Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you to find out which of the three styles you want and to get a mailing address.
If you didn't win this week, don't fret! I'll be back on Monday with another (bigger) giveaway.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Winners of week 1 of the Great Letterpress Giveaway
Congratulations to the two winners of my first week of letterpress giveaways! Receiving a set of 12 letterpress printed silver reindeer gift tags are comments 1 and 3 from Natalie and Laurie.
Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you to find out which of the three styles you want and to get a mailing address.
If you didn't win this week, don't fret! I'll be back on Monday with another (bigger) giveaway.
Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you to find out which of the three styles you want and to get a mailing address.
If you didn't win this week, don't fret! I'll be back on Monday with another (bigger) giveaway.
Garden smut: Rock, plants, water
Location: San Luis Obispo, California
Landscape architect: Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Letterpress giveaway: Week 1
If you haven't already signed up for this week's giveaway of letterpress goodies, go here and enter now. I'll pick two winners from the entries received by noon EST on October 30.
The giveaway will get a little bigger and better each week. Here's a little sneak peak of next week's giveaway.
The giveaway will get a little bigger and better each week. Here's a little sneak peak of next week's giveaway.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Change for the fun of it
The other day during one of my random internet wanderings I came across The Fun Theory, an initiative by Volkswagen to change the behavior of people for the better by making it fun to do. They have a great series of videos demonstrating their experiments on the website. I love the piano staircase. And it's true: more people will change for the better if you make it fun.
Monday, October 26, 2009
I love my letterpress = you can win free letterpress goodies
On Saturday, after five months of hard restoration work, we finally reassembled my letterpress. I am beyond ecstatic. Really. Waaay beyond ecstatic.
I'm in the process now of refinishing the wooden feed boards, but by mid-week she should be completely reassembled and ready for the process of fine tuning to get her back in tip-top shape for printing.
Even the husband is blown away by the engineering and design of it.
So I think this calls for a celebration! Therefore, I'll be giving away a letterpress printed item of some sort every single week from now until the week before Christmas! Now, I realize that a few weeks ago I promised a letterpress giveaway sometime soon, but then I got completely sidetracked with finishing the restoration of the press. So this week, I'll pick two winners. And if I count correctly, this means that you'll have up to nine chances to win some letterpress goodies.
This week, each of the two winners will receive a set of twelve letterpress printed gift tags. This tag features a reindeer and stars and is printed in silver. Each tag has a silver eyelet and a silvery-cream colored cord. The winners will have their choice of "Merry Christmas," "Peace on Earth," or "Season's Greetings" (or a combination of these). Each tag is about 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
To enter, just leave a comment on this post by this Friday (October 30) at noon EST. I'll announce the winners on Friday evening. For this week only, each person can enter up to two times!
I'm in the process now of refinishing the wooden feed boards, but by mid-week she should be completely reassembled and ready for the process of fine tuning to get her back in tip-top shape for printing.
Even the husband is blown away by the engineering and design of it.
So I think this calls for a celebration! Therefore, I'll be giving away a letterpress printed item of some sort every single week from now until the week before Christmas! Now, I realize that a few weeks ago I promised a letterpress giveaway sometime soon, but then I got completely sidetracked with finishing the restoration of the press. So this week, I'll pick two winners. And if I count correctly, this means that you'll have up to nine chances to win some letterpress goodies.
This week, each of the two winners will receive a set of twelve letterpress printed gift tags. This tag features a reindeer and stars and is printed in silver. Each tag has a silver eyelet and a silvery-cream colored cord. The winners will have their choice of "Merry Christmas," "Peace on Earth," or "Season's Greetings" (or a combination of these). Each tag is about 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
To enter, just leave a comment on this post by this Friday (October 30) at noon EST. I'll announce the winners on Friday evening. For this week only, each person can enter up to two times!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Garden smut: Portland Japanese garden
Location: Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Photos 1-5: Michel Hersen
Photos 6-8: Matthew Tauzer
House smut: Whitmore Farm
Location: Whitmore farm, Emmitsburg, Maryland
Found: Renovation Style Summer 2009, via Whitmore farm, via a hot tip from a friend.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sadie's portrait session
Last month when I took Sadie for our morning walk we had an impromptu portrait session. I forgot about the pictures until last night when I was looking for photos of something else.
It cracks me up that she was so busy looking for lizards or bunnies (or anything else to chase) that she just couldn't be bothered to look straight into the camera, no matter how many times I whistled or called her name.
Of all the photos I've ever taken of Sadie, I think I laughed the most at this one.
It cracks me up that she was so busy looking for lizards or bunnies (or anything else to chase) that she just couldn't be bothered to look straight into the camera, no matter how many times I whistled or called her name.
Of all the photos I've ever taken of Sadie, I think I laughed the most at this one.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
House smut preview
I love looking at photos of stunning houses. But man, oh man. I am an absolute sucker for stunning houses that come with good "before" photos! If you are, too, then I think you'll especially enjoy this week's House Smut feature: a renovated log cabin that was built in 1764. And if you can't wait until Friday for the full feature, here's a small sneak preview.
Tune in on Friday for more photos of the amazing transformation of this old cabin.
Tune in on Friday for more photos of the amazing transformation of this old cabin.
Origami koi
I just watched Mabona Origami's absolutely stunning stop motion video of how to fold an origami koi. Wow!!
If you have the time, browse through their website's gallery, blog, and flickr page (make sure you look at the praying mantis!) for more amazing origami creations.
Found via Soolip.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hunting firewood
We've had glorious weather the past two weekends--mid 70s, blue skies, and lots of sun. So the husband and I spent some time in the great outdoors hunting firewood.
Here in Colorado, and in many other states I'm sure, the BLM sells permits to common folks like us to collect firewood on their land. We're limited to cutting trees that are already down or dead, which means you have to go hunting for them.
The area we chose to go hunting is above Gateway, Colorado, which is quite possibly one of the prettiest places going and is close to the top of the world. The views go on For Ever.
Of course, you don't get to the top of the world on a 4-lane paved highway. Nope. You go up a narrow, barely one-lane wide dirt road that is so steep you have to use 4WD. In fact, this sign pretty much sums up the situation.
Sadie Bug loves to drive in the mountains with her head out the window.
She tips her nose up in the air and breathes in and out quickly, sampling the air. When she catches the scent of something she likes, she takes slow, deep breaths in and then snorts the air out. It's pretty cute.
The drive features crazy hair-pin turns and a huge elevation gain.
And there are some nervous moments where you feel like you're strapped into a small car slowly ticking up the rickety roller coaster ride, unable to see what's past the area where the road seems to end...
Once you get to the top, the views are amazing. In the distance you can see the La Sal mountains of Utah. There are six peaks above 12,000 feet.
As scary as the drive up was, it's even more scary coming down when you're pulling a trailer full of really heavy wood that's in a hurry to get downhill.
But the views of the valley below just can't be beat.
Here in Colorado, and in many other states I'm sure, the BLM sells permits to common folks like us to collect firewood on their land. We're limited to cutting trees that are already down or dead, which means you have to go hunting for them.
The area we chose to go hunting is above Gateway, Colorado, which is quite possibly one of the prettiest places going and is close to the top of the world. The views go on For Ever.
Of course, you don't get to the top of the world on a 4-lane paved highway. Nope. You go up a narrow, barely one-lane wide dirt road that is so steep you have to use 4WD. In fact, this sign pretty much sums up the situation.
Sadie Bug loves to drive in the mountains with her head out the window.
She tips her nose up in the air and breathes in and out quickly, sampling the air. When she catches the scent of something she likes, she takes slow, deep breaths in and then snorts the air out. It's pretty cute.
The drive features crazy hair-pin turns and a huge elevation gain.
And there are some nervous moments where you feel like you're strapped into a small car slowly ticking up the rickety roller coaster ride, unable to see what's past the area where the road seems to end...
Once you get to the top, the views are amazing. In the distance you can see the La Sal mountains of Utah. There are six peaks above 12,000 feet.
As scary as the drive up was, it's even more scary coming down when you're pulling a trailer full of really heavy wood that's in a hurry to get downhill.
But the views of the valley below just can't be beat.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Press restoration nearing completion
I've been taking advantage of the 72 degree days lately to bust a move on my press. I applied the first coat of primer on Monday.
And today I put on the first coat of paint. Isn't she starting to look lovely?
Hopefully I can do the second coat of paint tomorrow, clean up all the stray blobs of paint and rust on Saturday, and be ready to reassemble it on Sunday. And hopefully a part won't go flying off once it's all put back together! I also ordered a treadle for it. The press came with a variable speed motor, but until I get to know the press better, I decided it would be better for both of us if I had a bit more control over how fast it goes. I've read too many horror stories about people losing fingers to these beasts! The treadle should be here in about 2 weeks or so, and then I'll really be in business. I'm pretty excited about that.
And today I put on the first coat of paint. Isn't she starting to look lovely?
Hopefully I can do the second coat of paint tomorrow, clean up all the stray blobs of paint and rust on Saturday, and be ready to reassemble it on Sunday. And hopefully a part won't go flying off once it's all put back together! I also ordered a treadle for it. The press came with a variable speed motor, but until I get to know the press better, I decided it would be better for both of us if I had a bit more control over how fast it goes. I've read too many horror stories about people losing fingers to these beasts! The treadle should be here in about 2 weeks or so, and then I'll really be in business. I'm pretty excited about that.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Johnny Cupcakes
I've seen Johnny Cupcakes merchandise around, but I never imagined this guy would have a story like this. If you're in the Philly area, I'd be so jealous if you caught his talk tonight. And no matter where you live, if you've ever had even a teeny, tiny desire to start your own business, read his story. It's long, but it's absolutely amazing.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Secrets of a letterpress
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm unable to finish the tile floor in the house right now. That fact, combined with a week of gorgeous weather last week, meant that I was finally able to get back to stripping the paint and gunk off my Chandler and Price 10x15 letterpress.
Hallelujah!
I scraped the last bit of grime off of it over the weekend. Now the pieces have been moved into the shelter of the workshop, where they await their new coat of primer (which I started yesterday), paint, and pin striping!
I love old things. But I really love old things with dates or other bits of information that provide clues to its history and age. It's sad that most things today don't have any permanent markings to tell future generations where it came from, and when. I guess it's even sadder that most things made today aren't really meant to last for future generations!
One of the funnest parts of stripping the gunk off my press was discovering the name of the press stamped over and over. The Chandler and Price Company certainly took pride in its work, because it placed its name or initials on at least three different parts of the press.
I also thought it was pretty neat to uncover two patent dates on the press.
I believe this one says June 13, 1899
And I think this one says April 12 of 1897. (And I discovered a third patent date yesterday while putting on a coat of the primer!)
And the most exciting news came over the weekend when I finally got to the part where the serial number is stamped into the press. Serial number C56255 means that this press was built in 1917.
Hallelujah!
I scraped the last bit of grime off of it over the weekend. Now the pieces have been moved into the shelter of the workshop, where they await their new coat of primer (which I started yesterday), paint, and pin striping!
I love old things. But I really love old things with dates or other bits of information that provide clues to its history and age. It's sad that most things today don't have any permanent markings to tell future generations where it came from, and when. I guess it's even sadder that most things made today aren't really meant to last for future generations!
One of the funnest parts of stripping the gunk off my press was discovering the name of the press stamped over and over. The Chandler and Price Company certainly took pride in its work, because it placed its name or initials on at least three different parts of the press.
I also thought it was pretty neat to uncover two patent dates on the press.
I believe this one says June 13, 1899
And I think this one says April 12 of 1897. (And I discovered a third patent date yesterday while putting on a coat of the primer!)
And the most exciting news came over the weekend when I finally got to the part where the serial number is stamped into the press. Serial number C56255 means that this press was built in 1917.
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