LITTLE ART

Most of you know, we started the adoption process about a month ago and Aaron and I have been brainstorming different ways to make a little extra money to help pay for the adoption. We're requesting a boy and we want to name him Arthur, but we've already been calling him "Little Art". These are some ideas I've been playing around with for letterpress prints. What do you think?

LETTERPRESS

Some things I've been working on with my letterpress.

Mostly gifts for friends and family. I still feel like I'm learning and trying things out. Carving with the linoleum blocks is working great and every now and then I'll find some awesome letters that aren't super expensive.

HARK! THE CHRISTMAS EP

Be sure and download Aaron's Christmas EP Available November 17th. It's a FREE download! Like an early Christmas gift from us to you!

A SECOND COLOR!

I successfully added a second color! A second run is scary because if you screw it up, all the work you did for the first run is thrown away. And I think I'll be throwing a lot of them away. Ha! Needless to say I learned a lot with this second project...

1. Maybe try and find a new drying system.
(or don't let your dog in the basement when you have wet pieces on the floor)

2. Make sure you carve your linoleum block out BACKWARDS!

3. Stamping a block of ink by hand does not work out so well. (this was probably the biggest mistake)

4. Simple Green doesn't work as well on rubber-based ink, however, mix it with a little crisco and the ink magically melts off.

ANOTHER SHOW... ANOTHER POSTER

Santa was good to me this year. I am totally set up with all the supplies I need to get busy with this letterpress. Six different colors of ink, linoleum blocks and carving tools. I am so pleased with the way Aaron's profile turned out. This method is definitely going to work for simple images.

The top poster is partly computer manipulated. I added more type and a splash of color.
Come out to the show Friday!

The project on the bottom is going to be the artwork for Aaron's new demo. I'm about to explore the world of registration. AHHH. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

JUMP IN

I've been thinking about, dreaming about what Twine & Twig will one day become... custom letterpress, yummy treats, maybe some flowers? I've been wrestling with logo ideas. Type solutions, handwritten solutions. I've drawn out a plan of what the Twine & Twig store front will look like. I've visualized the overall look and feel of the place. Meanwhile my month old, unused letterpress sits lonely in our dark basement and www.twineandtwig.blogspot.com remains a claimed yet empty site.

Last night a comment from a friend of mine kept repeating over and over in my mind... "Why don't you quit talking about your stupid letterpress and print something already!"

So, I did. The header above is my official first print! I don't totally know what I'm doing and I don't have all the supplies i need, but sometimes you just have to jump in!