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.