End of an era

 

When I was printing the 2026 NY cards I realised that it would be the last print run that I would do in the large public studio gallery space we have operated for the last 6 years including through covid times.

The next lot of printing will be done in a much smaller home based space.

I also rather like that the last print run was done with deep purple/violet - such lovely patterns on the inking plate when it was time to clean up - opening and closing images.

Process photos including print in the press and proofs.

Filling the drying racks.

And the final outcome.

It was a good feeling knowing that the final print run would also be the new beginning for the new year.  

I really do hope that we can all take the time to gather small moments/bits of beauty; be open to the small joys of life; take what actions we can to bring about change; and above all reach out to others in kindness.

Works in progress

 

I'm progressing three streams of work at the moment; but this post is about 2026 letterpress card and watercolours.

As you can see from the opening photo I was in DEP studio setting my 2026 card into a press chase. Before setting the type I cut a stash of postcard size pieces of letterpress paper for Fiona and I to print our cards. The paper was cut from many offset pieces of paper.

A photo of locked up set up of the card ready for proof printing is below. Because of the challenging times we live in I'm adding words to my new year card this year.

On Thursday I progressed my four postcard sized Scotland inspired watercolours - getting closer to being finished.

I'm hoping next week I will get to finish both these streams of work.

2025 - an uncertain future

 

I have printed my 2025 new year's cards. Fiona and I don't tend to send Christmas cards. Instead we send new year cards which we print at Deckled Edge Press.

As you can see from the photo above this year I have gone with words not numbers. A key reason for this that I wanted to convey the sense that I am having a conversation with myself and friends. In 2025 there will be many big issues that are out of our control. So instead of being ground down by this lack of control I feel I need to just do the small things I can control. This is in part based on a quote of Fiona's - "circles of concern, circles of control" - we have circles of concern (often big issues - e.g. climate crisis, war) and circles of control (often smaller, personal, local things we can do - e.g. kindnesses, individual care and/or support).

My message to myself, and hopefully friends, in 2025 is - let us not beat ourselves up or down; may we just do small positive things.

From a technical perspective the cards are printed on heavy watercolour paper cut into post card size by Fiona; for the year I used Mistral 48 font; for the message I used Marion 30 font; and I used Australian art studio Gum Leaf Green for the ink.

Process photos follow including the proofing print that showed a glaring error.

The 60 cards will take a couple of days to dry; and the process of sending them out into the world will then begin.

A varied weekend

 

Whilst Saturday was about letterpress and shopkeeping; today was about creating large patinated leaves (some above), testing a design for a small scroll winder and completing two olive ladles.

The shop keeping was about dusting gold dust off the peace and joy Christmas postcards and cards and packaging them and adding them to the Deckled Edge Press shop inventory

I have been working on big (about 5cm wide and 27cm long) patinated copper leaves that will become part of outdoors sculptural installations. Some process photos follow.

And another photos of half of the stash.

Fiona is creating mini boxes with scrolls and asked if I could help with creating a rod winding thingy. So the image below shows a prototype.

We had sold out of small olive ladles - ladles with holes to let olive oil or vinegar through when serving. I completed a couple more this morning; and one sold this afternoon. Probably need to make a few more.

All in all a fairly productive couple of days.

Cards for Christmas and 24 pieces of silver

 

Saturday and Sunday were quite a busy couple of days. I managed to print 20 cards and 20 postcards for Christmas; and made 7 Tea Caddy spoons, 8 Leaf Teaspoons and 9 pate knives for Maleny Additions (MA).

The cards were printed in rubine red and have been dusted with gold dusting powder.

After a lot of cutting, form folding, hammering, grinding and polishing went into the 24 pieces but they look great as you can see below.

A few process photos follow.

The last tasks with the MA pieces are to add swing tags, courtesy of Fiona, and then do price lists - never done until it is all done.

Small is beautiful - tiny book earrings and nano-posters

 

I got time today to progress my tiny book earrings; and yesterday a nano poster and a post card were completed.

As you can see from the photo above these book earrings are made from recycled silver-plated metal. Each earring is 2cm long, 1.5cm wide and .7cm high; and each has an inspirational word on the inside page. Words include: joy, hope, peace and love. Joy and love can be seen in the opening photo - on the anvil.

You can see from the process photos below I have cut enough metal for 13 pairs of earrings.

I finished 3 pair today - only 10 to go.

The nano poster is a reminder to myself, and others if they wish, that we can make a difference by doing small local things.

The post card is for folk in these times.

And the photo below is just to share a bit of colour.