letterpress in NJ
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 9:36PM 
I went to work with Alan Runfeldt for two afternoons last week in New Jersey. Alan has been printing for 50 years, most professionally. I learned so much that I do not think I even know all what I learned so far. I did take my own letterpress so I could get help setting it up. I just could not really get it to work right. Then it stymied Alan. I was so pleased! One of those times where it still keeps breaking the way it does for you when support is there!
After we left the first day, with no one really happy with the end product, Alan kept working and thinking. The next day, I did pull printing that I was happy with. Then, I changed plates. I felt like I started from scratch again. Not quite but close. Learned more tricks.
I had brought Small Mister and my Beloved with me. Small Mister was in heaven.
He loves my press and here were all these presses he could try. I got to try a few as well and I am on the look out for a different small press and I know what I want in a big press. I even know what I really want if I chose to get a powered press instead of a treadle or lever.
Small Mister and my Beloved were not feeling very well. Small Mister found a place to sleep in the shot.
The upshot was I pulled clean prints. My Beloved has some business cards but also now has more ideas.
I have some cards I am really happy to send my sister even though they are not quite what she asked for.
My press is getting some tender loving care. It is still in NJ because that is what it needs. Alan will ship it back when he gets done with it and then I have more work to do. For my Mom, my sister, my Beloved, and myself. But the thought of that is not so overwhelming. I have ideas and strategies. I found out some of the things I had tried were not wrong. An "old" printer uses them too. And I have someone to call with questions. Alan and I even found out we know some of the same people. That is how small this world is.
Small Mister will enjoy my printing though he will miss the shop.
I would have to say letterpress keeps getting more exciting. My Beloved keeps looking at me and says that my shop is going to end up being bigger then his shop.
Possibly.
letterpress
Reader Comments (2)
I'm glad to have "met" you. I think your blog is most interesting, indeed.
I feel the same. :)