Funky Art Queen

OK, it has been a few weeks since I got the Kesley Excelsior Type O vintage printing press that I proudly bought off of ebay!  I have to be honest though and admit that I do have thoughts of what in the world was I thinking?!!! Still, I'm intrigued by everything I have to learn in order to print anything.....even one small Christmas card for 2011! I think that is exactly what I love.....the challenge.  SO.....I finally ordered the new rollers from a merchant on Etsy.  The came all the way from the UK so they must be brilliant right?  They were on my doorstep today when I got home.  I could not wait to open them. I'm just a little confused about all of the different ways I could go to create my christmas card.  Do I just do a linocut?  Or maybe a photopolymer design? I don't have any furniture for the type that I just bought.  Can you just make your own furniture with wood?  If I do photopolymer with boxcar press, do I still need furniture? ...

So here is a funny story.  From the moment I decided I wanted a printing press, I decided my first project would be our family Christmas card for this year.  I wanted to keep focused on something to get me going on this new adventure.  I looked and looked for the right price and a nice little tabletop press.  I found "Kelsey" on ebay and got it last week. Here is the interesting part.  Kelsey came with some extras.  One of the extras was a (linocut stamp-I believe) that is a Christmas card that someone made.  It just gave me chills...to think that someone-maybe like me....decided she wanted a printing press and made her own Christmas cards.  Here is the linocut print that I could not wait to do by hand so I could better see the impression. I don't really get the ship but it is well carved and still lovely.  I think it would have print better on paper better suited for this purpose but I just had to see it now.  Anyway, on the back of...

Woohoo! Here we go! I got my Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 Type O Vintage Tabletop Printing press off ebay last week and it arrived.  I still have to get new rollers but I found several dealers on ebay and Etsy so that does not appear to be a problem.  I think this old art form appeals to my love for Typography.  Or, it just appeals to my obsession with creating and cracking a new code.  I get bored easy-Attention Deficit Disorder maybe?  Anyway, I'm so pumped about this!!!! Slow down there Cowgirl!  There is a huge learning curve I will have to tackle.  Don't worry, I will document as much as I can in case any other crazy newbies like me come along.  I'm going to keep my journal on this blog and they will all be tagged "Kesley 5x8" so you can filter through all my other rants to get to the meat of the matter! Also, in the future, I will refer to my printing press as "Kelsey" so don't think I'm talking about someone! LOL Here is a list of links that I hav...

 Over the last couple of weeks, I have found myself obsessed with Typography art. I've been there before.  Remember my blocks?  I just love the artists who I see doing Letterpress type work such as this print that I recently purchased on Etsy.  This was created by Rawartletterpress -an Etsy shop owner.  I have been an admirer for some time.  I have always loved this saying.  It reminds me of something I read in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about first being present.  Any how......I love letters and words....you can see that in my Thoughtfully Adorned things on etsy.  Also, another cool thing about this artist is that she connected with her sister who works with silver clay.  I bought a pendant with "You Are My Sunshine" for a friend of mine.  You just have to check them both out to understand.  I think they are brilliant and great artists. Oh, both of them had the best packaging!  So go and check them out!!! ...