A quick reality check...

I had asked Camille to write this post because I wanted to hear the story told from a different perspective. I've repeated it one-too-many times in the past couple of weeks! I also wasn't sure how to go about writing it but knew I had to share--it's a good reminder of how we always, always need to respect these machines.

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A print shop is letterpress and lead type and vibrantly colored ink and creativity and fun. But it's also very dangerous. Everyday we are dealing with old, powerful machines and chemicals, so it's always important to pay attention. But even in the most controlled environment, accidents happen.

About three weeks ago, Via was trimming a bunch of business cards on the hydraulic paper cutter when she cut her thumb on the upswing of the blade. Luckily, Richard, who works next door at St. Hieronymus Press, came to the rescue. After a rush to the emergency room and three hours until the cut finally stopped bleeding, she was shaken up but okay, with a very tender thumb wrapped in a blanket of gauze.

Via loves her job and she loves to print, so the last few weeks have been really hard! She is also a little sensitive and squemish, and as of this moment she has not yet seen her thumb ;) Her caretakers, Chris and Anjel, think it won't be long until she is back to printing again.

In the end she's really lucky! The funny thing about the printing business is every printer at one time or another has a story to share about some accident or incident like this. From broken bones, the loss of the sense of smell, or going to the grave with a few less fingers, every printer who loves their job will say, the risk is always worth it.

by Camille

Move over, Britney ;)

I was having a typical afternoon one day, headed over to Richard & David's shop to ask some random printing question like I always do. I walked through the door and Richard was on the phone and asked me a question "Would you like to be interviewed by someone from the Chronicle?" Again, very random. But I said "Sure." He handed me his phone and I spoke with Edward, the journalist who ended up interviewing me for an article for his weekly column called "What I Do"....

Richard declined to speak with him, so I ended up talking shop with Edward. This worked out great because asking me about how I started printing and why I'm still here means that he would get an ear-full about Richard & David. So even though Richard decided to not tell his story, they were still being exploited because my story wouldn't be possible without them.

To my pleasant surprise, when I bought the paper this past monday, I saw that my article shared the same page as Britney Spears! My picture, underneath her's in all her popstar glory was really pretty epic. I couldn't have picked a better day for this. The reason why it's so funny is that we always joke at how I'm the pop-culture know-it-all around the shop. Now how fitting is that!

The printed version is always better (of course!) but for those of you who weren't able to get a copy of the paper, here's the online version by clicking here.

Richard at the Zoo!

Have I mentioned lately how lucky I am? Well, I'm quite blessed being nextdoor to St. Hieronymus Press and some of my favorite people who have helped build my career as a designer and letterpress printer. The apron strings haven't been cut off (and probably never will). So any opportunity I get to talk about them and boast about how wonderful they are, I will gladly take!

One of my great friends and mentors from nextdoor, Richard Seibert, will be having an art opening for his beautifully letterpressed series of art prints based on our other favorite topic besides printing: FOOD! You can check out the prints on his website letterspressed.com and can purchase directly from his site if you can't wait to get your hands on them.

Roger A. Plumb

Thought I'd introduce you to one of my printing mentors, Mr. Plumb--sorry for the blurry pic! He's quite elusive and camera-shy. He's now retired but worked as a pressman pretty much all his life and is the definition of "old-school" printer. He taught me how to run the C&P, the invaluable qualities of tape (yes, the adhesive), the importance of putting things back to where they belong (this is key esp. when dealing with lead type)...just to name a few things :) Every printer has tricks up their sleeve when running a job and I was lucky enough to learn a thing or two from Mr. Plumb who has loads and loads of information and stories to tell.

And his stories...almost always tangential but if you keep following, I swear there's a valuable lesson or punchline at the end. They can sometimes be summed up into one-liners which often make you smile (sometimes in wonder, other times because it's just plain brilliant). I've decided, as a personal project and as a thank you to him that I would immortalize his sayings or "Plumb-isms" by letterpress. So I asked him to write down on a piece of paper as many one-liners he can come up with and so he did!

The first one is actually a re-print of one of my favorites. It was printed on off-cut paper with straight out-of-the can warm red and some indigo ink that was laying around the shop from a previous press run. This is Mr. Plumb's style--never wasteful, always use what's already available. These prints will not be sold, only given away as ephemera for the love of letterpress.

Afternoon snack

This deserved its own post. Richard from nextdoor was being his usual generous self and surprised Christine and I today with this treat! Gingerbread with fruit topping, cream and honey :) Yumyum...

SHP lunch: Seafood Extravaganza

I got lucky for the 2nd time this week and had one of Richard's masterful meals!