New Rollers

Well I recieved my new rollers today in the mail...RAMCO was great to work with, Adrian even machined 2 new trucks for me, exactly like the old ones. So the press has 3 working, rolling rollers!

I ordered a ton of plates today, so hopefully I will start posting my new designs soon. I am doing the ladybug first for a friend, and christmas presents...so I will be working and printing this week and next. YAY! I can't wait to get started. I am sure the new rollers are going to make a huge difference.

So I will post when I have some stuff to show.

Au jour le jour,
Gretchen

The Press is Here!!!!

Well, I must say that keeping up a blog is not the easiest thing in the world. I know it has been a month and a half since I posted last, but what can I say...I have been busy.

The press arrived about 3 weeks ago, and I wish I could say I have been working busily on it, but I have not had as much time as I had anticipated having...tis the season and 2 kids! Anyway, I have been able to work and play a little bit on it, and I have printed a few things...and it is working wonderfully. We put it in the basement studio, and it is the perfect size and in the perfect spot. I am having the rollers recovered by RAMCO in California, so I won't be able to work on it for about a week, but it gives me time to design.

Speaking of design, I have been updating my website like crazy, take a look at the baby designs.

Au jour le jour,
Gretchen

ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon

Picture taken by me.

To those that know me, I am always on the hunt for beautiful ribbon and fabric. Unlike big cities that have places to go and browse for such luxuries, we don't have much here in South Carolina. (at leas that I know of.) And Michaels and JoAnnes...well they are good for some things, but for Swiss Satin, taffeta ribbon, beautiful vintage fabrics, etc...you just can't find it. I always have to order online. I am a tactile person that likes to feel things before I buy them, so buying online is always a gamble. Well I came across a site the other day, and their address was very close to my home town. So I went on a hunt...and was surprised to find that there IS a great place in South Carolina. FarmHouse Fabrics in Beech Island, who would have thunk it.

Farmhouse Fabrics is online company that sells vintage fabric, ribbon, buttons, etc. etc. It is not a retail store, but they will sell to the public, please call first. I was in ribbon heaven, I could touch and feel so many things I had only seen online. I found this beautiful French Ribbon in the colors of Chez Paperie, it is gorgeous, if only I had known sooner...

Sally(the owner) couldn't have been more welcoming and her business is doing very well, it seems there are many people through out the US and abroad that are like me and at a loss for such nice notions. So if you are in the neighborhood of Beech Island, SC (the home of James Brown!) or you want to stop by the site...you are sure to find something fabulous.

http://www.farmhousefabrics.com/

--G

The Pearl is on order

Thank you briapress.org for the use of this picture.

Well It is a done deal, I will be recieving my press in @ 2 weeks. I have so much to do to get ready, and quite a few things that I need to order so that the press will be up and ready to go when it gets here. It's "home" is still undecided...it is between my studio, the basement, or my husband's workshop out back. I am pushing for the studio, but there are a ton of logistics involved so it doesn't fall through the floor!!!! and I don't know if it is going to be feasible. We will see.

Labor of Love

Pictures Taken By Me: still learning to take pics of letterpress

Here is my first letterpress job. The one that gave me the bug.

I designed this for a friend that is getting married. I wanted it letterpressed more than she did, and I found a way. I called around finding out that it was going to be way out of her budget to have them "professionally" printed....so I started researching any place close to my area and found out that My Alma mater (USC) 3 miles from my house has a great bookarts studio, and they allow Alum to use it! You could have knocked me over! Well after a 3 hour workshop on the 10 X 15 Chandler and PriceI was let loose to work whenever I wanted.

This was in the beginning of August...Well about 5 Saturday's later, a few smashed plates (oops) , a bit of lost paper, and a lot of brain power. (boy putting a plate in a chase and setting up the press can be quite a puzzle.) Printing is the easy part!I had this beautiful design peice.(at least I think so). It was totally a labor of love, I felt like I was handing over a child when she picked up the box of work, I was sad I couldn't look at all the peices together anymore.

She and her family loved it, and that is so satisfying, to know that my hands touched every invite that went to such a big event in their lives...I am totally hooked.

Au jour le jour, (each day as it comes)

Gretchen

My First Blog

So I have done the unthinkable...joined the bloggers of the world.

I have always been one to resist the urge to go with technology, and it is kind of funny the reason for my starting this blog, because I am going back in time, to the time of Gutenberg. I am starting my journey in the old style of printing...letterpress.

Actually, it started a few months ago with a desire to start something, and I read an article on the subject, started researching (and boy do I research), surfing the net, and going to the library, making phonecalls, and finally touching and working on my first press...and lo and behold I was hooked!

I have always loved the old and resisted the new...an avid antiquer, a lover of old architecture, fabrics, design, flowers...etc. etc. and then behold I found letterpress...I can blend my design work with the old way of doing things!!!!!!!!...and voila a beautiful tactile lasting piece of work.

I am in the process of buying my first press...a Golding Pearl...now that sounds a lot better than HP 9180 (although I don't know what I would do with out this printer the name is bla) but Golding Pearl they sure could name them in the old days. I can't wait to start getting all of my designs printed....might take 1 or 10 years but what the hay you have to start somewhere.

SO thus the journey has begun, and I thought it was an appropo time to begin blogging to get all of my thoughts down, maybe help someone along the way, and who knows maybe I will like this whole bloggedy boo.

Au jour le jour (each day as it comes)
Gretchen