Beginnings

Jake and I stared the new year at a yoga retreat in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. After a gluttonous holiday season it felt so right to be eating healthy (and delicious) meals and practicing yoga. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect snowy setting and it was the best way I can think to end one year and begin a new one.

So, after all of the yoga and healthy eating, we're attempting to bring that into our lives a bit more. We joined a program at our yoga studio to reclaim our diets (basically, eat healthy and make time for yoga). Thankfully, we have an incredible public market that is open year round! Yep, even in the snow we can meet with our favorite vendors.

I'm not one to make sweeping resolutions but, aside from trying to get healthier, we are also trying to get organized. We've cleaned the studio, rearranged our presses, and started to make changes to our work-flow. I'm so excited about this! It's already making us more productive. No more wondering where the scissors are or why we can't find a plate we need to print. Things now have a home. Hallelujah!

We have decided to start a monthly night of fun printing. We don't often get the chance to play in our studio - isn't that part of the reason to have a studio? This month we made potato prints based on a monster theme. It was so much fun and felt great to just mess around and not worry about everything turning our perfect. I'm glad we'll be making this a monthly event.

Loving these pups

This is going to be a crazy month

We have some big studio news...we're moving! Let's back up a bit and I'll tell you how this all came about.

During the Ladies of Letterpress conference almost all of the printers we know (and met) told us we're crazy for printing everything on our trusty Vandercook presses. In fact, we have friends who have been telling us this for years. Although the Vandy's print amazingly, they are much slower than more automated presses and are much more physically demanding. We can't produce huge editions since we have to hand crank every sheet of paper through, for every color of ink. Honestly, we've been at a tipping point for a while and we really need to be able to print more to keep up with jobs and to stock up on inventory more efficiently. So, we caved and decided to start looking for a Heidelberg Windmill.

The day after we got back from the conference I went to our local paper shop and saw a handwritten sign in the window for a Windmill. Really! I called in the parking lot. We looked at the press the next day and put down a deposit. It was in perfect condition, oiled every day and was only 30 minutes from our studio. And the seller could deliver! What can I say, we have good press karma.

So, that brings me to the studio. We have a gorgeous space on the fourth floor of an old shoe factory. It's big and sunny, but it's on the fourth floor and we have to run the presses with other artists working below us. I always feel bad about the clanking of the press while we print, so we often print at night. This just wasn't going to work for the new press, so we had to figure out what to do. Do we only ever print at night? Do we move into a new building? Well, as luck would have it, I returned from visiting the Windmill to a voicemail from Eric on the first floor of our building asking if we would be interested in splitting his space. He's a digital printer and bookmaker (perfect for us to share a space with) and there was a possibility for retail in the new space! Seriously, this all took place in the span of three days. So we talked to our current studio mates and decided to move into the new space as a group!

The new space is pristine and much larger than the old space. The only thing it's lacking is gigantic windows (and we won't get to see the sunset as easily). To let more light in Jake and Eric demoed one of the gallery walls and then we started moving. As I write this, all five of our presses are in their new home and only one of the guillotine's need to be moved. Our studio mates are almost settled in, too. It's been an exciting few weeks full of change. I know that we have some adjusting to do (like learning how to use the Windmill) but I'm trying to embrace it and I'm so excited! Now that I've rambled on about everything that's happened in the last month, I hope you'll forgive my blogging hiatus!

ps - My family is from Heidelberg, Germany. When I told my mom about the press she told me I had to get it! And it's beautiful.

Custom work

Print Craft from Visual Inclination on Vimeo.


I just saw this video on A Fine Press's blog and thought I should share. No custom piece could be made without a lot of experience and a ton of steps.

Sure, it gets easier as you go, but that's only because you've made mistakes and learned a lot along the way. I feel like I'm constantly learning and trouble-shooting. And, as I try to impart on my students, the more strenuously we plan and meticulously organize for the actual production, the less likely it is that a mistake is made.

This is our general work flow for any given project. Obviously, each project is different and the amount of work in each step can vary.

*Meet with client (via email, phone or in person) to better understand the project.
*Send samples and discuss paper options and any limitations.
*Start the proofing process digitally, which can take anywhere from one to ten proofs (or more).
*Prepare files and send to the plate maker. The set-up here is key. An incorrect plate can ruin and certainly delay a job. This is even more important with multiple color files.
*Mix custom ink colors and trim paper to initial size.
*Register the plates, ink the press and print. Repeat for every piece in the suite and every color.
*Trim the pieces to their final size.
*Do any non-standard finishing work (like lining envelopes).
*Count each piece and package the job.
*Prepare shipping labels (and customs forms) and take package to FedEx.

It's odd, but I don't think that I've every written down how we do things around here. And we've been doing a lot of it lately!

ps-I think it's about time we watch this video again!

A steamer is worth it's weight in gold

We've been more than a little busy lately. Months of working non-stop has led to a messy house and an even messier studio. After four years of working from home and studio we are finally trying to move everything over to the studio and reclaim our house. Honestly, all of it has been overwhelming me (hence the lack of blogging and tweeting).

In the midst of my dis-organizational crisis my mom and sister just came up and helped us strip the wallpaper in our hallway and the last of the ugly border in our guest room. A border, by the way, which was installed over another border that was pained over. Thanks a lot previous owners. Finally, after six years, our house is wallpaper-free! Jake picked an awesome semi-dark gray for the guest room and a much lighter and really beautiful gray for the hallway. We have someone lined up to paint for us (I'm trying to let go) and we've moved almost all of our inventory from the dining room to the studio. The studio is starting to come together, too. My sister laid out her vision for the space before heading back to Florida and my interns have been making it come true. Pictures and sporadic blogging to follow :)

On Monday

It's taken quite a while, but I'm almost done editing photos from all of our new products. There will be a shop update on Monday!! I know, I know...Finally

We'll be introducing close to 40 new products. And I'll be sending out a newsletter, which has been a long time coming. If you haven't yet signed up, here's the form if you want to be added to our mailing list. I don't often send newsletters (a few times a year) but they almost always have promo codes when I do :)

The studio is hot

And I mean CRAZY hot. Like over 100. Last week we bought an AC unit, but it didn't have enough power to cool the room even one-degree. I guess that's what 15' ceilings will do! So, now we have to get a 220v outlet installed and a massive 25000btu air conditioner. We've been bringing the dogs to the studio (not in this heat, though) and most days they just lay around. Wish we could, too :)

tangerine

Mixing the perfect orange ink while the sun sets. Hello spring. Finally!

Dated Material

This week is Spring Break, which means I've got the week off from teaching. That also means I'll be in the studio ALL week, proofing, printing, emailing. It's a good thing I have this week off because our inbox has exploded with new jobs! I've been sending proofs like a mad woman and later this week I'll be printing up a storm. I thought you might like to see the Telegram invitation in another color combination. The bride and groom chose to have these printed in chestnut brown and fuchsia. I love that pop of pink!

Sun and MASS MoCA: Day 3

Yesterday felt like it could be the start of spring. We finally had SUN in Rochester. It's truly amazing what waking up to a sunny bedroom can do for me (and anyone who is in contact with me in the morning)! The studio had the best light late in the afternoon, lots of long shadows.

Yesterday was also Cassie's 4-year adoption-day. I can hardly believe that we had second thoughts about keeping our sweet girl. She celebrated the day by sleeping on the couch...all day. And getting some special treats of really good cheese. She probably didn't appreciate it as much as I did :)

What better way to end this light-filled post than with this piece made by Alyson Shotz using reflective materials and wire. It created some of the most interesting shadows in the entire exhibition. I especially loved the overlap of shadows and where they moved from wall to floor.

Telegram in one-color

Our Telegram invitation has been doing great this season. I especially love printing them when they're paired with kraft paper envelopes.

It's a full day.

Partial to-do list for the day

• Take new plates, envelopes, packaging supplies to the studio.
• Package all of the new cards (or as many as possible).
• Photograph new cards and add to the shop.
• Finish rounding corners on thank you cards for client.
• Print three weddings and an order of jewelry tags.
• Follow up with nyigf contacts.
• Get receipts and records in order for taxes, ugh!
• Start grading student projects.
• Order more plates.
• Work on new proofs for clients.
• Massage.

Oh Rochester

Rochester has the most beautiful sunsets, when we have sun that is. Every time the sun sets while we're at the studio Jake and I race over to the window. I love how the cloud barrier is moving in, but hasn't quite taken over the sky.

Bringing back the 1940s

My sister's best friend got married over the summer and wanted a 1940s wedding, so I created these fun telegram invitations for her. I really love how they turned out and how open she was to keeping them playful. My favorite line on the invite: "reception to follow (non-stop)".

Studio love

Lately I've been feeling really antsy. I change my mind daily on whether I want to move into a new house or stay put. Would I want a studio at home if we moved into a bigger house or do I really love having an outside studio? Could I handle printing in a garage? I think that maybe I should move my studio to a new location and add a storefront component. Or maybe it would be better to build a structure on our fictional new land, not quite attached to the house. Do you have the same irrational thoughts?

We actually just fell in love with a house that we can't afford, especially since Jake's income is less than stable at the moment. We even had our realtor come over and look at our current house to let us know if it's sellable. So while we contemplate our options we're going to do some long-overdue home improvements (like finally nail down the moulding in the bathroom four years after we "finished" the remodel). And I'm going to keep looking at houses and daydreaming about studio spaces. The spaces from Kanga Room Systems seem like an awesome solution, as long as we can build it on concrete for the presses and they have heating for the Rochester winters.

blue

Yesterday the sky was perfect. The weather here has started to change and it feels like fall is coming, quicker than I thought it would. And fall has a way of bringing crisp blue sky broken up by giant clouds. Not the kind that cover everything in gray. The kind that seem to stretch for miles without blocking the sun. It was a beautiful day to print.

I hope you have perfect sky this weekend. See you on Monday.

I'm pretty sure that by my vacation posts you think I've been slacking off. Not quite :) I'm gearing up to launch a few new wedding collections (sneak peek above) and I'm officially headed to the New York International Gift Fair in August. And even our trip to California was driven by business and learning some new techniques. I promise that more regular posts are coming soon.

It takes a village!

Man, this trade show thing is a ton of work.  This weekend my wonderful friends and studio mates helped me prep for the stationery show. We had a packaging party and accomplished so much!  I'm so happy that I finished printing over the weekend and that all of my wedding orders shipped out yesterday. It's a huge weight off my shoulders to know nothing is too pressing when I get back and I don't have to print that weekend. I'm lucky that Jake is going to take next week off from is job search to help me at the show. I don't think I'd be able to make it through this if he wasn't coming with me.

ps - My new wedding album is beautiful and I'm so excited about it.  I'll show some pictures when I return since it's all packed up right now!