October means prepping for Christmas here

Started working on a new Father Christmas and a Christmas Tree.

Jolly Old Saint Nick

In preparation for tomorrow's Opening day for the Astoria Market, I busted out some Holiday cards. Lot's of Santa action!

Overall, printing went really well and I also tagged on another run of I Heart US that actually sold out.

Carving Santa

When my mom asked for a Father Christmas or Santa on her holiday card this year, I thought it was a perfect excuse to get creative and carve a new linoleum block. I've only done this a few times with mixed success. Carving is hard! I have great appreciation for people that do this all the time.

After transferring the image with graphite, I started slowly scraping away the linoleum. He came along OK, but I had to stop twice due to tool slippage and finger bleeding. The detail wasn't showing up as I liked, so I kept taking out more and more negative space. After the 3rd proof, we decided this Saint Nick is not happy enough. One of the cards I have in mind is "Have a Jolly Holiday" and this just won't do.

Enter Ebay... When I typed in Santa Letterpress in the search bar, an amazing assortment off the Jolliest Santas appeared. My Mom always uses a Santa on her Christmas card, so I know they'll be used for future holidays. The demand for Letterpress blocks has risen in the last few years and so has the price. I had to give up shopping on Ebay a while back. I got so caught up on visualizing cards with the vintage blocks and being awfully upset when I lost the auction. I ended up buying a little Santa as a Buy it Now purchase and watched the rest. I bid $20 for each thinking that should win. One of the Victorian Santa's went for $78 and the other I lost to a bidder at $20.50! I scored 1 Santa standing in front of a fireplace for $13. I can't wait for him to arrive.

Tonight, I put together a combination of card ideas for my mom to chose from. She decided on just the Santa with Tis the season on the front and a script Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! on the inside. I think I'll print Santa with the Ho, Ho, Ho while I have Red on the press as well.

The linoleum Santa may get used after all, but I think I'll stick to simple lines and flowers when carving! Working on a Rx label now for little pill boxes. Wish me luck and low to zero carving wounds.