visualchemist

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to print up press kit covers for a friend and former coworker, Jennifer Hohner, of D’Lischka, Petite German Pastries. This print run consisted of black ink on Sundance Felt Natural White card stock. Jen supplied the logo and I had a magnesium letterpress die created. The results were simple and sweet, like the cookies themselves. These cookies are actually hand-crafted petite pastries based on a well-kept German family recipe, passed on to her by her Grandma Lischka. Though petite, they sure are mighty D’Lischka!

Photo credits: t-l Hartono Tai, Long Beach Magazine // b-r Jennifer Hohner.

Earlier this year, I had designed and letterpress printed a set of business cards and gift certificates for Ed and Karen, of San Diego wedding photography studio Atrero Photography, an International Award Winning Wedding Duo.

The front of Ed and Karen’s print collateral required two hits of color and a blind deboss. Their business cards passed through the press a total of 5 times (once for each color/impression, front and back), and they were also printed on 220lb. flourescent white Crane Lettra 100% cotton stock… the thick stuff. Though the Atrero brand features invisible bamboo trees, it feels good to know that no actual trees were harmed in the creation of these business cards and gift certificates.

Speaking of invisible, Ed and Karen pride themselves on taking a ninja like approach to wedding photography: working in the shadows unobtrusively to capture that killer shot. Next time you find yourself wondering if ninjas carried business cards, wonder no more. They do, and they are 100% cotton!

Just finished designing and printing 1,800 Rabbit in the Moon invitation sets for Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden, in San Diego. These invitations are for the garden’s 10th Annual Festival of the Harvest Moon. Invitations, response cards and envelopes were letterpress printed using black ink. Garden volunteers will be adding a strip of brightly colored washi paper to add the finishing touch.

I recently helped out an old Quiksilver coworker when she asked if I could print her wedding invitations. I won’t post the invite details just yet, since the event has not yet happened and I don’t want to be responsible for a bunch of crazy people crashing their barn yard soiree. What
I will tell you is that this cute invitation
was designed by the lovely bride herself,
Lori Fujikawa. More photos to come.

Just finished printing up the final bits and pieces for the Anda wedding. This print run included their program, table numbers, thank you card, response envelopes, and giveaway envelopes. I was very happy with how these turned out.

One thing I’ve learned throughout my adventures with letterpress is that I am in great company. It seems everyone that I cross paths with is helping to shape my foundation in this awesome craft, right before my very eyes. It’s amazing how tight this community is and how helpful everyone is at giving advice or pointing you in the right direction. Without getting all mushy, in honor of those that have helped me along the way, I decided it was time I give back to the letterpress community as my way of saying Thank You. On the first Saturday of this month (and hopefully many more), I joined the International Print Museum’s Leather Apron Guild.

Rachelle Chuang, the museum’s Book Arts Institute Director, (that’s her in red) put out a call for volunteers to be part of the Letterpress Printing Team, to print keepsakes to send out to donors, schools, etc. For the Thank You card project, I got to poke through and explore the museum’s collection of wood type. Once my design was all set up and I got the thumbs up from museum director, Mark Barbour, I was off to work with Rich Tautenhahn, the local windmill expert.

Rich worked with myself and Marjorie, (a docent and letterpress printer), helping us print each of our cards. Rich gave me a quick lesson on how to operate a Heidelberg Windmill, similar to the press seen in the movie Seven Pounds (with Will Smith). In fact, he was the expert on the movie set and he also taught Rosario Dawson how to confidently grab, push and twist the clutch arm of “the Beast.” I admit that my attempt at running a windmill was a bit uncoordinated, so I may have to try it a few more times to get it right. It was a pretty darn cool day.

I was itching to use my vintage wood type so I printed up three sets of valentine’s day cards over the weekend. I hope to build up a line of typography driven cards for now, then branch out and do the fancy stuff later. I’ll add to the collection soon, so keep checking back. These guys are now on sale through my etsy shop.