When Weddings Strike

For someone who loves working weddings, I find it incredibly hard to choose a gift when I happen to be a guest. While I always believe in the power of green printed rag paper often exchanged for goods and services (a.k.a- cash) I wanted to do something a little more special.

As I was sipping my wine and relaxing tonight (who am I kidding- this should really read: as I was chugging my wine and wondering how the hell I got here and what happened), staring across the living room, I realized I had the tools at my disposal.

My step-sister Jess is marrying the man of her dreams on Saturday. Paul has given her so much love and together they have an adorable little boy who lights up my world with his toothy little smile, all from 2 states away. So first thing Saturday, I'll be on the road (loading up on carbs and water since I know how my family rolls). Tomorrow though, my one task, besides plowing my way though a Friday workday, is to find some A2 envelopes in Portland, somewhere.

I also had an epiphany tonight. My press actually works...

It really helps if there's nothing obstructing the letters from hitting the paper. Sometimes it's the little things.

So my little gift to Jess will be her first set of custom notecards, with her new name. I love the smell of old wood cuts, letterpress ink and mineral spirits (the cleaning kind, not the ones in my wine glass- although those smell pretty nice too). I'm still wiping the green ink off my hands, the furniture and my coffee table but it's worth it.

Don't worry kids. I'll try to keep it original for your weddings.

Stephen- next year you're getting personal business cards that say:

Stephen Miner

Badass Married Man

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Julia- I'm working on ideas. But they all involve a custom made block cut of that pose Ryan is always doing in photos.

Jenn- If you leave me the old maid... I will drink myself into oblivion.

Oh wait...that's already happening.

See you all this weekend. Bells and raincoats on.

A "First Edition" Thank You Note

After the season of giving, many people take some time to thank friends and family for gifts received. I'm going to take a moment to thank my friends and family for all the non-material things they give me all the time.

Some people choose to leave, some people choose to stay. Others are just always there... because anything else wouldn't even occur to them.

Even on an especially boring night like tonight- when I'm working on the press, my fingers black with grease, iron grime and green ink (occasionally refilling my wine glass) I realize that I could just pick up a phone or send a text and someone would be there.

So THANK YOU! Someday the Sweet Ivy Press can send you a real thank you note...you know...when the ink hits all the letters at the same time.

The Chase is On!

It's in! The new chase is in! My family and friends convinced me to invest a little money and a lot of hope in a new chase.

Big thanks to my new friend Louis at Excelsior Co. He cast this new beauty which looks fabulous and works even better.

Now that I can actually ink up the press...I was able to start setting up the platen (the base that the paper goes on). It needs to be completely level so that all parts of the paper hit the type evenly.

Since I had to scour the house and garage for a flat-head screwdriver...I was off to an awesome start. (Obviously it was in the junk drawer in the kitchen...where-the-crap-else would it be?)

Now tightening four screws until the type prints level sounds super easy right? Check out all the scrap covered in false-starts...


When the boy returns...I'll get a fresh set of eyes on it all :-) Then maybe a weekend-course in VT or MA for a little professional help. (Christmas present...hint, hint).

Broken

You all know I had such high hopes for the press in the beginning but I've had a few set-backs. Money slowed me down a little. I wasn't able to get the supplies I wanted right away. Then I got the supplies, got a few more and then started to play...

Only to find that my chase is broken. Art imitating life?

For those not in the letterpress world, the chase is the piece of equipment that holds everything together (all the words, images and art that you want to put into your piece). I'll say it again- the piece that holds it all together is broken. Cracked, in fact...

I just want the old one to work! Why can't that happen? It's a perfectly good chase. Strong, true, weathered and classic- with a crack.

So now I'm searching, complaining, searching some more, drinking a little wine to ease the pain and then letting the press sit in the garage for a while. Until I find the will to buy a new chase. A guy offered to cast me a new one, but it's costly. And probably my only option...

Move on, put the old chase on the shelf and hope that the new one will last. Can't help sneaking a peek at the old chase now and then- just wishing that one of these days when I check, it'll be good as it always was- ready to help me create the art it was meant to achieve.

Lazy Saturday

So, having soaked my lovely new/old Kelsey press in lemon juice for days, scrubbed with WD-40 and used up rolls and rolls of paper towels....well, it still looks a little dirty. I hemmed and hawed, stamped my foot, had a bit of a hissy fit (those who know me can probably picture this scene).

And THEN----- I accepted the fact that it's still a useful piece of metal, and it just won't ever be perfect again. Oh, how hunks of iron imitate life...

On this beautiful Saturday in Maine, I found myself with no press cleaning tasks to complete. Needing to keep myself busy, I decided to paint the trim of my apartment doorways and read a few books. Yes, you read that correctly. I read multiple books today. On the couch, in the sun, on the deck, in my bed... I read two books. Need to go to the library again...how sad.

On the upside, I had a promising job interview on Friday so maybe I'll soon have a job! Then I really CAN afford to go to Letterpress Things in Chicopee, MA and buy some "things" I need to actually get started printing. Or pay my bills. That would be good.

It's like Christmas!!

Tomorrow morning I'll be on my way to Connecticut to pick up my new-old Kelsey 5x8- Model P! While it looks to be a little rusty and in need of some tender loving care, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship. It's an amazing deal (and the reason I know this is because John at Letterpress Things told me so...in fact, I still believe he may be trying to find a way to scoop me on this purchase...) It's all mine, John!!

Bring on the yellow gloves, WD-40, and sponges...my baby needs a bath.