photo shoot

I've been meaning to post pics for some time now and am finally getting around to it. Here is our printing studio in our basement. We've added countertops and cabinets since these pictures but these will do for now.

love + toast!

i love this handreme that we just got in today. is is made my margot elena, the same gal who created Lollia. this stuff is unbelievable, and unbelievably cute. with 6 different "flavors" and at $9 ea., it's kind of a no brainer, right?

available in pomme poivre, honey coconut, gin blossom, sugar grapefruit, mandarin tea, and my personal favorite: paper flower!

p.s. thanks linda for bringing me that adorable little stool, works perfect for the testers!

pretzel mania

Last night I had a wave of craftiness come over me. This happens on occasion and last night it was to make these pretzels. I saw them at a party last week and thought to myself: I like those. I actually really like those. They just need some thick natural hemp rope in a nice vintage basket. With a trip to my aunt's house to borrow a double boiler and a quick visit to Kroger and Michaels, I was ready. So I made them into my Grand Opening gift for my brother and sister-in-law, Jon & Stacie, who are opening a kitchen showroom in Noblesville called Indiana Kitchen Company. Their grand opening is this Friday and Saturday. Hopefully I'll see you there!

adventures in letterpress

our little letterpress is teaching us a thing or two. patience for one. we've had fun over the last week and a half "playing" on our machine. up until Saturday night, we were spinning the wheel by hand. Then, my very handy dad came over and wired the motor and now it is like it is on steroids. we figured out how to slow it down and printed a few things tonight. I'll keep posting pics as we make more!

back to school we go...

Ben and I had a blast this last week learning all kinds of things about printing and the art of letterpress. We went on a little road trip to Chicago for a class that was 4 days long from 10-5:30 each day. The first day we talked about different methods, equipment, and techniques. We also did our artwork to have film made and placed our paper order for the week.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th days we printed independently and could ask our instructor questions as we worked. Needless to say, OLIVER'S TWIST IS NOW OFFERING LETTERPRESS!

Our press was delivered last week and we are so excited to get started.

be mine.

I had a few extra minutes in the shop today so I whipped out a few of these.

I want that!

Yep, that is the goal. A Chandler & Price 8x12 platen press. It's just beautiful. I think it probably is celebrating its 50th birthday about now. This thing does everything but make me a cup of coffee. My big plans are to put this machine in my basement and Ben and I print from there. The only problem is that is weighs a hefty 1200 pounds and it will not be easy to get it into the house. It will have to be taken apart, lowered from a truck in the garage, and reassembled once into the house. Even better, it comes with three cabinets of wood type, a cutter, and all of the necessary accessories to run the machine. I'm so excited I can hardly take it. I'll be sure to post more pictures later. The guy who moves it is supposed to come and look at our stairway asap. Until then, I'll just dream....