Letterpress Pyrography

Well, I don't think anyone can deny that my blog is varied!!

I have recently been experimenting with pyrography, on scrap wood, and on some wooden spoons. It is taking some getting used to, to control the burning iron, and make it do what I want, but it is enjoyable!

With my Dad's birthday recently, and him running The Silver Birch Press, I decided it was appropriate for him to have a personalised inking roller, and managed to burn the silver birch logo on to the handle! The handle has been pre-varnished, so the fumes were a bit toxic, but the effect is lovely. I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I think I prefer burning images where the lines don't need to be perfect! When my husband saw the finished piece he started looking for things he wanted decorating, so I think I might be busy!

Juniper Press @ The Bluecoat, Liverpool

Last week, I was fortunate enough to visit the newly formed Juniper Press, at The Bluecoat, in Liverpool. It was set up in the last few months by a group of people keen on letterpress, including my father! They actually have quite a few printing presses, but you could say these two Albion presses are the main focus...

Don't they look amazing against those windows?! The natural light in the studio is just fantastic.

Here's some snapshots from the day - you can see even my sketchbook got in on the woodblock action!

If you'd love to experience the studio for yourself, workshops are being offered throughout the year. If you'd like to find out more, comment here and I'll point you in the right direction!

Printers Cloth - 50 Years!

I was chatting with my Dad earlier this year, and he happened to mention that it was 50 years since he first used a printing press. And what better way to recognise that than with a personalised printing cloth? :)

I've blurred it out on the first photograph for privacy, but round the edge I have stitched my Dad's name, "50 years of printing", and the main places he has been involved in printing and typesetting in that time.

The centre image is "The Compositor", which originally came from a book on the subject by Rudolf Koch. The outline is stitched, and I added the colour by applying black Tulip Gellies with a paint brush. It gives a nice shading without overwhelming colour.

Linoprint Poppy Cards

I know, you're probably sick of seeing my poppy print by now, and I'm afraid I have even more ideas to try!

I really love these cards though, and it was fun to experiment printing with it in different colours!

[Inked up on the Vandercook! We tried printing it on blue and yellow papers after seeing this, which was rather pretty too!]

We did have a few issues, especially when some dirt slightly damaged the lino, but it all worked out ok in the end :)

I'm thinking a limited edition triptych print next... Watch this space!!

Initial sketch and printing.

Further printing.

Christmas Cards

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend some more time with my Dad in his printing workshop! We worked on a couple of projects together, including some Christmas cards!

This design was actually inspired by another artist who he had been working with a few weeks earlier. She had been printing without ink, to leave just the impression, and on dark textured card it looked really stunning. My Dad had also experimented printing with varnish, and on the paler card I was using this really brought the lettering out.

I was torn between the typefaces Koch and Locarno, I think I decided on the former, although they are very similar! Simply embossed with varnish on a Vandercook proofing press, on to some beautiful handmade paper. I have then mounted this on a textured cream card, textured matte gold paper and a simple white card.

I find it fascinating that when my Dad worked in letterpress, it was important to produce a clean print with minimum impression, almost so it did not look printed... Nowadays letterpress feels all about adding texture and pushing the paper for a deeper impression, and I think I know why. Computers, laser printers and inkjet printers can churn out perfect image after perfect image - we need the hands on traditional techniques to produce items with character, charm, and an innate uniqueness.

I've also just added a new category over on the right filled with everything printing and letterpress: lino cuts, lino printing, typesetting etc!

Tried and Tested Tip Number 19 [Thread Storage]

Do you have storage issues with all your sewing threads? Whilst I used to keep most of my threads in a couple of clear glass jars, there were some which always seem to be missing, and I would always want the one at the bottom!

So at the weekend, I asked my Dad for one of his spare type cases. It is a bit rough around the edges, but I love that charm to it, and knowing that it has been well used!

I love having all my threads accessible, and so easy to see what I want...

And it fits my lovely sparkly threads!

No more hunting for my spools either!

Oh, and it provides somewhere to keep my Dad's woodblock type safe!

OK, I realise not everyone has a Dad with spare type cases in the garage... But thankfully there is a place called eBay, populated with people who do have spare type cases! So if you're looking for somewhere to store your threads, bobbins, thimbles... or mini rolls of tape, buttons and odd woodblock letters, I really recommend having a hunt around. I think my nephew even has one for his lego figures! Shades of brown not your colour? Make it into a project, and paint it to fit your room!

Printers Cloths

You may remember earlier this year I made a selection of Printer Cloths for my Dad? Well, he loved them so much he asked me to make a few more sets for him!

I decided to mix things up and create a blue set as well, but I used all the same designs. I'm so happy with them! But it's also nice to now have a break from fiddly stitching for a little while ;)

Find loads more info on making these on my original post!

Linocut: Extra

I thought you might like to see some of the other prints that emerged when printing My First Linocut the other week... 

I love seeing the texture of the paper come through the print.

One of the earlier prints. We had to build up the padding behind it slowly, so as to apply the right amount of pressure and get a decent print.

 I like how the texture of the lino still shows through, as there isn't quite enough padding behind the linocut yet.

This one's quite clever - it's the same way round as the original linocut! After inking up the linocut, we printed it on to the roller, before carefully inserting 2 sheets of paper to be printed - one printed straight from the linocut, and one from the copy on the roller!

You can check out my final image on the original post :)

My First Linocut

You may have to excuse my sheer level of excitement when it comes to this... When I was printing with my Dad the other month, he lent me the equipment to try lino cutting. And the other day? I eventually got round to trying it!

My inspiration was this sketch of a yellow poppy that I did last year:

I found the tools somewhat easy to use with the lino, although there are a few cuts which aren't quite meant to be there!

Because I've never tried this before, I did a test run with some acrylic paint I had out, to see if I had cut the lines deep and wide enough to show up...

It's obviously not great, but it showed what I needed to know - that it could work!

So I took it to my Dad's press (I think it's the proofing press we used) and we got this amazing print!

I can't wait to go back and experiment more, I'm hoping to do a whole run of greetings cards :)

The lino cut itself also looks quite pretty!

I'm really not sure what my next design will be, but one thing I do know: I love this process!

Woodblock Card "Design K"

When I saw this post over at Yardage Design I realised the limitless opportunites to create custom prints using something I have easy access to - woodblock letters!

I do intend to do some fabric work, but I'm much happier experiementing with colours and designs on card...

I decided to make this initial design into a simple card for a friend's birthday...

I adore the textures created thanks to the combination of the woodblock itself and my slightly messy brushstrokes when applying the paint!

Every single impression is unique, stunning, and they just work together so well! I love that they make a bold, statement print, and it is so versatile, too.

Expect many more to come ;)