Monday, January 3, 2011

Resolve

Some time ago I somehow stumbled into the world of letterpress, eyes wide, mouth agape, not knowing what I was getting myself into.  I just knew I love the visceral response to beautiful paper.  I am willing to admit some might deem my obsession interest "unhealthy" and my hours spent infront of a computer researching this craft "unproductive," but I shall venture to prove them wrong. 

My husband noted my newfound intrest and knew I'd probably found a nice "hobby."  Within a month he was wide eyed as we curled up in the snuggle chair and I showed him ideas in my sketchbook for a line of snarky stationery and a hazy idea of a  business plan.  He agreed to proceed with trepidation, but he knew there was little chance of not proceeding at all. 

I began shopping for a press, which proved to be a bit of a chore.  Nice small portable numbers can run three times the cost simply because of their convenience, and most larger presses were located on other ends of the country in New England or Portland.  Let me tell you shipping costs on cast iron machinery taller than I am is not pretty.  As luck or irony or the Lord would have it I found one on craigslist about 2 miles from our house! 

It took a fork lift to put this bohemoth into our garage.  She was born sometime in 1939, five feet eleven inches, and two thousand pounds.  She's our pride and joy and we couldn't be prouder.



Now if I could just get the thing to work!  This is my new years resolution.  To restore this hunk of would be scrap metal into a productive member of society and begin to make beautiful paper goods for your swooning pleasure. Oh, and to blog about it in the process and thereafter.  I have to admit I'm more than a little overwhelmed.  A turn key operation would probably have been "better", but something inside of me (probably my father's voice) says fixing this thing up myself will make me appreciate it more, or will build character or something like that.  I also don't fancy myself a writer, so keeping up with a blog regularly and interestingly (?!?!) enough to attract "regulars" is a bit intimdating.

And I know it looks a little dull around here, but I'm working on it.

So thanks for stopping by and thank you for your kind words and encouragement!

5 comments:

  1. So excited for you Lori! Can't wait to see your progress! I believe in you and your paper co.

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  2. Adding you to my Google Reader! :]

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  3. Ok, I added you before I actually read your entry (I just knew I would want to stay in the know on your adventures). I think you're a great writer!

    And congratulations again. She's beautiful.

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  4. Proud of you. I know you will get it working and running like a top since you have your grandfathers blood in your veins. He took great pride in repairing old things and making them run like new and hang the cost ! He vowed it was worth it and he was usually right.

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