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.

Beautiful Vending Weekend

I can't believe I was wearing a tee-shirt on Saturday and Sunday while vending at Brooklyn Indie Market. It was a great reason to be outside. Though the G train was a shuttle half the way to Carroll street, it was worth it. Lots of people were out enjoying the sun. I do enjoy people watching and many of my creations made it into the hands of card lovers. That always makes me happy.

For the Love of the Numbers and letters

The minute I have a larger room to decorate, I want to fill it with items like this.

Bag lady

Well, if sales don't go well tomorrow at Brooklyn Indie Market, maybe I'll score some change from fellow MTA riders mistaking me for a bad lady.

Crafts in Chelsea

We braced the wind for Crafts in Chelsea yesterday. I'm very thankful that a lot of friends stopped by! I didn't really make any money after the rental cost, but I'm hopeful that I have a few leads for invitations. A newly engaged couple were perusing my invitation portfolio and also a woman thinking of invitations for her son's bar mitzvah. I had a lovely conversation with a girl that carves linoleum and she's in the market for possibly buying her own press. I just happen to have one I've considered selling. The new Card Rack and wine crate worked out great.

Rockin a new Card Rack

I stained my new Card Rack this evening. Hopefully, stain dries in a day or 2. Craft in Chelsea is this Saturday! and I want to break it in.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Here Comes Santa Claus. Here Comes Santa Claus, Right down Santa Claus Lane.
He doesn't care if you are rich or poor, he loves you just the same.

I never realized those were the lyrics to this song. I put a few Christmas jingles on tonight since I was printing Jolly Old Saint Nick. I finished an order for Christmas cards for my Dad's company and decided to make a few Santa coasters as well.

I heart Holiday Music. There are only a few other people I know that will indulge my listening habit from Thanksgiving until New Years. Mostly friends that haven't worked in Retail. It makes me happy and puts a spring in my step. I always think I know all the words to a song, but when I really listen, the meaning of the song seems so different than when I was a child. Last Christmas "Let your Heart be Light" really stuck with me. It's a good phrase to live by if you can.

I'm thrilled with our Fall weather and 70 degree days, but I always get excited when I buy my first Christmas present or the first snowflake falls.

Start your Holiday Shopping this weekend at Crafts in Chelsea. 100 artists selling handmade items.

New Coasters and New Packaging

I have new Coaster packaging Courtesy of Rachael's left overs from her wedding favors 2 years ago. These boxes have moved around our office. They make perfect coaster boxes.

Setting up Sets

I've not updated for a while since I've been in retouching land and not Letterpress land. Glad to return. I made some packages of cards and bookmarks last weekend. I debuted these and my new banner at Hester St. on Sunday. I didn't sell any prepackaged sets, but people picked them up a lot to view. When I mentioned they could make their own set, several people bought a pack of 4. Overall, it was my best Fair day this fall. I could barely feel my fingers and suffered a bit of windburn, but feel quite chipper about the experience. It didn't rain :)

Here are the sets. I'm tossing around making sets of 8 Christmas cards as well.