I’m sure you all remember when I made this super cute bee stationery for Mollie Busby. Since then, that little guy has appeared on several projects, including these sweet little flat notes for an etsy client. Once I had the press cleaned up, I also embossed a couple dozen gift tags, sets of which are now available here!
As letterpress becomes more popular, more and more customers want their pieces to look LETTERPRESSED, by which I mean they want their design to be printed with a deep impression that they cannot only see but feel. That is the point of springing for letterpress isn’t it?
Results on my press can vary greatly and what I’m learning is that the design of the piece can influence the depth of the impression just as much as any adjustments I make on press. Some designs can only go so deep.
Take, for example, these two holiday cards I embossed a few years back. The design on the left is a busy, all-over design that consists of many very thin lines. When a plate like this is pushed into the paper, the paper has nowhere to go, no space to give to the design on the plate. The result is a relatively light impression, especially in the areas where the design is particularly concentrated.
The design on the left is much simpler, with slightly thicker lines and less of the paper covered with them. The result? A very clear, deep impression.
I designed and printed two very different business cards about a month ago. Gretel’s design is asymmetrical and nature-inspired, while Alison went with a clean and simple centered design. Either way, I think they both turned out great!
The days are getting longer. Every day this week, I’ve gotten up with the sun and every morning I’ve sent a little thank you out into the universe for letting me wake with such joy. It’s funny how each year, just at the point when you think you just can’t stand the dark and the cold any longer, winter releases its grip and almost overnight it’s spring. I’m so thankful we had a short and mild winter, I’m not sure I could have held out much longer this year.
I’ve been working on a series of prints to celebrate. It’s a small reminder to myself to take a moment to be grateful, to enjoy what nature has to offer, to see the beauty in everything around me. Wake up five minutes early tomorrow morning, before you’re rushing to get ready, while your world is still quiet. Really look at your surroundings, take them in and be grateful for them. The world is a beautiful place.
No, that’s not ‘no where’ it’s ‘now here’ (see what they did there?). And “here” is obviously the UW Stevens Point’s art department. I’m heading up today for the annual conference featuring presentations by visiting artists and designers, workshops, portfolio reviews and alumni presentations (that’s where I come in). If you’re in Wisconsin, head up for the public presentations tonight and tomorrow night, stop by for dinner, or you could probably find us at Guu’s later this evening. (Does Guu’s still exist? I’m so old.) Have a great weekend!
622 press | LETTERPRESS GOODS MADE BY HAND 