dESiGNalogue

A Lesson in Kerning

SARAH

  {right: kerned; left: not so much.}

So, I spent the better part of my afternoon printing with my shiny new silver ink on kraft chipboard.  I have had this idea in my head for so long {think the minute Christmas was over last year} that it felt so good to get it out.  That is, until biggest fan / greatest critic walked into my studio. 

R: The "Y" is bothering me.  I don't like it.  {note: I might be paraphrasing here}.
Me: Okay.
R:  It doesn't look like it is a part of "Merry."
Me: Okaaay. 

Clearly I am annoyed.  1.  I just spent a lot of time printing a lot of postcards.  2.  He is right.  Damn, he is RIGHT!  It is all I could see.  But this was not my fault.  Blame the century-old, wonky wood type.  So what next? 

Away R goes to my giant cabinet of lead type & spacers.  He finds the exact size I need to properly lock the type into the chase & proceeds to space each letter from the other as he sees fit & proportionally correct based upon the space between the "R" & "Y".  Thus he begins his first lesson in kerning.  Now, I am no font/typography geek.  Far from it.  I design something until it is pleasing to my eye.  I have never taken a typography class, though I certainly appreciate a well-designed font.  I recently had a client {a book designer herself} who gently pointed out my not-so-great eye for tracking & it really challenged me, but I was up for it.  

Now, Mr. Attorney-by-day-Typographer-by-night had questioned my kerning skills.  After teaching him how to lock the type & furniture in place, we proceed to print his {well} kerned version.  Damn.  So much better than mine.  I will use them both & print the missing "and" on there in red ink.  Though R suggests a "shimmery blue."  We shall see.  I am off on my MERR Y way now...

    

On Press

SARAH

Well, I disapeared there last week.  I spent most of last week preparing for this week so I am prepared for this coming Sunday...!  I am participating in stART in the Park - my first craft show of the season.  As I have been working on mostly custom design projects this past month I had {& still have} some major restocking to do.  But I still managed to print a new design on the press this weekend.  Yay for three-day weekends!  As you can see in the above picture I experimented with printing on coasters this weekend.  I wasted quite a few trying to figure it out, but not to worry - I ordered 1,000 of them.  The coasters are a bit too thick for the press so it took some creative problem solving.  The press certainly keeps me on my toes.  As soon as I think, "Oh.  This is easy."  the press comes right back at me.  I am going to have the coasters at the show this weekend.  If they do well perhaps you will see them in the shop next week!   

Assembling

SARAH

Hi.  My first limited edition letterpress notes are in the shop today!  I was planning to hold them until next week when I add another set, but then I decided why wait?  As I plan these monthly updates, I will be a little more organized & have two different cards or flat notes added to the shop at the same time.  The photo was from the studio this morning when I assembled the last few sets adding their numbered tags & ribbon.  My love affair with grosgrain ribbon continues.  I bought the bright yellow ribbon last week & used it all.  I will be away for the next few days, however when I return, expect to see another lovely shade of ink on the press.

p.s. thank you so much to julie & kathryn of perfectbound for mentioning designalogue!   

It was Pink

SARAH

This pink was not foolin' around.  It was wild!  But it is oh-so-pretty on paper.  Prior to this latest letterpress run I was using transparent white, or mixing white, which essentially makes a solid color more transparent.  I am very particular about the color pink I like to print with on my gocco, but I could not achieve it with transparent white & rubine red letterpress ink.  The ink played tricks on my eyes.  I mean, it looked pink, but I knew it was really transparent red.  How do I get pink!?  oh.  right.  opaque white.  Geesh!  I got my pink, alright.  I plan to update the shop early next week with two new limited edition flat note sets.      

Plans with the Press

SARAH

The press & I have some big plans for the weekend.  I never quite got around to printing Mother's Day cards for my shop - however that does not mean all the special mothers in my life will not be receiving something from the press.  I even ordered a "Happy Mother's Day" magnesium die, so I must use it now or it will sit on a shelf until next year.  Nothing like a bit of procrastination to get my creativity flowing.  I hope to also print a limited run of flat not sets this weekend as well.  I have been rolling  many ideas around in my head about my work & the direction I would like to take it in.  I believe limited editions is the route I am headed.  I grow tired of printing the same things.  I need variety.  My work needs to be more project-based.  That is why I enjoy custom work so much.  A new idea {or a new take on a old one} & a deadline.  Design.  Print.  Done.  Next! 

Swoop Soar

SARAH

Remember my linocuts from last week?  Here is a little glimpse at my final print!  The print needed to include a linocut, wood type, & lead type.  My first layer consisted of a collage of wood type printed in transparent green.  The swallows swooped in on the second layer along with the lead type in deep blue.  The print is an edition of 13, 9 of which went to my fellow classmates in a print swap.  My letterpress class is done, though the learning continues in my little studio.  I am picking up a big addition to my studio this weekend!  I will share those resulting projects in the weeks to come.

Process:  Letterpress on a Vandercook
Materials: ink, wood type, lead type, linocut, 100% cotton lettra paper   

Sarah

Two of my more successful attempts at linocut for my letterpress class.  I drew the image myself, transfered it onto the surface, & carved away for 3 hours.  I am thinking I am not the fastest carver out there...This class has expanded my thoughts on the different ways a press can be used.   I never thought of carving my own images, locking them into a chase {padding the bottom of the linocut so it is type high}, inking with a brayer, & printing.  It has opened my mind!  Next week I will share the final print I made using these two swallows.  One hint: it is blue.

Process: linocut
Supplies: lino block, carving tool   

Sarah

Mixing & mixing & mixing!  A bit of yellow, a touch of red, a bit of transparent white, tiny bit more of yellow, more transparent white...okay a little more red.  oh.  too much red.  more white.  Ah, there is the pink I want!  I have been spending quite a bit of time tweaking my color "formulas" to be ready to offer custom stationery with hand-set wood type.  I am hoping to launch by the end of the week...but we shall see. 

Process: Letterpress on my Golding Jobber no. 6
Supplies: Ink, 100% cotton lettra paper

Sarah

I have been taking Letterpress at RISD this Spring.  It is only 6 short weeks of class & I am in my 5th.  I have learned so much & had a lot of opportunity to experiment.  As a part of the class one project was to collaborate on a type specimen book.  We each had a different draw of wood type & could create any line within 22 inches.  Everyone in class was so taken by my last name so I decided to incorporate it into my print. 

Process:  Letterpress on a Vandercook
Supplies: ink, paper

Sarah

 

Experimenting with my wood type & practicing my control of mixing inks.
Process: Letterpress on my Golding Jobber no. 6
Supplies: rubber-based ink, wood type, lettra paper