Little Book of Numbers

You guys, the Little Book of Numbers is done! I completed the book last week and am so pleased at how it turned out. It has 13 pages, printed mainly in black but red was used for the back and front covers. I've also included a bookplate with every edition! I personalized the one for Marcus by printing his initials on it. The book is held together by two handy metal rings (which can be opened should I ever want to include more pages). The numbers and words of numbers were all handset and the acquired images were individually printed. This means that one book was hand-fed through the press 79 times!

I introduced the book to Marcus (19.5 months) yesterday and he was quite interested. The timing was good because he is very much into books and has recently started counting. Or rather, repeating numbers when he hears or sees them. He only gets as far as two and skips to eight and nine, but it's still a marvellous thing for his parents to hear it :) The book is nice a small and fits comfortably in his little paws and he has no trouble separating or turning the pages. He even recognizes some of the images, like the birds and the rockets (or "planes" as he refers them to). It was great to see Marcus and the book in action together.

I've only made 10 of these books and they are currently being sold in the online shop. I've also reserved a couple to bring and sell at the Parkdale Flea this Sunday!

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numbers book: the numbers!

I've finally added numbers to the numbers board book! Hooray! I can't wait to see this all come together. Next will be the numbers in words. I'm also trying to decided how or if to include colour. So far, I've printed the entire book in black ink. Not very colourful for a kid's/toddler's book, right? Though, something has to be said for the simple black and white contrast. 

We'll see what I end up doing with regards to colour or not!

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i heart stationery

This is a long overdue post! A big thank you to Charlotte Rivers who invited me to contribute to her latest book, I Heart Stationery. I totally dig this book because it's chock full of paper-goods eye candy and it focuses on techniques and materials from various artists world-wide. Definitely a good and inspirational resource to have on my shelf and it makes a nice gift for that paperphile in your life.

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numbers book: 4

I'm making progress with Marcus' numbers book. Four little cupcakes. This reminds me that I should probably learn how to bake a cake for his first birthday in December. I keep imagining that when he gets older and asks me to make him a birthday cake that I won't know how to and I'll feel like a complete failure! Or if I'm lucky and if he's anything like me, he might just ask for a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake instead :)

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kinfolk, volume I

I am so proud to be a part of Kinfolk's first issue that is now online today! This no-ordinary magazine is dedicated to small gatherings (just my kind of thing) and it's jam packed with food for thought and savvy ideas. Just get a load of the gorgeous photography too! The publication is both sophisticated and down-to-earth.The minimal and beautiful sparse design and layout is an oasis for the eyes.


Nathan Williams, editor of Kinfolk, kindly invited me to contribute some stationery ideas surrounding the theme of small gatherings. I picked out a few of my favorite stationers and wrote a short article (more of a list) on how you can host with simple stationery while entertaining.

It's an honour to be in the company of other artists, writers, photographers, designers, illustrators and makers in this issue. Nathan and crew have been nothing but exceptional to work with. I admire their vision and hard work and the magazine that has come to be.

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UPPERCASE magazine Issue 8

Hooray! Uppercase Magazine issue #8 is now available and stacked with beautiful photos, articles and interviews. I've had my copy for about a week now and am just waiting for a quiet moment to take in all of the great stuff that's included in this issue (see Charlotte Rivers' abcedery page for instance).

For my sample, I created 100 postcard-size prints in 3 colours and tucked them inside 100 editioned and printed kraft paper bags. I handset metal and wood type for this project. The postcards were printed on the tabletop Chandler & Price while the paper bags went through the Showcard mini. In addition to the 100 prints, I included 10 7x7 prints for the giveaway that Uppercase will be having for it's subscribers. The 7x7 print was run through the press three times - one for each line, since my Showcard bed wasn't big enough to fit it all.

It was great printing and pulling these samples together. Have a look and marvel at all of the other samples that were included from across the globe!

To get your hands on a copy of issue #8, check out the stockist list.

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little book of letterpress

In late spring 2009 I received an email from Charlotte Rivers asking me if I would contribute to her then-upcoming book. It took me nothing short of a nanosecond to respond with a resounding "YES". I've been chomping at the bit to share it with you ever since. I finally got my US copy of the Little Book of Letterpress the other day.

It's an honour to be featured among so many extraordinary printers from around the globe who have far more experience than I do. Charlotte curated her book with the work of a variety of printers. I've followed the work of a few of these talented individuals for some time, but the Little Book of Letterpress introduced me to the incredible craftsmanship of several printers for the first time. From the Foreword by Yee-Haw Industries, to the short history of letterpress and process, pages 1-192 (even page 166-167), it's become my little portable bundle of letterpress inspiration.

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what I'm reading

I like tarot cards.
I like mystery.
I like paperbacks.
I like funny.
The Grift. Chapter 1.

hardcover goodness

I keep amassing second-hand store finds. Still, there are good intentions of framing these large vintage hardcovers. But that's what I said about these too.

Last Sunday's bookbinding session was so much fun. Celine, Chris, Jaime, Melodie, Rhya, Ros and I bound our books, chatted up a storm, and ate scrumptious treats all afternoon. The last few photos of the blue hardcover book is what I finished at the workshop. I was so smitten with the fabric covered technique that Melodie showed Chris that I had to try it out the next day. The grey covered book was the result. Still bitten by the bookbinding bug, I went for a third try with a book cloth. My mitered corners went a little bit better that time around. Now I'm trying to pawn these off to my family because I don't think I'll ever actually use them!