanted to make sure she had plenty before the party. She asked me for the second time if I had any cards for weddings. Silly me, I don't know why I didn't print any since the last time she asked. It's such a smart idea. It's wedding season for crying out loud! I already had the designs from Tuesday's odd printing day, so I added "Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together!" and also printed a floral version. I sold my last Deer card yesterday too, so I ran another 25 of those tonight as well. It's nice when I can print the same color ink on different papers.



My new tympan paper arrived today too, so I decided to get busy and set up the press when I arrived home. The tympan paper made a huge difference. I ordered 100 sheets for $15... I've been trying to make due with butcher paper. From what I understand the compressed tympan paper has less give so it helps create a better impression on the paper you are printing on. It was a lovely night of printing. My husband was happy to have the TV for an evening too. We met at the coffee table when our dinner was delivered, I gave him a little peck, and we returned to our separate hobbies.

Check out the new Wedding cards on Etsy. Pattern Design and Floral Design
Cheers!

I Like You Crazy

Coury and I saw one of our favorite bands tonight, Mates of State. They are a husband and wife band and constantly look across the stage at one another throughout the set. They just radiate love and respect. I told Coury on the way home, that I might fall in love with whoever was closest to me watching them.We danced to their song "I Like You Crazy" at our wedding which they unfortunately didn't play tonight. I made this card around Valentine's Day for my honey. The heart was a present from my good friend and we ended up using it in our wedding invitations.



A musician/Comedian opened for them and he brought up sending people a You're Welcome card when he gets a Thank you card. I added it to my list of cards to possibly print.

These are the Days to forget... I mean to learn from.

These are the things I should probably not write about, but it's important for me to remember the many mistakes I make, so hopefully I will not repeat them. I was really excited to Print my little zoo animals again, this time as Birthday cards. After a 3rd unsuccessful time printing these favorite plates, I'm sending them out with the Tuesday trash. I think I ordered them at the KF95 thickness (which does work at The Arm since they have the regular Boxcar Base) but I made my wood base to the measurements of the Deep Relief Boxcar Base. Pretty sure I need the KF152 plates.
Adjusting my roller height doesn't do a thing. It made a nice impression, but didn't ink up well at all. I surrendered and switched designs.




I decided to print this design since I already inked up the press and it required little thought. I'll go back and add either Happy Anniversary or Congratulations with another color.

I knew today was going to be like this when I woke up. I was feeling motivated all day, but kept running into hurdles... making it difficult to get anything done. I think it's time to tuck in bed early and call it a day!


on my list to order with my next paycheck; new plates of zoo animals and tympan paper

Design Sponge shows some Love for Letterpress

Awesome that Design Sponge added Reinventing Letterpress and The Little Book of Letterpress to their Book Wish List! "reinventing letterpress and the little book of letterpress, both by charlotte rivers (the first is the european version, the second is the american version), are at the top of my list. the latter is only available for pre-order but after reading the description about the history of craft, a detailed explanation of presses, and peeks into the studios of letterpress artists, i’m sold (well, pre-sold)."

Read more at Design*Sponge

CREATE something!

Today was the class at The Arm. After a long day of Craft Fairing and Brooklyn Lagers yesterday, I was not feeling as chipper as I'd wished. Once I got there, I was in awe of the space and thrilled to be there. Dan started us off by giving a quick history of the printing press and demonstrated printing from a photopolymer plate on the Vandercook. Then we broke off into groups. Alexis and I started working on one of their 2 Vandercook SP-15 . The Arm has an amazing assortment of wood and lead type. We chose a tray with two different point sizes of wood type. We printed "For the Love of Type", Alexis's business name "Lotus Prints", and "Keep Calm & Carry On".
We broke for Lunch and my new friend Alexis and I hit the Street fair on the corner for some chow. I was really excited about this, I call the Street Fairs in New York Fried Food Fests. I love a good funnel cake and fried veggies! We took our artery clogging lunch to McCarren and sat in the shade for a while. We discussed our businesses. She is setting up an online invitation business and shopping for offset printers, but would like to offer letterpress as a option too. It was nice to chat in person with a fellow lover of print. She's created over 700 designs of her own creation in the last 2 years. Quite amazing really, and she works full time.

After watching Soak the Bloak while Alexis got a Pina Coloda, we returned to the studio. Dan showed us how to use their C&P Pilot Press. I was most excited about this, since it is very similar to mine. He set up the type, "The street fair is killing me!" I thought about my nasty lunch and laughed.

It was really great being in a studio with all the correct equipment. At home, I have limited spacing and furniture. At the Arm, you can afford to be very precise and lock everything up nice and tight. I asked about the roller gauge and Dan showed me how to use it to measure. Also, he suggested a tympan supplier. I'm going to upgrade from butcher paper from the Brother's deli and order some stat. I also learned that I haven't been storing my pholypolymer place in the most optimal way. They should be stored flat. Good thing I have lots of big coffee table books, hopefully they can flatten a few out that have started to curl.
I'm so glad I went and learned so much. It sparked a bit of creativity. I met a lot of really cool, creative people, but sadly I didn't trade contact information with anyone. I wasn't really sure how to do it without seeming too pushy. I regret not asking for theirs. I am excited to go back and print larger plate creations soon! It's a lovely place to print for the day. Create on.

The book Has Arrived!

I was so excited to receive my Reinventing Letterpress book yesterday! I'm working on another run of my little zoo animal creations as Birthday cards for all the little dudes turning 1 this year!
Page 59, reads Dawn Hylon Lucas (hyC creative) New York, NY USA
The animals on the cards shown here were originally drawn in Illustrator and then made into photopolymer plates by Boxcar Press. Metal type was used for the text, and the cards were printed using an Excelsior press with water-soluble inks.
page 13, Letterpress in Practice. Bottom Left: photopolymer plates from Dawn Hylon Lucas

Rearrange Change

Who knows what I was thinking about in 2000 when I made my first Letterpress Project. I remember visualizing the final project. 1" cut blocks of letters to move around and create, but I can't remember the basis of the words I used. It makes me blush a little now. I got this print out last week and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Considering so many changes are happening to most of my near and dear right now, I am constantly thinking of change. I feel like so many people are at the point where they need to make a series of choices to make the changes in their life they want to happen.

"At first everything is surreal"... what does that even mean? I want to shake my 21 year old self and guide her. Things do change, but I'm not sure only time does it. I saw everything in a new light? I remember that part. Sometimes you are struck with a moment of clarity that you wish you would have had at the beginning of a project. "Everything" seems such the dramatic word now. I've never adapted well to change. I adamantly hated most change growing up. I threw a diva worthy tear fest when my dad sold his 1969 pick up truck in 83' when I was 5. When my parents talked about shopping for a bigger house when I was in junior high, I nearly had a panic attack when faced with the idea of leaving the house I grew up in. My heart literally skipped a beat when we drove my twin sister to college 2 states away, when we'd never been apart for more than a few days. It took me many years to come around to the fact that change might be a good thing. I'm a creature of routine. It takes me almost all summer to adjust to our 8:30 am summer work schedule. When Life is moving on along happily, I hate to rock the boat.

Every now and again that Boat needs a rocking though. Some things change gradually... over time. Others, need a little push. When I moved to NY 9 years ago, I only thought I'd stay for 5. I thought I would tackle the big city pretty quick and move to a little quaint house with a matching community and trek on with life's little plan. I realize now that it's not that easy to pick up every item you've acquired and relocate away from your friends, career, and connections. I hear so many questions and not many answers. Where should we move? What do I love to do? How can we increase our quality of life? Wouldn't it be awesome to have a washer, dryer, and dishwasher? Where are the jobs? If we pick up and move, will we regret it? What if we buy a house and we can't sell it if we want to move? We have way too many choices! Who knows if the grass is greener somewhere else. Choices are hard. They are hard to make and increasing harder to maintain.

I got this old project out for a little inspiration and motivation for printing, and it's ignited a whole other passion for change. I guess the point of the project circa 2010 is to pick apart what you already know and rearrange it however you see fit to create your happiness. I'll try to do just that.

Are you doing what you love? Living where you want to live? Create on, my friends.

Reinventing Letterpress Out in UK

My Letterpress cards appear in

Reinventing Letterpress: Prints by Contemporary Practitioners

Love Yee-Haw Industries that wrote the Foreword. Get yours today!