erika

I want to get rad in Baltimore!

....was the title of the e-mail that applicants were asked to type in.  About 6 weeks ago I saw a posting on green jeans for artists to apply for "the new wave" section of artists for the retail end of the Baltimore Craft Show happening at the end of February.  I figured, why not?  I will already be there working in Julie Shaw's booth- one of my best friends who I work for twice a year at the philadelphia craft show and now the baltimore craft show.  She only does wholesale so these won't overlap at all but I will be there.  And I was juried in!  Out of over 90 applicants they chose 17.  I am so honored. 
What this means is serious work is ahead of me.  I will be making a lot of new work between now and February and will be posting photos here of what's going on in my studio.
Big step for me, but I think it's going to be great.  Also my sister said that she will work the show for me.  Let's just say SHE"S A NATURAL SALESWOMAN- and people love her- so I'm double blessed- and we'll get to hang out together for a whole weekend, which i'm pretty sure we haven't done since we lived together pre 2004.
woo hoo!

early studio day

closeuplayer2.jpg, originally uploaded by Erika Ebert.

today i blew through the second layer.  started around 8:30 and done by 11.  With little to no casualties.  I bought some new black ink specifically for block/letterpress printing from NA Graphics.  I know that a lot of letterpress printers are using soy based inks, but its the Academy in me that keeps me using oil. 
Something about the smell when i open the studio door.  Its a mixture of the ink and mineral spirits and paper drying.  When I started this endeavor i was (unknowingly) using etching inks!  I don't think there's a gigantic difference, and you can make them work, but this black ink is very different in consistency.  I recommend that company if anyone is looking for a place to buy ink.
now- it's time to pick up the little ones and then later I'm off to work at my other job. 
ciao for the weekend!

The learning curve

There's always something.  First it started out with a block that was just too big for my press.  When am I going to learn?  This might be the last time I make that mistake.  The pilot press isn't meant for something that's going to fill the chase.  Why make your life miserable?  Just design something smaller.  Here's another thing.  Those grippers, you need them, to hold your paper in place.  If you don't leave any room for them, your job will take you three times longer.  I overcame the issue using a piece of elastic, a broken gripper put on its side the wrong way and a bunch of pencil marks on my tympan paper, but it really doesn't have to go that way. 

And always when I start a new project, I remember half way through that even though I can get into a groove, it still takes a long time to print 250 of anything.  would a motorized c & p work better?  I don't know, but I do know that they weigh 1,800 lbs. and that doesn't go on my third floor.  All in all at the end of the day, I look around my studio at these cards and think...good, I can't wait to start that next color.  It's really tedious- often frustrating work, but it makes me feel good and creative.  And maybe I can do it from anyplace in the US.  Pretty cool.

I will be putting a new holiday card in the shop next week.  It is a three color card.  Very sweet.  Looks good so far.  :)

Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up

peace on earth

layer 1, originally uploaded by Erika Ebert.

i am finished with the printing of my holiday cards.  my first four color card!  yay- that was a learning process- so cool.  Now they are up in the shop and ready to go.  but stay tuned- i have another holiday card in the works.